African Pilot - April 2024

In this issue

African Pilot’s April edition features Helicopters and Helicopter Maintenance as well as all matters involving the helicopter business in the world. This edition also features the Helicopter Association International (HAI) that took place at the Anaheim Convention Centre in California, USA late in February. We also explore who is to blame for SAA’s failed privatisation, FlySafair trends, Absolute Aviation’s acquires Aviation Centre Namibia, Vektor Aviation’s Insurance Conference, Aero Club of South Africa’s AirWeek, EAA’s Young Aviators and the Stellenbosch airshow. We also look at GNSS jamming and spoofing and the monthly Airworthiness Aviation Directives (AD) summary.

ETHIOPIAN AIRLINES to expand widebody fleet with up to 20 Boeing 777X airliners

With commitment for eight 777-9s and up to 12 more, Ethiopian Airlines is the first African customer for highly fuel-efficient 777X passenger jet.

3 mins

WHO IS TO BLAME FOR SAA'S FAILED PRIVATISATION?

Following the announcement on Wednesday 12 March 2024 by Public Enterprises minister Pravin Gordhan that the Takatso transaction had been cancelled, several pertinent questions arise: Who is to blame? What does it mean for SAA? What does it mean for future privatisations?

6 mins

EMBRAER'S PHENOM 300

The Phenom leads the business jet industry in twinjet deliveries and is the world's best-selling light jet for 12 consecutive years

1 min

PC-12 SILENT 7 PROPELLER Now with improv ved certified take off performance

Due to the smaller diameter the seven-bladed MT-Propeller for the Pilatus PC-12 has more ground clearance for less blade tip erosion and FODs.

2 mins

VEKTOR AVIATION'S insight into the SOUTH AFRICAN AVIATION industry

During the first week of March it was all engines firing for Vektor Aviation as the company hosted a team of Lockton and London-based underwriters. This was the first time that some of these brokers and London-based underwriters have been hosted by Vektor to geta better insight into the South African aviation industry. Their exposure to the South African aviation industry included visits to various clients in Gauteng and North West as well as to Lanseria and Wonderboom airports.

3 mins

HAI HELI-EXPO 20024 EXPERIENCES RECORD-BREAKIING ATTENDANCE

This year’s event staged between 26 and 29 February included the announcement that the show's producer, Helicopter Association International HAI), was rebranding as Vertical Aviation International VAI). VAI is the world’s leading membership association dedicated to the vertical aviation industry, which encompasses all aircraft capable of vertical or short take-off and landing.

10+ mins

GLOBAL HELICOPTER SALES IN 2023

Deliveries in the rotorcraft segment rose by nearly 10 percent last year compared to 2022. The turbinepowered category showed even better performance with its 753 deliveries equating to a 10.4 percent boost.

1 min

AIRBUS HELICOPTERS

Airbus is a global leader in aeronautics, space and related services. It has maintained a presence in South Africa since 1994. Airbus Southern Africa Pty) Ltd is a one-roof entity shared services), incorporating Airbus Commercial, Helicopters and Defence Space and has its South African headquarters at Grand Central Airport in Midrand, South Africa.

7 mins

AVIC'S AC332 LIGHT TWIN HELICOPTER MAKES FIRST FLIGHT

China’s state-owned aircraft manufacturer Avic announced the first flight of its light-twin AC332 helicopter in Tianjin.

1 min

CABRI G2

Helicopteres Guimbal was founded late-2000, with the purpose of developing and certifying the two-seat helicopter Cabri G2.

1 min

ENSTROM Helicopter Corporation

With crisp handling, well-appointed features, incredibly smooth ride, beautiful style and roomy interior, Enstrom’s line of helicopters offers the attributes of the ultimate luxury sports car and for an unexpectedly affordable price.

1 min

HILL HELICOPTER HX50

The arrival of Hill Helicopter’s HX50 is set to shake up the world of general aviation, with some of the most interesting technological developments seen in decades.

2 mins

GNSS JAMMING AND SPOOFING EVENTS PRESENT A GROWING DANGER

Last year, reports that fake signals were jeopardising aircraft navigation systems spiked in the area over the Black Sea. First reported by security intelligence organisation OpsGroup, the reports cited false or jammed global navigation satellite system GNSS) signals, affecting the US global positioning system GPS) civil signals, causing aircraft navigation systems to show missing or inaccurate position information.

8 mins

AERO CLUB of South Africa AIRWEEK 2024

Once again, the annual Aero Club of South Africa’s AeCSA) Airweek 2024 was hosted by the Middelburg Aero Club from Friday 8 to Sunday 10 March. AeCSA’s annual Airweek was staged earlier this year in anticipation of fine weather, which turned out to be the case throughout the weekend. Without doubt Airweek is the most important General Aviation event on the South African calendar because this event brings all the sections of the AeCSA together on one airfield over a two-day period, whilst the Experimental Aircraft Association EAA) South Africa hosts its national convention at the same time.

5 mins

STELLENBOSCH AIRSHOW 2024

The Stellenbosch Airfield, home for the Stellenbosch Flying Club SFC) is widely regarded as one of the finest airfields in South Africa. Located amongst the vineyards of the region's wine lands and having the Hottentots Hollands mountains as a backdrop verifies this view. With this picturesque environment the SFC airshow is also considered as one of the must attend’ airshows. With a strong support from the SFC membership who display their varied and seldom seen outside the region, personal aircraft adds to the variety of aircraft adds to this statement.

3 mins

EAA Young Aviators March meeting

On Saturday 2 March I witnessed firsthand the incredible rej Jyenation of General Aviation where younger people, mostly studying for their pilot's licences that has also brought considerable diversity to the membership of the Experimental Aviation Association (EAA) and specifically Johannesburg Chapter 322.

2 mins

KERMIT WEEKS

Kermit Weeks acquires unique Boeing Stratoliner houseboat

7 mins

POLIKARPOV I-16

Rare POLIKARPOV I-16 flies again in SPAIN

3 mins

LOCKHEED MARTIN 35A officially certified to carry nuclear bomb

The designation marks the first time that a stealth fighter can carry a nuclear weapon, in this case the B61-12 thermonuclear gravity bomb.

2 mins

A-10 demonstration team announces its final season

After more than four decades of performing around the world, the US Air Force A-10C demonstration team announced that 2024 will be its final season. The 355th Wing located at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona said the decision was a part of the Air Force’s divestment of the A-10 Thunderbolt Il, affectionately known as the Warthog.

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.