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 'Lessons
SAA must learn'
The South African Airways (SAA) board failed a key deliverable
- timeliness - as it kept journalists waiting for more than
30 minutes on Friday, after it detained SAA CEO Khaya Ngqula,
who apologised profusely, as he knew that arriving on time
could make or break an airline.
SAA
chiefs on mat over credit card sprees
South African Airways (SAA) has suspended four high-ranking
officials on allegations of misconduct and gross negligence
in the performance of their duties.
South
African Airways cutting out the fat
South African
Airways is planning savings of 1.6 billion rand (USD$268.9
million), returning the struggling state-owned airline to
profitability, Chief Executive Officer Khaya Ngqula said.
SAA
makes changes after Ngqula's arrival
 SAA
has changed its plans for services to the US and to China
following the arrival of Khaya Ngqula as its chief executive,
and intends to strengthen its route network in Africa.
Turbulence over retrenchment packages
Trade
unions could take action to protest the inconsistencies in
retrenchment pay-outs for transport workers, Chris de Vos,
general secretary of the United Transport and Allied Trade
Union (Utata), said on Sunday.
50%
of South African Airways' management expected to leave
South
African Airways (SAA) is offering voluntary severance packages
to its 602 managers as part of its effort to turn the business
around.
Malindi
airport: 60,000 squatters block expansion
60,000
squatters living around Malindi airport have vowed to block
the planned expansion of the airport. They want the airport
to be relocated.
Afra
Airlines awarded Ghana Air Carrier License
As the culmination
of 12 months of extensive preparation work and with the assistance
and support of the Ministry of Tourism, the Ghana Tourist
Board and the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority, Afra Airlines
has announced it has been awarded its Air Carrier's License
for cargo and passenger operations by the Ghana Civil Aviation
Authority and an Air Tour Operators License from the Ghana
Tourist Board.
Afra Airlines
and CTK-CiTylinK, both Accra-based airlines, today announced
they have entered into a cooperative agreement that will enable
new flight services for domestic Ghanaian routes and open
West African regional routes.
Air
Force celebrates 85th anniversary in style
The South African Air Force (SAAF) brought traffic to a standstill
outside Pretoria yesterday as it celebrated its 85th anniversary.
Flypasts by various SAAF units had motorists gaping in awe
as jets, transport aircraft and helicopters roared over the
capital.
Arms
package faces critical risk' as funds dry up
South Africa's defence department is in danger of not being
able to fund the integration of weapons bought as part of
new strategic defence packages .
The department has classified the problem as a "critical risk"
needing extra funding from national treasury, which it has
asked for an additional R120m to make the weapons operational.
Air Tanzania
announced it is pulling out of the Dar es Salaam–Nairobi route,
leaving Kenya Airways, currently with two daily flights, as
the only carrier. An earlier code share agreement was not
renewed between the two airlines.
Boost
awaits city airport
 Wonderboom
Airport is set to become Africa's most modern aviation service
centre with plans by a multi-national to invest more than
R300-million in new buildings, equipment and spare parts.
EAA
Hosts Agents
Despite
its bare-knuckle row with Kenya Airways over the Entebbe Nairobi
route, East African Airlines (EAA) found time to party last
Thursday and threw a bash for travel agents. Which was just
as well seeing that the agents are a vital cog in the airline
industry wheel-linking passengers to airlines.
Ethiopian
Considers Acquiring Five Aircraft
Ethiopian
Airlines' management is soliciting offers from two global
aircraft manufacturers, American Boeing and European Airbus,
to acquire five new aircraft after 2008.
Five
Years On, Cause of Mishap Unknown
Five years
after the Kenya Airways flight KQ 431 crashed off the coast
of Abidjan in Cote d'Ivore, relatives of victims are yet to
know the cause of the accident.This despite the fact that
the Kenya Government has the accident report which was handed
over by the Cote d'Ivoire authorities in December 2003.
Govt
denies deadly air strike
The Sudanese
government on Thursday denied its air force attacked a village
in Darfur killing 100 villagers and insisted it had never
used aerial bombardment against civilians.
Harare
Airport: Natural Gateway to Region
 The
new Harare International Airport terminal, dubbed the natural
gateway for Southern Africa, is not only servicing Zimbabwe
and the fast growing Southern Development Community, but it
has encompassed the whole world.
Immigration
officials 'a threat to tourism'
The hard-nosed attitude of immigration officials at Cape Town
International Airport, who summarily booted out three foreign
visitors because they did not comply with minor passport requirements,
could cost South African tourism dearly, industry spokespeople
say.
