SAA: The bubble that defies gravity
2020-06-12
It is an old joke in South African aviation that; “Many Rands make flight work.” Yet SAA is expected to achieve the impossible – to stay in the air without money.Read More →
Cessna’s Proposed AD for 180 series
2020-06-08
Yet another expensive Airworthiness Directive (AD) is in the pipeline. This time for Cessna 182 and similar owners. It is expected to effect roughly 6,600 Cessna 180/182/185 models. The proposed airworthiness directive stands to affect 6,586 Cessna 180, 182, and 185 models, driven by a report of cracks found inRead More →
Qatar Airways Firing Pilots – And Sending Them A Bill
2020-06-02
With the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic some layoffs have been particularly harsh. A pilot a Qatar Airways pilot received this astounding notice, whereby at face value not only was she dismissed, but she had to pay back a huge training bond. Four and a half years ago this pilotRead More →
Snapshot: How much pain is the airline industry suffering under Covid-19?
2020-06-02
The grounding of almost all the world’s airline fleets under the Covid-19 pandemic has left airlines with very little if any revenue to cover its massive fixed costs. This has caused huge damage that in many cases will be irreparable to airlines. Here is just a sample: Airbus has 60Read More →
All electric Cessna Caravan flies
Sticky
2020-06-02
The world’s largest all-electric aircraft made its first successful flight on Thursday (May 28). A Cessna Caravan flew for around 30 minutes before landing back in Moses Lake, Washington, about 180 miles southeast of Seattle. The nine-seater plane is the brainchild of engine-maker magniX and aerospace firm AeroTEC. In DecemberRead More →
Aero Club Communique May 2020
2020-06-02
Status on lifting GA / RA flight restrictions in Level 3 The Government Gazette detailing the Transport regulations for C-19 Level 3 has been promulgated with a media briefing on Saturday 30th May. The gazette detail is given in the link below. Although there is substantive re-opening of the AviationRead More →
Face to Face: Elmar Conradie
2020-05-31
Elmar Conradie is the CEO of FlySafair. As South Africa enters its ninth week of lockdown, he shares his views on the prospects for his airline and how they are responding to the Covid-19 crisis. GL: Will FlySafair be able to survive if government does not assist you? EC: IfRead More →
African Travel – Urgent Appeal
2020-05-14
Five international air transport and tourism bodies have launched an appeal to international financial institutions, country development partners and international donors to support Africa’s Travel & Tourism sector which employs some 24.6 million people on the African continent. Without urgent funding, the COVID-19 crisis could see a collapse of theRead More →
Corona virus & SAA
2020-05-08
As I write this, the big question for everybody who has an interest in SAA is whether Covid-19 is the final nail in the airline’s coffin? In early March we finally saw the first clear signs from the business rescue practitioners of their turnaround strategy. And it was ugly, withRead More →
Position Report
Sticky
2020-05-08
We are in a war against Covid-19, and desperate times call for desperate measures. As I write this we have been forced into a three-week nationwide lockdown. This is unprecedented – like a plot from a noir sci-fi novel. We are in unknown territory, so it’s difficult to guesstimate whatRead More →