It had to happen. General aviation autopilots have been advancing at such a pace that it is now possible to install a switch on light aircraft that will take over from the pilot, fly to the nearest suitable airport and land on it. This must be great comfort to allRead More →
INTRODUCTION (BY EDGE): In this, the third and final instalment of their circumnavigation of Africa in 60 days, we travel all the way back down the eastern edge of the continent with our two intrepid flyers: Edge Bisset and Jaap Scholten. It’s hot in the cockpit and the afternoon sunRead More →
Several African air arms have recently been modernising their transport fleets through acquisitions or reactivating idle fleets. Two visitors to South Africa are indicative of this. Lanseria saw two new notable arrivals in military transport aircraft during August: a Chinese manufactured Shaanxi Y-8F-200 of the Jeshi la Anga la WananchiRead More →
Namibian airline, Westair, made its inaugural flight into Cape Town on Friday 4 October 2019. The airline will be offering 7 flights a week for 4 days a week from Eros Airport in Windhoek, stopping at Oranjemund on the way to Cape Town. Cape Town is the first international destinationRead More →
Most of the time, flying helicopters is pretty mundane. I cruise overhead, busy with a particular project or task and watch people commute to work, from my little cockpit office. You see, helicopter pilots are normal people too, you know! We have jobs, homes and families, gardens, pets and allRead More →
Boeing has created a new safety committee to oversee both design and manufacturing in a move the company said reaffirms its “longstanding commitment to aerospace safety and the safety of its products and services.” Called the Aerospace Safety Committee (ASC), this permanent office will be headed by retired Admiral EdmundRead More →
‘There is no such thing as a stupid question’ is a statement I often make while talking to the public about flying, or when briefing students during a simulator session or an elementary training flight at Lanseria. Well, I lied. There is no shortage of stupid questions – but everythingRead More →
The pleasure – albeit transient – of owning a brand spanking new aircraft has become exponentially more expensive and thus out of the reach of many. The benefit of this for South Africa’s thankfully still deep repository of skills in aviation maintenance is a thriving industry refurbishing old aircraft. ITRead More →
70 Years in Africa. The Aeronca Sedan is one of those rare classics, appreciated by those in the know. A direct competitor to the Cessna C170, it does almost everything better, with a wonderfully spacious four-place cabin and a fabulous wing that likes to fly slow so well it doesn’tRead More →
This report was compiled in the interest of promoting aviation safety and not to establish legal liability. SYNOPSIS The aircraft departed Wonderboom Aerodrome (FAWB) at approximately 12h00Z with five occupants onboard for a flight to Sishen. After being airborne for approximately two hours they joined overhead Sishen aerodrome at 2000Read More →