KA
Receives Miami Route Offer
The Miami
International Airport has presented a business proposal to
Kenya Airways to operate three direct weekly flights to Miami.Miguel
Southwell, the airport's assistant business development director,
yesterday assured Kenya Airways there would be enough passenger
and freight capacity to sustain the operation.
Kenya
Airways Launches New Ticket System
International
passengers flying to and from Mombasa will be able to use
electronic tickets, national carrier Kenya Airways announced
yesterday.
More
clouds hang over 'unlicensed' Civair
 Civair,
the airline that left thousands of passengers stranded over
the holidays when it cancelled its inaugural flights between
South Africa (SA) and London, was not licensed to land in
Britain, the Cape Times has established.
Airline
Operators to Protest Airspace Closure
Indications
emerged yesterday that domestic airlines under the aegis of
the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) are billed to protest
the closure of the Abuja airspace by the Nigerian Airspace
Management Agency (NAMA) at the behest of the Federal Government.
Opening
of Tunisian Air Link a Boost for Intra-Africa Trade
Direct air
flights between Tunisia and SA are soon be established in
a move to stimulate intraAfrica trade and tourism between
the south and the north of the continent, says the Tunisian
ambassador to SA, Ali Gautali.Tourism within the continent
was being frustrated by lack of public transport.
Qatar
Airways lights up South Africa sky
 Qatar
Airways, one of the fastest growing airlines in the world,
has taken South Africa by storm by unveiling the world's largest-ever
moving billboard to officially announce its arrival in the
country.
Seven
killed in Sudan plane crash
 A
cargo plane has crashed outside the Sudanese capital, Khartoum,
killing all seven people on board.Six Russians and one Sudanese
died in the crash in the desert at about 0800 local time (0600
GMT).
Online
Travel Bookings Flying High
The online
travel industry is booming, with local companies reporting
annual increases of between 45% and 200% in online bookings.Flysaa.com
says it has seen significant growth since it became the first
to launch an online air travel booking service in March 2001.
Tsunami
mercy flight lands in Somalia
An
aircraft on a South African mercy flight to tsunami victims
in Somalia landed in that country on Tuesday morning after
being delayed in Uganda.
U.S.
Team Arrives to Audit Aviation Sector Reforms
A Miami
Civil Aviation Authority delegation is in Kenya to audit the
progress so far made in upgrading Jomo Kenyatta International
Airport (JKIA).A positive assessment is expected to culminate
in the upgrading of Kenya's prime airport to Category One
status.
Upgrading
airspace to cost Sh2.2 billion
Implementation of the Kenya airspace master plan will cost
the country more than US$28 million (Sh2.2 billion), a regional
aviation conference was told yesterday.
Visitor
numbers the highest on last day of Mideast’s premier air sport
event
 Under the auspices
of His Highness General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan,
Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE
Armed Forces, Sheikh Tahnoun bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi
Ruler’s Representative in the Eastern Region, attended the closing
ceremony of Al Ain Aerobatics Show and the 21st FAI World Grand
Prix. |
Visitors
Tell of Ordeal Over Kid's Passport
A German
family who regularly visit Cape Town, were shocked when they
faced possible deportation at Cape Town airport because their
toddler son's passport lacked enough space for a temporary
residence stamp.
Air
Links With Uganda 'Political', Say Economists
The proposed
commercial air link between Harare and Kampala in Uganda will
be a political project with no economic benefit to Zimbabwe,
economists have said.They said the government should consider
economically viable routes in countries with stronger economies.
21st
FAI world Grand Prix results
 The
21st FAI world Grand Prix, took place in Al Ain
city in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 26 – 28 January
2005 at the 2005 AL AIN AEROBATICS SHOW.
A
light on U.S. airline security
Cigarette
lighters will be confiscated at airline security checkpoints
as of Feb. 15. You'll still be allowed to pack lighters in
checked baggage, and so far at least, there are no rules against
carrying matches on board.
Aero
AT-3 R100 receives EASA Type Certification
 The
Aero AT-3 R100 VLA all-metal 2-seat training and touring aircraft,
designed and built by Aero Sp. z o.o. of Poland and marketed
by S2T Aviation and S2T Aero Limited based in Germany and
the U.K. respectively, received its EASA Type Certification
on the 21st of January 2005.
Airborne
laser shoots ballistic missiles
 Lockheed Martin has announced it has begun
final integration of the flight turret assembly for the Airborne
Laser (ABL) program.
Another
airline to adopt FlightVu CDMS
Britannia
Nordic, a leading charter holiday flights operator from Norway
and Sweden and is part of TUI AG, has adopted FlightVu Cockpit
Door Monitoring Systems (CDMS) for its fleet of 6 Boeing 737-800s.
Britannia Nordic is one of the first Scandinavian based airlines
take this move in enhancing the security and safety of its
passengers and crew.
