APRIL’S AMENDMENTS ARE VERY interesting. There was a total of seven Type Certified aircraft (TCA) registered, being seven fixed wing and two helicopters.
One of the new registrations is ZS-AAC (5) a Kodiak 100. This has been operating in Botswana as N54KQ for some while now. The registration ZS-AAC has been used four times before. The first being an Avro Avion that was written off in December 1939. The second was Anglo American’s Gulfstream 1 which was re-registered in Swaziland during the apartheid years and then sold in the USA. Number three was a Beech Bonanza V35 which became ZS-WYN before going to the USA and the last one (number four) was a Cessna 180 which recently went to the Czech Republic.
Other aircraft registered this month and using previously allocated registrations are ZS-CMR (3). This used to be a Cessna 175 and then a Bombardier CL600. ZS-DBB was a DC3/C47 which ended her days in Cuba. ZS-FHG was a Cherokee 180 which was written off some time ago and ZS-FJA was a Cessna 172 that was scrapped a while back.
‘ZS-AAC has been used four times before’
The CL600 -2D24 is a new aircraft for Cemair and arrived in this country in April from Ireland. This is their second 900 series aircraft and I believe there is one more to come in the near future.
Two new Air Tractors have made their appearance, as has a brand-new Pilatus PC12. There is also an Embraer 145 and two helicopters.
The Non TCA side is very quiet. There are two very interesting aircraft this month, being a new AHRLAC (the third one to be built) and a Piaggio P166 Albatross. Initially I thought this Piaggio would be an ex SAAF one but the manufacturers serial number was one allocated to the Italian Air Force as MM25161. I can’t trace a SAAF tail number for her. If anybody knows any better, please let me know.
The number of drones as grown by fifty, with six withdrawn from use.
Exports of aircraft continue at a pace – we’ve lost another seven this month. One of them is a very old, ex Nationwide Boeing 737-529 which has gone to Zimbabwe. I believe she’s been operating in Eastern Europe for many years and has now been sold off. The rest of the exports go to countries all over the world. Included in these are two Piper PA46 TP Malibus which have gone to Switzerland and Germany.
Tail Piece
Our first major post Covid airshow was held at Stellenbosch and was a huge success. The Aeroclub’s Air Week was held in April at Middelburg and was, by all reports, also a great success. Hopefully the season will open up even further.
New Registrations ZS-
ZS-AAC QUEST AIRCRAFT DESIGN, LLC KODIAK 100 100-0054 N54KQ
ZS-CMR BOMBARDIER INC CL-600-2D24 15398 EI-FPA, C-GWFX
ZS-DBB AIR TRACTOR INC AT-402B 1466
ZS-FHG PILATUS AIRCRAFT LTD PC-12/47E 2180
ZS-FJA EMBRAER EMPRESA BRASILEIRA DEAERONAUTICA EMB-145LR 145468 N14907, PT-SVN
ZS-TKZ AIRBUS HELICOPTERS EC 130 T2 9171 N929NP
ZS-XDX AIR TRACTOR INC AT-502A 502A-3351
New Registrations ZR-ZT-
ZT-RFM BELL HELICOPTER 407 53526 N143KT, C-GKLE
New Registrations ZU-
ZU-MWA MICHAEL LEVY AHRLAC MK1 A-003
ZU-ORC PIAGGIO P166 DL3 NC483 MM25161
Deleted ZS–
ZS-HKM AGUSTA WESTLAND S.P.A AW139 31605 NAMIBIA
ZS-HRT ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R66 0310 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
ZS-IMJ PIPER AIRCRAFT CORPORATION PA-46-500TP 4697493 SWITZERLAND
ZS-JSV AVIONS PIERRE ROBIN DR 400/180 1110 BELGIUM
ZS-NOX CESSNA AIRCRAFT COMPANY T303 T303-00288 NETHERLAND
ZS-PKU BOEING AIRPLANE COMPANY 737-529 25249 ZIMBABWE
ZS-TAY PIPER AIRCRAFT CORPORATION PA-46-500TP 4697304 GERMANY