CATEGORIES

COGNITIVE DECLINE IN AGING PILOTS

A proposed bill in Congress would raise the mandatory retirement age for airline pilots from 65 to 67 without first examining the effects of aging.

NORTHROP BOOSTS SOVEREIGN SUPPLY CHAIN WITH AUSTRALIAN SUPPLIER FOR F-35s

Canberra has emphasised the need for more production in Australia not just for the financial benefits, but for the strategic reality that supply lines off the island nation would likely be the first target in a conflict.

GAUTENG'S LESSER-KNOWN AIRFIELDS

BRAKPAN AERO CLUB Situated at the Brakpan / Benoni airfield the Brakpan Aero Club was established towards late in 1928. The Club's first aircraft was purchased in March 1929, which was a Gypsy Moth registration ZS- ABE. The Aero Club and flight school's first premises was in the suburb which is known as airfield in Benoni today. However, the airfield and club moved to its current position in the 1950's due to urban development.

ROYAL JORDANIAN AIR FORCE PURCHASE BELL 505 HELICOPTERS FOR TRAINING

Last month Bell Textron Inc, announced the signed agreement for the sale of 10 Bell 505 helicopters to the Royal Jordanian Air Force (RJAF) at The Special Operations Forces Exhibition & Conference (SOFEX) in Aqaba, Jordan.

NAMES TO REMEMBER: Apollo astronaut James McDivitt

Former NASA astronaut James A. McDivitt, who commanded the Gemini IV mission and flew around the Earth as the commander of Apollo 9, passed away on 13 October aged 93. McDivitt passed away peacefully in his sleep surrounded by his family and friends in Tucson, Arizona.

DOC AND FIFI, THE LAST SUPERFORTRESSES

Owing to some trouble with an implacable Austrian corporal, a reticent Japanese emperor and a pathologically violent Italian prime minister, between 1942 and 1946 Boeing was compelled to build nearly four-thousand B-29 Superfortresses. The famously temperamental, pressurised, computerised bombers teetered precariously atop the pinnacle of reciprocating-engine technology and to this day and one hopes all days remain the only aircraft type to deliver nuclear ordnance in anger.

LANSERIA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT'S SERIOUS PROBLEMS

From humble beginnings as a grass strip airfield in 1974, to welcoming former President Nelson Mandela to Johannesburg after his release from prison, all the way to welcoming dignitaries and celebrities alike the airport has had its fair share of glory and continues in its path to greatness.

TOURISM, THE ANSWER TO REBUILDING AFRICA'S AVIATION INDUSTRY?

As global air travel positions to outperform 2019 levels, there is a surge in initiatives across Africa’s aviation industry to improve domestic and international air connectivity and increase air traffic within Africa and between Africa and neighbouring regions.

COMAC C919 TO FLY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE

While China's home-built aircraft, the COMAC C919 received its Type Certificate (TC) in September 2022, the narrow-body jet is yet to carry passengers on a commercial flight. However, this is about to change, as local media reported that the C919 will be operational 'as soon as possible.'

UK SELECTS FOUR COMPETITORS TO BID FOR NEW MEDIUM HELICOPTER CONTRACT

The United Kingdom Ministry of Defence (MoD) has down selected four manufacturers to move to the next phase of its £1 billion (US$1.15 billion) new medium helicopter acquisition.

TOP 10 IN SERVICE ATTACK HELICOPTERS IN THE WORLD

Within the 90th edition of APAnews this year I reported on Nigeria acquiring T-129 attack helicopters from Turkish Aerospace Industries and this prompted me to take a look at the world's in service attack helicopters.

THE BEST INVESTMENT YOU CAN MAKE IN AVIATION

Look into any pilot’s hangar and you will see a wide variety of oils and lubricants for their aircraft. Look closer and you will also see a variety of tools and different cleaning supplies for every part of the aircraft. Then take a look inside the cockpit and you will see redundant systems to ensure safe flight.

