Cape Town Review 2020

CAPE TOWN REVIEW

November 2020

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ZT-HEL performing tricky hoist training at night.

Helicopter operations to the

AGA pilots may routinely be expected to fly a 130

highest worldwide standards

nm mission to a ship far out at sea to rescue a sick

are incredibly demanding, and in this regard, AGA Helicopters

crewman through a howling gale with low visibility – without any compromise in safety. Locating a moving ship after more than an hour’s blind flying

stands firmly on its three core

through a storm and then hovering with sufficient

values: Quality, Safety and

precision to hoist a stretcher from a heaving deck

Integrity. These core values are nowhere more needed than in meeting the fearsome challenges of offshore shipping operations, in Southern Africa and now globally.

requires helicopter flying skills of the highest order, as well as an intensely rigorous application of the organisation’s Safety Management Systems to mitigate risk.

AGA Helicopters was founded in 2011 as AALSA but became AGA Helicopters in 2016 when the founder, Malcolm Pitcher, bought out his partners, making this world class company 100% South African owned and controlled. AGA Helicopters is a fully SACAA approved Aircraft Operating Company (AOC), which operates from its base at Cape Town

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International Airport’s General Aviation area, with its own large hangar facility.

Investing in the latest technology helicopters

AGA operates its own helistop, in the Port of Cape Town customs and immigration area, which is SACAA approved for day and night VFR

is key to AGA’s success and they are proud to

operations. This enables AGA to offer a full OPL

have acquired another Airbus H145 twin-engine

(Off Port Limits) service to the shipping industry

all-weather helicopter to further strengthen their

and emergency maritime services (Search and

offshore capability. This was put to the test when

Rescue and Medevac), with industry partnerships

they managed to accomplish a very demanding

in Cape Town and internationally.

medevac off Walvis bay during the Covid-19 lockdown.

Building on its vast institutional knowledge

AGA is now operating globally and is approved by leading international organisations, including OGP (Oil, Gas and Petroleum) approved, as well

and experience base in demanding maritime

as being a member of SAOGA (South African

operations, AGA Helicopters also loves to share

Oil and Gas Alliance). Pitcher says that his

the beauty of the Cape by providing bespoke VIP

company prides itself on meeting any international

charters to fly tourist to wine farms and natural

standards its clients may need. Being OGP

attractions.

approved is part of AGA’s continual drive to meet

The crew - with Covid gear - who performed a medevac from offshore Walvis Bay.

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the highest safety and quality standards and

to owners and operators. AGA is focusing its

provide a dedicated, proven and reliable service to

future development plans on expanding its proven

its customers.

reliable services and investment in South Africa by

AGA has over the years serviced many contracts across Africa, in Uganda, Kenya,

AGA provides Flight Operations through AGA

Mozambique, Namibia, South Sudan, Swaziland,

Helicopters Part 127 and Part 138 AOC, as well

Madagascar, DRC, Liberia, as well as in the

as maintenance through its FliteTech AMO at the

Middle East and Afghanistan.

Cape Town International Airport facility, in support

AGA Helicopters skilled crews and personnel enable on-deck landing, hoist and cargo slinging

of its Airbus helicopters.

AGA looks forward to discussing your own

services, including ship pilot services, landing

and your customers’ requirements with you.

on oil rigs, oil and gas tankers, FPSO’s and bulk

Contact: Operations on +27 60 971 3556. Phone:

cargo carriers, while they are still underway.

Office +27 21 934 9127 or email: opsmanager@

Maintenance is handled by associated

aeriosglobal.co.za. For more info visit:

company FliteTech, which operates from AGA

https://www.aeriosglobal.co.za

Helicopters’ base in Cape Town and has

https://www.instagram.com/aeriosglobal/

broadened its services; now offering third party

https://www.facebook.com/aeriosglobal/

maintenance on a range of Airbus light helicopters

AGA also provides bespoke VIP charter flights for exclusive private tours around the Cape and winelands.

