CTFC News 20 July
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Safety Meeting

From the CFI's Desk

Fly Ins

Woman's Day Fly In

Vredendal Fly In

Aviation News

Out of Africa

Humour

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Dates to diarise

26 July - Safety Meeting at CTFC (see below)

28 July - South African landing Championship, Bloemfontein

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11-12 August - Woman's Day Fly in at FAWC

24-25 August- Vredendal Fly In

20 October - Aerobatic Nationals, Oudtshoorn

9-11 November - TFDC Fly-In, AFB Overberg www.flyin.org.za

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Safety Meeting 26 July

Topic will be “ hangar talk – that was close”.

Panel discussion with experienced pilots about their closest calls and what they learned from it.

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From the CFI's desk --> Jaco van Zyle

Dear members, students and fellow pilots.

You might have noticed a wendy house that sprung up out of the blue, as well as me spending a couple of late nights at the club.

The reason for this is that CAA made a decision after an ICAO audit to standardise all PPL exams. Initially they wanted all PPL exams to be administered by CAA, but that would have created the problem that students would only be able to write their exams on pre-set dates and that would make it impossible for the student who wished to complete his or her PPL in 4 weeks.

After some workshops held between CAA and the training sector in South Africa, led by Paul van Tellingen from AWSA, they decided to accredit some training organizations the status of approved testing centre, in order for us to administer our own exams. The requirements to become a testing centre are quite strict however, and to meet the minimum requirements we had to create a facility, hence the wendy house with the 3 online computers for exams.

I would like to thank Tony and Pam Russel for their time which they spent in installing the computers and software. Also I can truly say that we have a testing centre that compares with the CAA's own centre.

It is important for all students to take note of the following:

1. As of 2 July 2007, all PPL exams must be written online through the testing centre.

2. Bookings for exams have to be made through Beverly after the completion of an exam entry form.

3. The fees for the exams will be R 250,00 per subject, which is required by CAA - So make sure you have studied before attempting an exam.

4. Students who have written some of the PPL exams can get credits for those subjects already written, but only for a period of 60 days after 02/07/07. Please consult you instructor for advice on credits.

5. Students who already have written all their subjects only have 60 days after 02/07/07 to complete their practical flight test.

6. If you write subject on the new system you will have 6 months after the date of the last written subject to complete your practical flight test.

This testing centre is only the beginning of new and exciting things planned for aviation training. The long-term vision from CAA is that Comm. and ATP exams will also be written at an approved testing centre.

Study hard and fly safe.

Regards,

Jaco van Zyl

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Fly ins

Woman's Day fly in

Come and celebrate Woman's Day in Worcester this year --> Linda Hodgkinson

When: 11 and 12 August

Where: FAWC clubhouse

How: By aeroplane (book it ASAP) or by car if the weather fairy triumphs again. The party will happen regardless. Rain or shine, plane or Volkswagen.

How much: Accommodation ranges from R80 in a shared bungalow at the airfield to approx. R250 at nearby guesthouses. Cost of dinner and breakfast to be announced.

What: fly in on Saturday afternoon, have dinner, have fun, go to bed, have breakfast, go home. Not necessarily strictly in that order.

Who: Ursula Venter on 076 166 8761 or 028 272 9193 shebear@acenet.co.za for more info, accommodation bookings etc.
Linda Hodgkinson 082 925 8808 linda.hodgkinson@absamail.co.za for CTFC numbers and other CTFC issues e.g. filling up your plane with pax.

See you there.

PS: although this event is tailored to celebrate women's day, the other half of the population is welcome too.

PPS: The committee has kindly declared this an official fly away, which means minimum utilization rules will be waived for this event.

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Vredendal Fly in 24/25 August 2007

The Vredendal Fly in takes place on the weekend of the 24-26 August, with the actual air display taking place on the 25 August (Saturday).

The Silver Falcons will be displaying, as well as the Hawker Hunter from Thundercity/Shell Aviation. The Oryx and Police air wing will also be amongst the displays (and not to mention ZS-PMY from CTFC on static display).

