AS YOU MAY HAVE PICKED UP in my previous articles, I love flying, but I also enjoy the people aspect of the work just as much. Years ago, when I first signed up to be a pilot at the Protea Coin Group, I worked under Waal de Waal, the COO at the time. Waal, or Delta Whiskey, as he’s affectionately known to his ex-101 Romeo Mike battalion compadres, is a man who learnt the importance of rescue first-hand. While in the army way back when, he accidentally triggered a POMZ anti-personnel mine somewhere beyond the northern border of South West Africa. After being carried on a makeshift stretcher for many miles, he was casevaced by Puma.
“We never leave a man behind,” became one of his mantras and something he was fond of repeating during security operations. I too took it to heart, which leads me to my topic this month: Rescue.
A few years ago, I was introduced to Greg Critchley, an interesting fellow who works as a radar controller for Air Traffic and Navigation Services at OR Tambo International Airport. He’s the guy who looks at your radar dot on his screen and tells you where to go on Joburg North frequency. His other job is as the ARCC (Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre) deputy chief.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة March 2022 من SA Flyer Magazine.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة March 2022 من SA Flyer Magazine.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
EXERCISE VUK'UHLOME 2024
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LANSERIA AIRPORT implements E-Gates
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LIVING THE DREAM - Part 1: Life in the Trailer Park
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OKAVANGO ECHOES
One Okavango evening, at the luxury Khwai River lodge, a young well-bred English pilot of good character and eloquent public-school accent and I had too much to drink.
RODGER FOSTER STEPS OUT THE COCKPIT
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MARK TIERNEY'S CAFE PROPOSAL
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ENGINE FIRE!
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GOING HOME FOR CHRISTMAS
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AVIATION'S GOT THE CAREERS - BUT ARE YOU READY?
Now that Covid is receding into being a bad dream and the aviation industry is bouncing back strongly, the aviation press, blogs and websites are abuzz with predictions that we're facing a massive skills shortage. The only way to address this is by dramatically ramping up training to ensure an ongoing flow of new professionals into the industry
FLYING AROUND THE KZN AIRFIELDS
In less time than it takes to drive from one side of Johannesburg to the other, you can fly to beautiful KZN to experience amazing scenery and some fantastic airfields and hospitality.