Bombardier is very proud to announce the entry-into-service of the innovative, long-range Global 5500 business jet, which was recently delivered to an undisclosed customer. This high-value aircraft represents the gateway into Bombardier’s flagship large-cabin Global family, offering world-renowned performance, comfort and the smoothest ride. Last year, Bombardier announced that the Global 5500 aircraft can fly 200 nautical miles more than planned, and its new range of 5,900 nautical miles is 700 nautical miles more than the nearest competitor at the same speed. “This spacious and efficient aircraft is the ultimate business tool, with the range and access to safely take our customers where th

The first of eight Airbus A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft ordered by the NATO Multinational MRTT Fleet (MMF) has been delivered after a ceremony held at the Airbus Getafe site in Spain. The official acceptance of this first aircraft marks a decisive milestone towards the entry into service of this multinational unit formed by the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Norway, Germany, Belgium and the Czech Republic. The aircraft has arrived at its Main Operating Base located in Eindhoven, the Netherlands. The MMF fleet will also operate from a second location, the Forward Operating Base in Cologne, Germany. Dirk Hoke, Chief Executive Officer of Airbus Defence and Space, said: “The NATO MM

In 1992, just a year after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Maj.- Gen. (res.) David Ivri, then-director- general of the Defence Ministry and a former commander of the Israel Air Force, made a visit to the Czech Republic. “The Czech deputy chief of staff told me that when he was in the National Defence College in Moscow in 1982,” Ivri recalls, “he learned that the blow to the Syrian surface-to-air missile batteries (SAM) was a catalyst for glasnost (increased government transparency) in the Soviet Union. The strategic theory that the West lacked the capability to withstand the SAM system had been disproven, and this raised many doubts about Soviet capabilities in general, and the defence

Anthony Foxcroft is the CFI of Aviation Training Last year I embarked upon the process of converting my South African ATPL to an EASA licence. In EASA states, attendance at an approved ground school is mandatory before you will be allowed to write the exams. Candidates with sufficient experience are given a waiver of this requirement but are still required to write all 13 exams. Even so, it is a massive undertaking and to make things more interesting I was juggling that with the demands of family life and a full-time airline job flying 90 hours a month. It was hard work, but I was able to complete everything in 6 months. I attribute a large part of that to the fact that, although my initial

Feeling queasy? Airsickness, a specific type of motion sickness, is a common ailment for many pilots and passengers. It tends to happen more often early in flight training, as your body adjusts to the moving elements involved with flying an aircraft. Passengers are also likely to get airsick since they often read or focus on objects inside the aircraft. If you're a new pilot or passenger experiencing airsickness when you fly, try not to become frustrated. Many people get airsick when they first begin flying, but there are methods for overcoming it. The good news is that most people go on to experience rewarding flying hobbies or careers. What Causes Airsickness? Airsickness is the result of

What would the country’s Airshows and National Celebrations be without the SAAF Aerobatic Display Team? For those of us that religiously follow the South African Airshow circuit it will represent a missing part of the history of the South African Air Force. For generations, the South African Airforce Silver Falcons Aerobatic Team have thrilled crowds across South Africa, bolstered national pride and encouraged aspiring future SAAF Aviators. The Silver Falcons the South African Airforce only formation aerobatics display team is currently based at Air Force Base Langebaanweg to the North of Cape Town. The Silver Falcons fly the Pilatus PC-7 Mk II, the basic trainer of the SAAF in a precise fiv

Airbus Helicopters’ five-bladed H145 has been certified by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), clearing the way for customer deliveries later in 2020. The certification covers the full range of capabilities, including single-pilot and instrument flight rules (IFR) and single-engine operations (Cat.A/VTOL), along with night vision goggles capability. “Our new five-bladed H145 is an excellent example of our quest for continuous improvement and providing incremental innovation that responds to our customers' requirements", said Bruno Even, Airbus Helicopters CEO. “This helicopter combines value-added features with the robustness and the reliability of a tried-and-tested best-selle

By Rob Russell Much has been spoken about Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-b), what it does and how it works, but how will it impact on aviation and how will it affect your flights? ADS-B is a Surveillance technique that relies on aircraft, or airport vehicles, broadcasting their identity, position and other information derived from onboard systems (Global Navigation Satellite System etc.). This signal (ADS-B Out) can be captured for surveillance purposes on the ground (ADS-B Out) or onboard other aircraft in order to facilitate airborne traffic situational awareness, spacing, separation and self-separation (ADS-B In). ADS-B is automatic because no external stimulus is require

Who would have ever thought that a Cub type aircraft would be fitted with a nose-wheel, well it has been done and apparently it is being well accepted by the aviation world. I know some hardened taildragger pilots that would have a field day ripping into this aircraft and of course the pilot. Following a year-long public Market Survey effort, light aircraft manufacturer CubCrafters has officially decided to certify and offer a nose-wheel option for its flagship Part 23 certified aircraft, the CC-19 Xcub. “Putting a nose-wheel on a modern Cub type aircraft certainly surprised some people, but the overwhelming public response has been positive, especially among the more than 300 pilots that ha

Airlink has applied to the South Gauteng High Court on an urgent basis to interdict South African Airways and SAA’s business rescue practitioners from convening a meeting of creditors to consider the business rescue plan prepared by the practitioners and call for a vote on the plan. Airlink will also seek to have the business rescue process terminated, the appointment of its business rescue practitioners (BRPs) set aside and apply for SAA be placed in provisional liquidation. The Court has agreed to hear the matter this Wednesday, 24 June 2020. Airlink and SAA are not competitors as alleged by the Department of Public Enterprises. For the past 23 years, Airlink has been a franchisee of SAA,