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expanding into Africa.

November 2020

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SA Flyer 2020|11

Quality • Safety • Integrity

Office: +27 21 934 9127 Operations: +27 60 971 3556 email: Opsmanager@aeriosglobal.co.za

www.aeriosglobal.co.za

LITSON & ASSOCIATES

Litson & Associates (L&A), with its Head Office in Cape Town, South Africa, is a multi-faceted Aviation Safety and Training company.

WHEN the company started thirteen years

Instructors were constantly flying all over the world

ago, its focus began with Aviation Auditing and

to undertake Safety Reviews or training courses,

Safety Reviews but quickly branched into other

to one working primarily through its own in-house

supporting roles within the industry. L&A is a

software.

SACAA Approved Training Organization with classroom and now virtual training courses for

reporting system for all L&A Safety Reviews and

SMS, QMS, Occurrence Investigation, Dangerous

audits. Operators use the same system to close

Goods, CRM, Initial and Lead Auditor courses, to

out any findings and recommendations made by

mention a few.

the L&A Advisors. 208

Within its first year of business L&A also

L&A now offer virtual, high quality, audio-visual

launched a second Company, Risk Management

training courses held in real-time with certificates

Services, which specializes in in-house software.

emailed to successful delegates immediately after

L&A RMS created eSMS-Simplified™ which is

completion of the courses.

currently being used by aircraft operators in many

This pandemic has motivated L&A to become

countries. eSMS-Simplified™ was followed in the

a company which now works smarter than ever

ensuing years by eVENTS (accident database),

and utilize more tools to do any task well, even in

eREP-S™ (eREPORT) and eTENDER.

the most difficult of circumstances, and we have

Due to the COVID19 pandemic, L&A had to change its business model and has converted from a company where L&A Advisors and

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The L&A eREPORT system is a unique audit

November 2020

succeeded in this goal.

L&A look forward to introducing your Company to our new way of doing business!

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A SA CAA APPROVED TRAINING PROVIDER

Aviation Training Courses * SA CAA ATO 0356 approved courses

• * Safety Management Systems • * Dangerous Goods ATO DG/0050

• * Crew Resource Management • * Safety Emergency Procedures Training (SEPT) • Aviation Lead Auditor

• Occurrence Investigation

FROM PLANNING TO LANDING

• Emergency Response Planning (ERP)

www.litson.co.za

• Quality Management Systems and Auditing

info@litson.co.za call us on:

• Co-ordinator Occupational Health & Safety (COHS) ALL COURSES AVAILABLE ON-LINE (excl SEPT) (live learning in a virtual classroom) Litson Ad - Half Page.pdf 2 2019/03/04 15:35

+27 (0) 21 851 7187

The electronic Aviation Safety Management System for small to medium sized operators Covers the four Pillars and twelve elements of Safety Red and Yellow Tagged Messages for important and critical information with automatic acknowledgement register File Accident / Incident / Hazard / Bird Strike reports to "File Hazard Reports" Apps for Android + iOS - for easy reporting when out of the office / in remote situations Technical Support and Help Desk Manage major changes in your company (Management of Change)

ICAO COMPLIANT

APPS FOR ANDROID AND iOS

SIMPLE TO USE

Store all Master Documentation to "Documentation Management” Basic Audit Tool to assist you in compiling internal Audit Reports

RISK MANAGEMENT SERVICES

www.esms-s.co.za | +27 (0) 21 851 7187 | esms@litson.co.za

USED WORLDWIDE

CAPE TOWN REVIEW

COVID-19 HALTS EXPANSION PLANS After a delay of two years, Cape Town International Airport (CTIA) was finally ready to start its huge runway re-alignment and expansion. Then the Covid-19 pandemic stopped all travel and the plans had to once again be put on hold.

IN 2018 ACSA announced the launch of its long awaited R7 Billion capex project.

This included upgrades to the international and domestic terminal buildings. Under the Covid-19 pandemic the project has been suspended, as has the R3.8 Billion construction of a new 3200-metre runway.

