African Pilot - June 2023

In this issue

The June edition of African Pilot featuring Aviation Training, in addition, this edition features the many aviation events that took place during the month of May 2023 including, Bill Harrop’s Balloon night glow, Bona Bona fly-away and SAPFA Speed Rally, President’s Trophy Air Race (PTAR) in Middelburg, SAMAA Nationals also in Middleburg, the Zebula fly-in, Lowveld airshow, SAAF Museum airshow and the Tempe, Bloemfontein airshow. This 268-page May edition has 14 videos and 13 picture galleries.

ALASKA AIRLINES TO RETIRE A321 NEO FLEET

True to its north-western roots, Alaska Airlines is preparing to transition back to an all-Boeing fleet. For a period of time measurable in years, the Seattle-based air-carrier has been divesting itself of Airbus narrow-body aircraft come to it by way of the carrier's 2016 acquisition of Virgin America, which operated an all-Airbus fleet.

2 mins

SIX TIPS TO HELP YOUR AIRLINE ATTRACT AND RETAIN THE BEST TALENT

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has reported a significant pilot shortage in the aviation industry, with an estimated 27,000 vacancies at the end of 2021. Likewise, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) predicts that this shortage will continue to grow, with over 350,000 pilots required by 2026 to sustain operations.

2 mins

PREPARING FOR YOUR AIRLINE PILOT INTERVIEW

The aviation community is buzzing and the much talked about pilot shortage is threatening to shake up the industry. With the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) predicting that by 2026 more than 350,000 pilots will be required to sustain operations, it could seem that it would be easy to get a pilot's role.

3 mins

SINGAPORE AIRLINES POSTS HIGHEST NET PROFIT IN ITS 76-YEAR HISTORY

Singapore Airlines (SIA) announced that its net income for the group, which includes budget arm Scoot, totalled S$2.16 billion ($1.62 billion) as the world reopened from COVID. It posted a loss of S$962 million the previous year. Revenue was S$17.78 billion, up from S$7.6 billion.

4 mins

TEXTRON AVIATION BRINGS PEACE-OF-MIND TECHNOLOGY TO THE BEECHCRAFT DENALI COCKPIT

With customer input at the forefront of its product investments, Textron Aviation announced it is bringing the revolutionary Garmin Emergency Autoland system to its new clean-sheet design Beechcraft Denali single-engine turboprop. The new feature is being implemented into the aircraft's development and flight test programme and will be available as a standard feature at time of entry into service.

2 mins

YOUR TURBOPROP IS FAST REACHING ITS PT-6 ENGINE OVERHAUL TIME NOW BREATHE NEW LIFE INTO YOUR AIRCRAFT

As the accredited African for a variety representative of aftermarket performance enhancement systems, Absolute Aviation is ideally situated to work with you to plan a significant upgrade for your aircraft.

9 mins

WHEN BASICS FAIL, CRASHES PREVAIL

On Saturday morning, 28 May 2022, two crew members comprising a pilot-in-command and a co-pilot, accompanied by two passengers on-board a Beechcraft King Air 200 with registration ZS-PTE took off from Lynedoch private airfield near Baviaans River in the Eastern Cape province, with the intention to land at Cape Town International Aerodrome (FACT).

10+ mins

SAAF MUSEUM SWARTKOP AIRSHOW

After a long three-year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic this very popular airshow returned to the delight of all South African aviation enthusiasts and they came in their thousands to enjoy the show.

3 mins

TEMPE AIRSHOW SPONSORED BY HERHOLDT GROUP

Over the weekend of 19 to 21 May, Christine and I drove to Bloemfontein to attend the final day of the Sports Aerobatics (SAC) Nationals Competition as well as to attend the Bloemfontein, Tempe airshow on the Saturday. I was impressed by the well organised airfield, especially with the Skydive Adventures, Bloemfontein Parachute Club's new restaurant and refreshment facilities that has plenty of space for the children to play as well as a great outdoor entertainment facility. Although it was very cold as the sun set on Friday, the skies were clear and the hospitality was awesome.