Bell Textron and Boeing have delivered the 400th V-22 Osprey to the United States Department of Defence. The US Air Force Special Operations command received the CV-22 on June 2, marking a milestone for the world’s first production tilt-rotor aircraft. “The delivery of the 400th V-22 represents the demand for this platform’s unique capabilities. It is a testament to the diligence of the men and women from Bell, Boeing and our entire supply chain who build and deliver this incredible aircraft to our customers,” said Kurt Fuller, Bell V-22 vice president and Bell Boeing program director. “For over 30 years, the people who support the Bell Boeing V-22have been the foundation in bringing tiltrot

The Pipistrel Velis Electro is the world’s first fully-electric aeroplane ever to receive type certification. The two-seater, intended primarily for pilot training, is a game-changing aircraft in terms of technological innovations and cost-efficiency. Its EASA certification paves the way for the future of environmentally sustainable, emission-free aviation. After years of intensive research and several successful award-winning electric aircraft models developed since 2007, Pipistrel has today achieved a breakthrough feat in aviation history, having type certified the battery-powered Velis Electro. Working in tight collaboration with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, whose engagement

Many pilots worldwide remember the Cessna 172 Skyhawk with affection and respect as it is the aircraft responsible for their ab initio training. Aviators and enthusiasts around the world are celebrating the 65th anniversary of the first flight of the most popular single-engine aircraft in aviation history. Since the aircraft first took to the sky more than 45,000 Skyhawks have been delivered to customers around the world, more than any other aircraft in the industry and solidifying the Skyhawk as the aircraft of choice for pilot training. “On June 12, 1955, the Cessna 172 Skyhawk took to the skies for the first time, paving the way for more than six decades of piston innovation and leadershi

Louise Hahn is the Head of Training at Aviation Training I often encounter the notion that the 18-month time frame in which you must complete your exams is the “recommended” time. It is actually a rather generous time and is the maximum allowed under the law, not a target. Whilst it is possible to download the syllabus and try and work out what you need to study, this is very time consuming and you will often find that without direction you will waste time studying the wrong thing or not to the required depth. This all comes at a cost. Let us first look at the direct costs, you will most probably buy a subscription to a question and answer database, you will also need to get your hands on so

Winglets have been understood since the beginnings of aviation. In fact an Englishman, Frederick W. Lanchester described them in 1897 before the Wright Brothers had even taken flight. Like many great pioneers of his time, Lanchester looked to birds for inspiration. He noted that soaring eagles had splayed upturned feathers at their wingtips and he incorporated this into his designs for model gliders. It was some time back in the early '80s when aircraft wings started to sprout "winglets" –those things that look like fins attached to the end of the wing. But what are they, what do they do and how do they do it? Do they make the plane go faster, use less fuel or are they just another billboar

The US. Navy’s Blue Angel flight demonstration squadron has taken delivery of their first Super Hornet test aircraft from Boeing cementing their 50-year partnership. The unpainted aircraft now enters the flight test and evaluation phase at Naval Air Station Patuxent River in Maryland. A further 10 aircraft are expected to be delivered later this year. “The Super Hornet is an iconic representation of excellence in naval aviation,” said ret. Admiral Pat Walsh, vice president of US. Navy & Marine Corps Services for Boeing. Walsh flew with the Blue Angels from 1985 to 1987 as the Left Wingman (#3) and Slot Pilot (#4). “As Boeing continues to support the operational fleet of Navy Super Hornets, w

John Rucci, Test Pilot, Shares his View on Entering a New Age in Heavy Lift It is probably safe to say that Hollywood studios aren’t pinning their next blockbuster hopes on a film about a heavy-lift helicopter, but the role that these machines play in the modern battle-space cannot be overstated. The recent decades have shown a marked increase in the use of heavy-lift helicopters due to their range, payload, and performance. This increase in demand prompted the US. Marine Corps to develop a replacement for its heavy-lift workhorse, the CH-53E Super Stallion. The CH-53K King Stallion was conceived to perform all the legacy assault support missions but over longer distances with much more payl

Modern gliders are very complex machines designed for recreational flying and competitions but not many are aware of the role played by gliders in the second world war. Gliders were used by both the German and Allied forces to deploy troops and equipment to the battlefield. It is largely accepted that the skill and courage of both the British and American glider pilots during the D-Day invasions were a major contributor to the invasions eventual success. It takes extreme bravery to enter a war zone, behind enemy lines, in an aircraft that has no power of its own and is made from predominantly of wood or canvas. That's exactly how some British and American forces went into battle at Normandy.

TECNAM has announced the introduction of a new player into the General Aviation arena with the Type Certificate expected by July, the P2010 TDI has been one of the most secret development programs ever! Burning just less than 20 litres per hour, with roomy, Italian-style shaped cabin interiors, and taking advantage of the high-wing configuration with 3 access doors plus another dedicated one for the baggage compartment, is no longer a dream. And it is no longer a dream to cover 1,000nm with the full tank capacity of 240 litres. The P2010 TDI role is to fill a gap in customer choices, as they can now order the “Twenty-Ten” with three different power-plants, and three different fuel capabiliti

SpaceX opened a new era of human space travel on Saturday when it became the first private company to launch astronauts into orbit, nearly a decade after the government retired the space shuttle program, and a South African was in the driving seat of this amazing feat. Two American astronauts lifted off at 9:22 pm local time from a familiar setting, the same Florida launchpad that once served Apollo missions and the space shuttles. But the rocket and capsule that lofted them out of the atmosphere were a new sight for many, built and operated not by NASA but SpaceX, the company founded by the billionaire Elon Musk to pursue his dream of sending colonists to Mars. Millions from South Africa an