In pre-Covid operations Cape Town International Airport (CTIA) was the third largest airport in Africa, with almost eleven million passengers a year. The recovery in passenger numbers is expected to take to at the earliest mid-2023, so the pressing need for the planned CTIA expansion has waned – for now.

THE LOCKDOWN The lockdown had a calamitous effect on the airport’s revenue. However, Deon Cloete, Cape Town International Airport’s General Manager says the Airports Company of South Africa (ACSA) used the lockdown for developing and implementing new procedures and protocols to minimise the risk to passengers in anticipation of a slow return to flying in Quarter 4 this the year.

“We have developed these new end-to-end procedures in close collaboration with key industry players i.e. non-ACSA airports such as Lanseria, local and international airlines, government and regulatory bodies. Suffice to say there has been a lot of learning with regular updates and tweaking happening along the

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CAPE TOWN REVIEW way. We also leaned heavily on best practices recommended by the likes of IATA, ICAO and ACI.” “While it is still early days we are confident that the new procedures and systems have created the right spaces for safe passenger processing and facilitation. We will keep a beady eye on innovation and new technologies that will further A Covid-19 Monitor screens passengers on arrival at the airport.

improve the effectiveness of passenger health screening, and we will remain current with similar systems being implemented in many airports around the world. These enable us to build our

of Covid Monitor staff easy recognisable by clearly

own best practice solutions that will maintain

branded jackets.

safety standards whilst gradually rebuilding passenger volumes,” Cloete says.

The key requirements for an airport to be

Cloete says that information technology (I.T.) will play a key role. “Specialised I.T. teams at ACSA are exploring the upgrade of current

operate successfully under Covid restrictions

CCTV systems and technology that potentially

is that it must ‘do an elaborate dance with the

can further scan passengers moving through

airports on the other end of the route.” This

the airport for any sign of fever or high body temperature. This will be in addition to the current

Cape Town was one of the last routes to operate BA 747s.

cameras and temperature screening equipment already deployed at all access point into the terminal,” he says.

While it remains important to keep exploring and investigating the best methods of containing Covid, Cloete reiterated that the actual systems deployed to date are already effective in creating and ensuring safe staff operations and passenger processing. A compulsory requirement for passengers departing on domestic flights is to arrive at the airport at least 2 hours before

means that protocols and procedures must be

departure for personal screening procedures

agreed. This applies particularly in regard to

monitored by Covid Monitor staff positioned at the

social distancing and pre-screening requirements.

airport entrances.

Compliance monitoring i.e. health screening by

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“Travellers are required to make full and honest

Port Health, the wearing of masks and adhering

disclosures about their recent whereabouts and

to social distancing signage and announcements

whether they have had any exposure or contact

are monitored by way of the full-time deployment

with people infected by Covid-19,” Cloete advises.

November 2020

Cloete says the, “No Touch principle is being

destination, and increasing business between

applied, whereby methods have been put in

Johannesburg and Cape Town, plus the city’s

place so that our airport and airline staff have

increasing popularity as a home town for many

limited contact with passengers or their carry-on

South Africans, Cape Town International Airport

baggage.”

continues to see notable growth in passenger

At the security checkpoints, boarding

numbers, with it maintaining its position as the

passes and travel documents are scanned and

second busiest international airport in South

checked without physical contact or handling of

Africa, and third busiest in Africa.

documents. Using modern methods of issuing

The airport saw a 4 percent increase in

boarding passes on-line encourages tech-savvy

passenger traffic during the past year, to over 11

passengers to adhere to the No Touch method

million, compared to the 2017/18 financial year,

of check-in procedures. For passengers who still

which saw approximately 10,500,000 passengers

need to check baggage, social distancing rules

pass through the airport’s gates.

are rigidly enforced. The manned check-in desks are separated from each another by two unused counters.

Cloete and his team remain focused with all key partners on ensuring responsible and safe travel solutions for passengers, in doing so being able to build passenger confidence and a much needed increase in bookings, flights and passengers.