4 mins

CAPE TOWN FLIGHT TRAINING CENTRE

Operating at Cape Winelands Airport since 2003, Cape Town Flight Training Centre (CTFTC) is Cape Town's premier fixed-wing pilot training establishment. Cape Winelands Airport is unique to the area in providing an excellent weather record, a safe learning environment and multiple runways at a location which allows immediate access to the General Flying Area (GFA) and Cape Town International Airport (CTIA) controlled airspace.

1 min

SIMAERO TRAINING CENTER KEMPTON PARK - OR TAMBO AIRPORT JOHANNESBURG (SACAA ATO 1101)

Simaero leverages its expertise to assist aspiring pilots in bridging the gap between flight schools and securing their first position with an airline.

1 min

USAF TO RETIRE U-2S IN 2026

In accordance with ongoing efforts to reshape the manner in which the service surveys nations, organisations and persons not supportive of US policy, the USAF is proceeding with plans to retire its fleet of storied, high-flying U-2 Dragon Lady spy aircraft in fiscal 2026.

2 mins

HUMAN FACTORS: NO GENTLEMAN

In the closing chapters of Ernest K. Gann's novel 'Gentlemen of Adventure,' Gann's anti-hero Kiffin Draper, who is terminally ill, suffering great pain and very near the end of his life steals two things.

4 mins

NEW STUDY SHOWS PILOTS HIDE HEALTH PROBLEMS TO KEEP FLYING

A new study has found that many pilots avoid medical professionals due to a fear that revealing health problems may lead to the loss of their pilot certificates. According to the study, two-thirds of military and paid civilian pilots answered 'yes' to at least one of four survey questions addressing their reluctance to seek formal medical advice about health problems.

2 mins

NICOLE STOTT SPEAKS AT SKYHAWK AVIATION

In my lifetime of reporting on aviation events, I have met some pretty famous people, but I have never met and hugged a real live NASA astronaut, especially someone as competent and beautiful as Nicole Stott who when to the International Space Station (ISS) twice on board the NASA Space Shuttle.

4 mins

BILL HARROP'S ORIGINAL BALLOON SAFARIS NIGHT GLOW OF HISTORIC BALLOONS

We were invited to spend Sunday 30 Aprill, late afternoon early evening at Bill Harrop's Original Balloon Safaris vintage balloon night glow evening. This was a special occasion because about fifteen hot air balloons were set up on the vast expanse of the balloon field and as darkness fell the pilots all did a simultaneous 'night glow' which was very beautiful to watch and record.

4 mins

BONA BONA GAME LODGE FLY-AWAY

What a wonderful weekend we spent at Bona Bona Game Lodge attending the annual fly-away and speed rally. I was told that 61 aircraft and four helicopters were present on Saturday and a total of 19 teams took part in the SAPFA speed rally.

2 mins

PTAR 2023 STAGED AT MIDDLEBURG AIRFIELD

Over the weekend of Friday 26 to Sunday 28 May, the South African Power Flying Association (SAPFA) staged the annual President’s Trophy Air Race (PTAR) at Middleburg airfield. Although there were only 28 entries the event was safe and a huge amount of fun.

8 mins

THE FIRST FALCON'S FIRST FLIGHT

Marcel Dassault famously said, \"for an aircraft to fly well, it must be beautiful.\" Already well known for the sleek Mirage fighters, Dassault, the man and the company proved the adage once again on 4 May 1963, with the first flight of the Mystère 20, the company's first business jet. With an eye toward the sizable American market, the Mystère 20 would soon be rebranded the Falcon 20.

3 mins

Apollo Astronaut Walter Cunningham dies at 90

Former astronaut Walter Cunningham, who flew into space on Apollo 7, the first flight with crew in NASA’s Apollo Programme, passed away on 2 January 2023 in Houston.

2 mins

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African Pilot Magazine Description:

African Pilot is a niche market specialist aviation magazine that has been publishing uninterrupted for the past eighteen years. Subscribers to the magazine can expect glossy layouts with a modern ‘coffee table’ look featuring South African, African and world aviation events, interesting facts about aviation, historical features and general news within aviation. African Pilot is the only South African aviation magazine that strives and is most successful at covering most southern African aviation events. The magazine provides a platform for the organizers of airshows and specific aviation events to market their particular event to members of the public.