BILL HARROP'S ORIGINAL BALLOON SAFARIS NIGHT GLOW

On Saturday afternoon 19 November Christine and I together with many people from the Magaliesburg valley west of Hartbeespoort Dam were treated to a delicious dinner and an amazing spectacle as somewhere in the region of 15 historical hot air balloons were inflated on the beautiful rolling lawns of the estate.

ORION CUB

Rugged yet beautiful, solid yet lightweight, easy to build and completely dependable.

Alton Aero Engineering cc

Emric airlines and Alton Aero Engineering were established in 1972 at Empangeni airfield by Boet Voges, Merwyn Wallace and the late Cyril Johnson to provide a service to the local aviation industry.

African Airlines 2022

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the passenger numbers and revenues of African Airlines plummeted, but there have still been success stories in Africa's aviation industry over the past year.

ZS-VCE - A PERSONAL HISTORY

In 1949 an Ercoupe, the 415-E model, with the serial number 4975 was born. I'm not exactly sure how she got into South Africa, but she started her life as ZS-BSJ as early as 1950. As with all Ercoupes of the time, she had no rudder pedals and was fitted with the Continental C-85 85 hp) engine.

THE COVID ADVENTURE CONTINUES - HYENAS OF THE LIMPOPO

Smuggling of cigarettes, contraband, vehicles, humans and equipment to and from Zimbabwe into South Africa through illegal crossing points along the Limpopo River has become a normal daily business, but increased dramatically from the beginning of April 2020 when South African lockdown regulations banned cigarette sales.

CORSIA, SAF & Poppy Mania

Who wudda thought it? According to ICAO, the biggest crisis facing the airline industry today is not the sky-high price of fuel or the problems of actually getting it to the airports when gas pipelines are being blown up and tankers get caught in storms.

REVISITING A PC-12 CRASH

Sometimes it's not the speed that breaks aeroplanes, it's the slowing down.

PARAMOUNT QUALIFIES ENGINEERS

Addressing the pending skills shortage, Paramount Aerospace Systems PAS), has qualified fifteen students as aircraft technicians and engineers.

TECNAM’S P2012 STOL

Tecnam has introduced the new P2012 STOL dedicated to Short Take Off and Landing (STOL) operations.

FLYING A NAVION RANGEMASTER FROM LAGOS TO NAIROBI

Laura McDermid continues her stories of Iris McCallum’s flying exploits.

HUGH’S FIRST FLIGHT EVER

Some of my friends say that am a slow reader and a late developer. Maybe they are right, but I find that when I read something, I tend to remember it better than some of the high-speed readers of my acquaintance do, and when, a bit later in life than some of my contemporaries, I spot some new enthusiasm I tend to fall for it, big time.

ERCO ERCOUPE A WONDERFUL LITTLE PLANE!

With its low wing, tricycle gear and safe car-like handling, the Ercoupe was a genuinely revolutionary aircraft.

FLYING FOR FREEDOM

AS THE FOUNDER and driving force behind his registered and approved non-profit organisation, Flying For Freedom SA (FFFSA), Tokkie Botes has donated over 1,000 hours of flying in his Bell 206 to the service of conservation in Southern Africa.

WORLD AIRCRAFT SALES STAY HEALTHY

The International Aircraft Dealers Association’s 2022 Third Quarter Market Report documents a flourishing resale market for business aircraft with a balanced outlook for the next six months.

BOEING MAX 7’S APPROVAL DELAYED

The FAA is asking more questions about Boeing’s 737 Max 7 aircraft, increasing the likelihood that the company will be unable to complete the certification process by late December and have to undertake a costly redesign.

GRAND CENTRAL AIRPORT

Situated in Midrand, between Pretoria and Johannesburg, Grand Central is a boutique airport offering visitors a range of services from aviation retail and car rental to chartered flights, flight schools, aviation maintenance operations, excellent restaurant and corporate rental facilities.

BLACKHAWK DELIVERS 100TH XP67A ENGINE UPGRADE

Blackhawk Aerospace's XP67A engine upgrade delivers much faster climb and cruise speeds to the Beechcraft King Air 350.