TOURISM Cape Town remains one of the best tourist destinations in the world, and so CTIA’s role has had to grow to match the demand.

Remarkably, Deon Cloete says that ten years ago the airport was planning for a 90/10 split between international travellers and 90% local travellers. Due to the Cape’s success as a tourist

General Manager of Cape Town International Airport, Deon Cloete.

destination, and in attracting new airlines, this mix is now nearer 25% international and 75% domestic. This is largely due to the airport’s ability

A few years ago, the Johannesburg-Cape

to attract new airlines and expand the routes it

Town route was one of the top 10 busiest

serves. The world renowned Cape Air Access

air routes in the world. It has slipped out to

Initiative has been instrumental in this success.

eleventh, but in 2018, around 8 million of those

Due to Cape Town’s popularity as a tourist

ten million passengers were domestic travellers.

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CAPE TOWN REVIEW

The remainder were made up of nearly 3 million passengers on international flights and

Cape Town International has a dedicated

regional routes, and fewer than just 11,000 from

general aviation area on the airport’s south-

unscheduled flights.

western border. This section is home to the

Interestingly, total aircraft movements were

airport’s commercial non-scheduled operators,

slightly down due to a marked drop, from

flight schools and the Cape Town Flying Club, as

approximately 15,000 unscheduled flights to

well as various GA maintenance facilities. It has

around 11,000. This decrease in unscheduled

its own refuelling facilities as well as hangarage

passenger traffic quantifies what many in Cape

for small aircraft and training establishments, but

Town, and particularly those in the General

lacks a dedicated GA customs and immigration

Aviation area at the airport, know – that general

facility.

aviation (GA) has been squeezed out to find

A number of helicopter charter companies,

a space elsewhere. Morningstar Airfield, 20

such as Cape Town Helicopters and NAC, use the

km north of the CBD, and Stellenbosch Flying

V&A Waterfront, near the city centre, as a base for

Club appear to be popular refuges. Cape Town

flips around the peninsula and to wine estates and

International’s new single runway will further

surrounds.

discourage GA.

Morningstar Airfield's well managed growth shows that GA is alive and well in the Western Cape.

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GENERAL AVIATION

November 2020

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SA Flyer 2017|04

FOR ALL YOUR HELICOPTER NEEDS - HELICOPTER SALES – SPARE PARTS SALES - ENGINE OVERHAULS - COMPONENT REPAIR & OVERHAULS – PRE BUYS-SHIPPING-EXPORTS-ROLLS ROYCE 250 & BELL SPECIALIST

Southern Rotorcraft USA, founded in 2001 by Regenald Denysschen of Southern Rotorcraft cc SA, is an FAA Repair Station specializing in Rolls Royce M250 Series engines and Bell components.

Southern Rotorcraft occupies a 25000 sq ft. facility and has a state-of-the-art NDT Department, Paint Booth as well as added equipment to it’s Machining Department. These additions have allowed an increase in capabilities as well as decreased turn around times thereby enabling advanced engineering and state of the art repair techniques. Southern Rotorcraft is a stockist of Avid Air Carbon Fibre lined Compressor Cases for the Rolls Royce 250-C20B Compressors.

Southern Rotorcraft USA Inc. E-mail: info@rotorsrus.com 1410 Industrial Drive, Royse City, Texas 75189 Phone: (972)635-7922 Toll Free: (866)4ROTORS Cell: (469)585-2781 Fax: (972)635-7944

Southern Rotorcraft cc - SA Email: sasales@rotors-r-us.com / regdee@intekom.co.za Tel: 021-935-0980 Fax: 021-935-0981 Cell: 0827770805 www.rotors-r-us.com FAA Approved Repair Station Certificate #D57R025X

DIEPKLOOF AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE SACAA approved AMO / AME / AP (NTCA) – 100 years experience under one roof

GENERAL AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE: • All single engine Piper & Cessna & Beechcraft series • All Air Tractor, Thrush, D romader, AG Cat, Piper Brave & Piper Pawnee • All Lycoming, Teledyne Continental engines • All Pratt & Whitney -Turbine & Radial engines.