More information on this fly in (regarding programme, accomodation etc) can be found on AvCom on http://avcom.co.za/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=21670&start=15 (page 2)

Members are reminded that the rules regarding minimum utelization are waived for fly ins.

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Aviation News --> Danny Buitendag

Wake Turbulence:

This picture was taken after a Boeing 747 flew over a fire on the ground on short finals to Hong Kong airport. This demonstrates the power of the vortex generated by such a large aircraft.













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ACSA signed contract for new Durban airport (iol.co.za)

Sapa reported that Airports Company of South Africa (Acsa) has signed a multi-billion rand contract with the Ilembe Consortium for the construction of a new airport north of Durban.

Acsa's managing director Monhla Hlahla said the R6,8-billion contract was "an important step in the right direction. Our main aim is to ensure that the airport is ready for 2010. Since late last year, we have been engaging with all relevant stakeholders to ensure that all legal and governance requirements were met".

She said that despite the contract being signed, Acas could not begin building until the outcome of an environmental impact assessment (EIA) was known.

"Acsa, as a corporate citizen will continue to follow due process in all matters relating to this project and the same will apply for the EIA study. Signing of the contract allows both Acsa and Ilembe to start certain processes within the construction and design framework considering the schedule involved in delivering the airport by 2010," Hlahla said.

The Ilembe Consortium consists of major shareholders Group Five, WBHO and Total Facilities Management Corporation, as well as a large group of KwaZulu-Natal empowered organisations. This group includes several women-owned companies. The consortium intended to use the best local and foreign consultants with airport experience to build a "world class airport" in time for the 2010 soccer world cup.

The EIA report has been submitted to the department of environmental affairs and tourism (DEAT) for the minister to issue a 'record of decision'. Once the EIA decision has been issued by the DEAT, Acsa will make further announcements, said Hlahla.

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Safety warning for UK's Corporate Jets

Analysis of business jet safety incidents in UK airspace indicates that business aviation as a whole does not - as it might have believed - have an underlying safety record to rival that of the airlines, even if the top corporate sector of business aviation does.

UK air navigation service provider NATS says 3.5% of the movements in the airspace it manages are business jets, but 16% of level bust incidents 33% of failures to follow standard instrument departures 12% of altimeter setting errors and 10% of the particularly dangerous error in which a pilot correctly acknowledges a level change instruction but fails to carry it out, involve business jets.
NATS safety division chief Richard Schofield, addressing a safety seminar at EBACE last week, also revealed that 10% of "gross navigational errors" in the Shanwick Atlanic oceanic area are committed by business-jet crews, and said that although this represents a small number of incidents it is disproportionate to the amount of business jet activity
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Out of Africa --> Sean O'Connor

Cape Town pilot Cameron Price and I were lucky enough to be in Goma when our Van needed a service. The service centre that we use is in a little town in Uganda called Kakirra, about 100km East of Entebbe along the northern shore of Lake Victoria. The flight to Entebbe started with the usual spectacularly diabolical weather in the alley between the volcanoes. We elected to go around the volcanoes and bust Rwandan airspace rather than risk picking our way through that! Once past the volcanoes, the skies cleared enough for us to see Lake Edward beneath us. The thought of ditching in that lake with its six metre crocs made us chant our FREDAS religiously until we were clear. A right turn at the equator kept us clear of the 17000ft high, snow-capped peaks of the Rwenzori “Mountains of the Moon”. From there the terrain gradually became less rugged as we approached Entebbe Airport on the Northern slopes of Lake Victoria.










Entebbe International is surrounded by lush greenery. The runway is on a finger of land that sticks out into Lake Victoria.


Uganda is a beautiful, peaceful and friendly country. Everyone speaks English, which is a great relief, because I don’t have to endure the usual DRC concentration headaches from speaking and listening to French. After clearing customs & passport control, we stocked up on cigars and other “party weekend” stuff at the duty free before flying the short hop to Kakirra. We left the Van in the capable hands of the SA maintenance team and hurried to our taxi which drove us the to The Jinja Nile Hotel, 30 minutes away in the town of Jinja, which is the source of the Nile, where Lake Victoria spills over into the Nile Gorge.