Buffalo
Chip to FAA
Buffalo
Chip to the Federal Aviation Administration for investigating
a Utah helicopter pilot who allegedly broke regulations while
helping a family in need in Southern Utah.
Challenger
jet crash probe focuses on icing
 A
black box reluctant to give up its secrets and a delayed interview
frustrated federal investigators Thursday in their efforts
to determine what caused a corporate jet to abort a takeoff
at Teterboro Airport, leaving 20 people injured.
Closer
look at the Challenger 600 series airplane
 The
commuter airplane involved in the Teterboro accident has a
history of crashes. The aircraft itself doesn’t appear to
present a pattern of safety problems.
Engine
smoke delays Alitalia take-off
 An
Alitalia plane bound for Milan was delayed in Malta Tuesday
after smoke was seen belching out of one of its engines minutes
before take-off.
Fiery
1946 Constellation crash recalled
 On
a lazy summer afternoon 58 years ago, Ralph K. Brown was harvesting
wheat when a huge, four-engine airliner swooped down from
the sky near Reading.
Frankfurt
Airport night-flight ban faces airline grievances
Frankfurt
Airport, Europe's second- busiest airfield, faces formal grievances
from as many as 30 carriers against a planned ban on night-time
flights, an airline association said.
George
W gets new wings and wheels
 George W is updating the fleet all round it seems. Just a few days
ago we saw the new presidential limousine, and now comes the
news that a new Presidential helicopter has been selected
to provide a safe and secure "Oval Office in the Sky."
HAL
to showcase advanced aircraft at Aero India expo
 Hindustan
Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) will be showcasing its flagship product
Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) and the Intermediate Jet Trainer
(IJT) at the upcoming Aero India exposition.
Jet
crash stewardess a hero
 The
pilot of the corporate jet that plowed across a highway into
a warehouse in Teterboro, N.J., told a lawyer he believes
"something malfunctioned on the plane."
Lack
of communication cited in Iraq helicopter crash
Two
Army helicopters that collided over Iraq's capital, killing
two pilots and injuring two others, lost sight of each other
for nearly four minutes while maneuvering at night and failed
to send radio warnings even after the lead helicopter circled
and slowed dramatically, military investigators said.
Last
training flight leaves Tomcat pilots with lingering nostalgia
 It
had been nearly a dozen years since Joseph ''Hoser'' Satrapa
last stepped into the heart of a gray, curvy jet with wings
that sweep back for speed and a Harley Davidson kind of swagger.
Million
dollars worth of cocaine found on airplane
 Airport workers At Tulsa's International
Airport discovered a quarter of a million dollars worth of
cocaine hidden inside an airplane.
NASA
balloon makes record flight
A NASA scientific
balloon has broken the flight record for duration and distance,
soaring for nearly 42 days and making three orbits around
the South Pole.
Passport
deadline causes airlines to bypass U.S.
Several
countries are unable to meet a second deadline set by the
U.S. government for the introduction of biometric passports
for their citizens, according to a State Department official.
Pilot
facing life in prison on drugs charge
A Garfield
County judge set bond at half a million dollars for a Texas
man accused of trying to smuggle more than 400 pounds of marijuana
through Enid this week.
Protected
birds seized at Malta airport
 Officials of
the Enforcement Unit within the Customs Department on Friday
intercepted a suitcase packed with songbirds and carcasses
of protected birds, including birds of prey at the Malta International
Airport (MIA).
Royal
Aero Club Awards
The Royal
Aero Club Annual Awards Ceremony for 2004 was held at The
National Army Museum, Chelsea, England on Thursday 3rd February
2005.
Sikorsky
Aircraft statement on VXX announcement
Sikorsky
Aircraft Corporation received word today that its H-92 helicopter
was not selected as the next Marine One helicopter. The company
anticipates a full debrief on the Navy's evaluation and analysis.
Spoiled
food plagued aging Sea King crews
 You can add rancid meat, mouldy bread and
sour milk to the dangers faced by the stalwart crews of Canada's
rickety Sea King helicopters.
US
jets flying over Iran to spot potential targets
The US
is increasing the pressure on Iran by sending military planes
into its airspace to test the country's defences and spot
potential targets, according to an intelligence source in
Washington.
Wing
rib inspection and repair for Airbus A330 / A340
According
an airworthiness directive, all Airbus A330 and A340 series
aircraft must have a detailed visual inspection of the LH
and RH rib 6 aft aperture.
Wreckage
of missing Afghan plane found
 The
wreckage of an Afghan airliner that went missing with 104
people on board was found Friday near the capital, Kabul,
a day after it was turned away because of heavy snow, a Western
security source said.
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...and
on a lighter - and more pleasurable note..
USA Military
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