• Robinson R22 & R44 Helicopters

Nick Kleinhans 083 454 6366 Pieter v Aswegen 082 784 7133 diepkloofamo@gmail.com

NON-TYPE CERTIFIED (NTCA): • All NTCA Aircraft work - Homebuilts, Ultralights etc…

SPECIALIST SERVICES: • Hartzell & Mc Cauley Propellers • Licenced for complete rebuilds • Specialised sheetmetal work • Fabric covering and interiors • Aircraft weighing • Welding • Propeller Balance SACAA # AMO 1398 Diepkloof Airfield - Malmesbury 7299. S 33° 21’ 6.93

E 18° 41’ 55.11”

November 2020

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CAPE TOWN REVIEW AES states that the company is committed

AERO ELECTRICAL SOLUTIONS (AES) AES is an Aircraft Maintenance Organisation, AMO1011, established in October 2004 and

to the principles of honesty, excellence and dedication.

All staff at AES are committed to provide its

operating initially from Lanseria airport. The company is growing strongly and has expanded to

clientele with quality service time after time,

Cape Town International.

because flying isn’t JUST flying!

AES prides itself on providing quality and reliable service on most aircraft, including electrical, instruments, avionics, compass systems

CONTACT: Erwin Erasmus (Cape Town)

and all aircraft components.

Cell: 082 494 3722

AES can do your Ni-cad, Lead Acid main batteries, Emergency Batteries, ULB Batteries and

Email: erwin@aeroelectrical.co.za

ELT batteries at both Branches.

or Danie van Wyk (Lanseria)

AES has recently acquired the Agency for ACK

Cell: 083 269 8696

ELT’s.

Email: danie@aeroelectrical.co.za

AES can do your Inspections and defects away

Website: www.aeroelectrical.co.za

from base at affordable rates.

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T OR !

SP D TO ELD O I E R F V E R A MO AI S EL HA VOG R TE IN W

Cape Town's Premier Flying School We offer the following: LSA MPL Gyrocopter License PPL CPL Instrument rating Night Rating Instructor Rating Tailwheel ConversionsAs well as Hire & Fly Our flight school has on-line exam base for CAA PPL and RAASA NPL exams.

OUR FLEET: 2x Cessna 172M  Bush Baby  Savannah XL  Aquila Trike  2x Magni M6 Gyrocopters  FNPT 1 Flight Simulator

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November 2020

JOHANNESBURG Hangar M7, Gate 5, Lanseria Airport Tel: 011 701 3200 Danie van Wyk: 083 269 8696 Fax: 011 701 3232 CAPE TOWN Signature Hanger, Beachcraft Road Cape Town International Tel: 021 934 5373 Erwin Erasmus: 082 494 3722 Website: www.aeroelectrical.co.za Email: office@aeroelectrical.co.za

AMO 1011

SA Flyer 2020|11

WE SPECIALIZE IN: - Avionics - ACK Agents (ELTs') - Repairing and fault finding in rotor and fixed wing aircraft - Overhaul and repairing of DC/ AC Electrical, Magneto and ignition equipment - Full Battery workshop facilitating NiCad and Lead Acid batteries - Aircraft electrical modifications and installations - We travel to any destinations for MPI’s and repairs

Join us for an intro flight today!

Aerosport Flight Training is located at Wintervogel Airfield Northeast of Cape Town, near Klipheuwel.

CONTACT DETAILS: training@aerosport.co.za Phone: +27 (0)21 001 8802 Mobile: 083 675 3541 www.aerosport.co.za

SA Flyer 2019|10

Ultimax Avition (Pty) Ltd is located at Cape Town International Airport.

We are an approved South African Civil Aviation Authority Aircraft Maintenance Organisation (AMO 1426). We offer repair services, specialising in Airbus Helicopter Products.

