African Pilot - July 2024

In this issue

This edition features the Zimnavex, Maputo airshow, Light Sport and South African built aircraft, the presidential inauguration aircraft flights, EAA Young Eagles, Potchefstroom airshow, Textron SkyCourier C208 and the installation of solar panel at Sun City using a helicopter. In addition, the magazine also contains all the normal chapters such as Airline Pilot, Commercial Pilot, Helicopter Pilot, Military Pilot, Sport Pilot a Technical section and the four Historical subjects. Once again, the June edition of African Pilot takes on a completely different flavour to previous magazines mainly due to the extensive photography and embedded videos.

Aviation industry improves baggage handling

SITA announced an improvement in the air transport industry's rate of mishandled baggage. The newly launched SITA Baggage IT Insights 2024 reports the number of bags mishandled by the industry falling from 7.6 to 6.9 per 1,000 passengers in 2023.

1 min

Tech designed to prevent runway collisions tested in Washington

One Friday morning, the pilot of a Boeing 757 airliner approached Yakima Airport in Central Washington and lined up to land. On the threshold of the runway below, a Falcon 900 business jet was set for take-off, directly in the path of the Boeing 757.

7 mins

Textron's Cessna 408 SkyCourier

The Cessna 408 SkyCourier is an American utility aircraft designed and built by the Cessna division of Textron Aviation. It was launched on 28 November 2017, with an order for 50 aircraft from FedEx Express, with the aircraft designed for the needs of its FedEx Feeder service. It made its first flight on 17 May 2020 and was type certified on 11 March 2022, whilst FedEx took delivery of the first production model on 9 May 2022.

3 mins

Continental Aerospace Technologies Avgas engine workshop

Over a period of two weeks Tim Owen from Continental provided engine technical training within the Cirrus South Africa's Aircraft Maintenance Organisation (AMO) at Lanseria International Airport for a selected group of individuals working within piston engine aircraft overhaul shops.

2 mins

ExecuJet MRO Services! South Africa Set to Achieve New Record for Airframe Heavy Checks

JOHANNESBURG - ExecuJet MRO Services South Africa, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dassault Aviation, is poised to set a new record this year for airframe heavy maintenance checks. The company's previous annual record was seven, but this year it will complete at least 11 thanks to additional work on Dassault Falcon aircraft.

1 min

Single-pilot operations and lemon juice

Psychology researchers have found that some of the dumbest criminals and the cockiest pilots may have something in common: a hazardous cognitive bias, the Dunning–Kruger effect that hinders self-perception, clouds judgment and leads individuals to overestimate their ability. However, new psychological discoveries may provide a cure.

6 mins

Maputo airshow 2024 What a treat!

On Sunday 16 June Christine and I returned from attending the Maputo airshow and what a fantastic experience this was not only for estimated 15 000 spectators, but also the members of the media present. As always Brian Emmenis and his team were on top form with a great selection of music. The grand finale with the Puma Energy Flying Lions T6 Harvards was simply beautiful and I saw several spectators with tears in their eyes as they expressed their happiness for the airshow.

6 mins

Belgium chposes Airbus H145M for Armed Forces and Federal Police

The Kingdom of Belgium will procure 15 multi-role H145M helicopters for the army and two helicopters plus three options for the Federal Police. The contract was signed between the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA), on behalf of Belgium and Airbus Helicopters.

1 min

Sun City plans for sustainable solar energy

Sun City is going to great heights in its bid to one day take the resort completely off the grid. With all available space on the roof of Sun Central now covered by solar panels, the resort lifted its sights to the roof at The Palace and the Sun City hotel.

2 mins

FK 9 Mk vi - RAPTOR

The FK9 Mk VI has just landed in South Africa.

1 min

Bat Hawk Aircraft

Based in Nelspruit, Mpumalanga, Micro Aviation SA (SACAA M-628) is the manufacturer of the most affordable Rotax 912 ULS powered light sport aircraft in the world.

1 min

Jabiru South Africa

Ask the aviation industry about Jabiru aircraft and you will find that they have an excellent reputation.

2 mins

EAA Chapter 322 Young Eagles 2024

The Experimental Aviation association (EAA) has a long history of engendering the passion for flying amongst its members as well as the youth of the world. EAA is a worldwide organisation with its most well-known event being the annual gathering in Oshkosh for a week of aviation as the largest aviation event in the world at the end of July each year.

4 mins

An aviation photographer's experience at the Presidential inauguration

Witnessing the helicopter formation for the Presidential Inauguration in Pretoria on 18 June 2024 was an incredibly unique and exhilarating experience, an opportunity that does not come around very often.

3 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.