The maintenance hangar at Kakirra, with Lake Victoria in the background. The “ECHO” on the Van’s tail stands for European Commission of Human Rights Organisations (I think!). That’s who I fly for here (I think!)


Colonial guilt was the furthest thing from my mind when we checked into the hotel, ate dinner on the patio overlooking the Nile and basked in the attention of the courteous white jacketed hotel staff. After dinner we had had enough culture so we walked down the road to the backpackers lodge - we had heard that two overland trucks full of backpackers were overnighting there. The place is run by a Costa Rican / Californian honey called Anna and her boyfriend, Johan, from Bloemfontein. We taught the backpackers how to drink springbokke without their hands (their hands were too busy making thilly springbokkie horns on top of their heads) and with a bit of fluffy white ass showing. When Anna started looking concerned about the mess and the drooling, semi-comatose backpackers she would have to dispose of, Cameron and I snuck out.






The view from my room at the Jinja Nile Hotel


In the morning we decided to explore Jinja the local way, on bicycle taxis, called boda-Badas. The Boda pilots really earn their money the hard way, but could probably increase their turnover if they deodorized a bit. They laboured up the hills and speed-wobbled dangerously down the other sides! We ate pap and Tilapia (river fish), visited the point clamed to be the actual source of The Nile and then headed back to the hotel for more colonial excess.










Boda-boda. The cheapest way to get around Jinja.


The next morning we were going to go river rafting, when we saw some of the river guides heading off in kayaks. We said, “Take us with you!” and they said they were going to surf a standing wave in the river and if we could roll the canoes, we could go along. Cameron and I surprised them and ourselves with some rolls and we were hooked up! What a day! We were dragged down rapids upside down, bashed into boulders, trapped in raging eddies – was awesome!










Riding the standing wave called “Super Hole”. The wave breaks upstream – the river is flowing from right to left in the pic.


My Ugandan experience was unforgettable and I would recommend the country to anyone that truly wants to experience Africa’s beauty, without the tensions of war and crime. I believe that Idi’s army was run into North DRC many years ago and are re-grouping with the intention of re-gaining power. They are being funded by soulless first world countries and businesses that could stand to gain mineral and other interests if the rebels came into power. Same game, different playing field, different players.

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Humour

Famous last words and other one liners--> Linda Hodgkinson


1. I'm from the CAA and I'm here to help you.

2. Me? I've never busted minimums.

3. We will be on time, maybe even early.

4. Pardon me, ma'am, I seem to have lost my jet keys.

5. I have no interest in flying for the airlines.

6. I fixed it right the first time, it must have failed for other reasons.

7. All that turbulence spoiled my landing.

8. I'm a member of the mile high club.

9. I only need glasses for reading.

10. I broke out right at minimums.

11. The weather is gonna be alright; it's clearing to VFR.

12. Don't worry about the weight and balance -- it'll fly.

13. If we get a little lower I think we'll see the lights.

14. I'm 22, got 6000 hours, a four year degree & 3000 hours in a Lear.

15. We shipped the part yesterday.

16. I'd love to have a woman co-pilot.

17. All you have to do is follow the book.

18. This plane outperforms the book by 20 percent.

19. We in aviation are overpaid, under worked and well respected.

20. Oh sure, no problem, I've got over 2000 hours in that aircraft.

21. I have 5000 hours total time, 3200 are actual instrument.

22. No need to look that up, I've got it all memorized.

23. Sure I can fly it -- it has wings, doesn't it?

24. We'll be home by lunchtime.

25. Your plane will be ready by 2 o'clock.

26. I'm always glad to see the CAA.

27. We fly every day -- we don't need recurrent training.

28. It just came out of an MPI -- how could anything be wrong?

29. I thought YOU took care of that.

30. I've got the field in sight.

31. I've got the traffic in sight.

32. Of course I know where we are.

33. I'm SURE the gear was down.