OVER 20 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE...

ULTIMAX AVIATION’S STAFF HAVE THE EXPERIENCE REQUIRED TO DELIVER RELIABLE RESULTS.

Our team of certified mechanics and engineers, service and repair helicopters.

• We offer repairs to engines, structural repairs and refurbishing of helicopters.

• We lease all types of helicopters.

• We also provide pilots, helicopter tours, helicopters sales and spares.

Mobile: +27 72 878 8786 Email: info@ultimax-aviation.com www.ultimax-aviation.com

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Fly in Cape Town!

Learn to fly in the most beautiful location in South Africa just outside Cape Town with a school that offers a pool of instructors many whom have 1000’s Hrs of experience.

Training is done 7 days a week We offer ab initio which includes NPL, Gyro, PPL, CPL, Night Ratings and Instructor ratings We have a CAA approved Exam centre Offer all Ground School disciplines FIRST FIVE STUDENTS Offer accommodation for full-time students on any of the Courses Offer Hire to Fly WILL RECEIVE R2000.00 Special Bundled rates for hour Building TOWARDS THEIR PPL Clubhouse with Restaurant facilities AFTER FLYING 10 HOURS Conversions & Renewals - USE REFERENCE ‘PPL’

SA Flyer 2020|11

TRAINING IS DONE BY INSTRUCTORS SOME WHICH ALSO FLY FOR THE AIRLINE INDUSTRY ALL OUR INSTRUCTORS HAVE A PASSION FOR FLYING

Email: fly@msfa.co.za Tel : 021 3000 641 Mark Bunning : 079 529 3592 Morningstar Airfield Van Schoorsdrif Rd Cape Farms

TO CLAIM.

www.msfa.co.za

QUOTE OF THE MONTH: The ongoing SAA saga has rendered everyone speechless. So, never short of words on SAA, Guy Leitch provides his own Quote of the Month on why the ANC government is prepared to keep throwing thirty or more billion Rands at the airline:

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“Money is no object when it comes to the transformation imperative. SAA cannot be allowed to continue with 80% white pilots but it cannot be allowed to fail for the sake of the 20% non-white pilots".

November 2020

GUY LEITCH

FISANTEKRAAL AIRFIELD To be relaunched In a major development

NICK FERGUSON explains that they have

for Western Cape general

exciting new plans to relaunch the Airfield. Under

aviation, the long moribund and mismanaged Fisantekraal Airfield (FAFK) has finally changed hands. The buyer is a consortium of investors lead by well-known aviation investors Rob Hersov and Nick Ferguson.

the guidance of the Netherlands Airport Consulting Group, the four runways will be rebuilt with the longest being the currently overgrown Runway 01 at 1500m.

The name will be changed to the Cape Winelands Airfield. Key upgrades will be to improve the infrastructure – which may require demolishing the old structures and rebuilding new hangars to the western side. Alien vegetation will be cleared and the airfield entrance will be made much more welcoming.

join.the.leader Cape Town Flight Training Centre

Private, Commercial & Advanced Pilot Training (021) 976 7053 or (084) 440 7922 www.cape-town-flying.co.za CAA/0188 November 2020

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Fisantekraal airfield is now under dynamic new ownership.

It is hoped that a museum will be based there, as the airfield is steeped in history – even the Stellenbosch Flying Club records that it was founded at Fisantekraal.

The new lease on life for FAFK is great news for those users of Stellenbosch who are being squeezed out by noise abatement and limited operating hours – such as Working on Fire. In addition, the expansion of Cape Town International will continue to put further pressure on general aviation. There is therefore a ready demand for the new Cape Winelands

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Airfield.

An aerial photo from 1944 showing Fisantekraal as a training base with Tiger Moths lining the runways.

New hangars will be built on the western side of the airfield.

Image: Simon McDonnell.

Fisantekraal airfield has been allowed to decay. Image: Simon McDonnell.