Grand Central Airport Aviation Companies Guide

GRAND CENTRAL AIRPORT AVIATION COMPANIES GUIDE

GRAND CENTRAL AIRPORT

DUE TO ITS CENTRAL LOCATION, controlled airspace and non-cumbersome security protocols, Grand Central Airport is ideal for private aviation.

Pilots will find a variety of aviation services companies located at the airport, should they need technical assistance.

The airport is operational 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and offers car rental facilities and a travel agency.

The airport offers over 25 dedicated helipads as well as parking and hangars for private aircraft. There are plans pending to build four new hangars.

Thanks to its location and facilities, Grand Central is one of the busiest general aviation airports in South Africa. Recognising this the owners made a significant investment in the airport’s infrastructure and facilities in 2014 which included having the runway redone. Unfortunately, in terms of future development, Grand Central can’t expand because the

surrounding land is owned and managed by Old Mutual Properties.

An Executive Departures lounge provides the ideal location for passengers to relax before embarking on a flight. The airport also boasts a 16-seater boardroom facility on the first floor. The Airport now offers a hot desk office with two small 4-seater boardrooms & free wi-fi for nonoffice bound executives.

The Harvard Café located in the terminal building has a large seating area looking out over the apron where visitors can watch light aircraft and helicopters taking off. There is also a large outdoor children’s play area.

Pilot training plays an important role in Grand Central Airport’s operations. Many young South Africans dream of becoming pilots when they grow up but few realise how achievable this dream really is. Whether flying for pleasure or pursuing a career in aviation, the diverse selection of flight schools based at Grand Central Airport allow students to train for any license in both the fixed wing and helicopter domain.

Grand Central, as the name suggests, benefits from having an ideal location in the heart of Gauteng. It’s a quick hop from the apron to the highway to Johannesburg or Pretoria and the nearest Gautrain station is just 5 minutes away.

Grand Central is ideally located and has shown the resilience to survive the Covid-19 pandemic.

The imposing terminal building.

Part of the airport’s 2020 master plan was to build hangars and do renovations on the southern end of the airport where aircraft currently park in the open. However, this idea will only see fruition once there is a recognised demand from enough charter companies to support a complete large scale building plan in order to prevent having to redo work at a later stage. In the current constrained environment this has to be considered unlikely.

The plan also has to be approved by the shareholders of the airport, and a majority shareholding has recently changed hands.

during load shedding and is looking at getting enough generators to power the entire airport.

International status

Grand Central has long hoped to regain its international status, which its lost in 1998, however the security requirements are considered too cumbersome for the diminished airport.

Tenant Relations

A challenge for any airport is balancing relationships with tenants while remembering that an airport is ultimately a business. One of the biggest issues for the tenants has been the fees and rentals that Grand Central charges. But for the convenience of having a 1850 m tarred runway, air traffic control, fuel available seven days a week and maintenance staff on hand five days a week, the airport maintains that the rates are market related.

Grand Central currently has a generator that powers the runway lights and control tower

The boardroom is available for business meetings.

Many service providers have established operations at Grand Central.

LOCATIONS

PAMBELE AVIATION

DR KENNETH INGHAM

AIRBUS

LANSERIA FLIGHT CENTRE

SMALL JOURNEYS DEMAND BIG CHANGE

Reimagining transport through the power of innovation, CityAirbus NextGen is designed to connect people. With an 80km operational range, this four-seat vertical take-off and landing aircraft will offer new options for community journeys, while its fully electric propulsion will help keep the world a beautiful place.

AIRBUS SOUTHERN AFRICA (PTY) LTD

AIRBUS IS A GLOBAL LEADER in aeronautics, space and related services. Airbus has been active in Africa’s helicopter market for over 40 years. It has maintained a presence in South Africa since 1994. Airbus Southern Africa (Pty) Ltd is a oneroof entity (shared services), incorporating Airbus Commercial, Helicopters and Defence & Space and has its headquarters at Grand Central Airport in Midrand, South Africa.

Airbus Helicopters provides the most efficient civil and military helicopter solutions to Southern African and Indian Ocean customers who operate an in-service fleet of around 350 turbine helicopters, to serve, protect, save lives and safely transport passengers in highly demanding environments. On top of the popular H125 & H130, the continent’s sector accounts for a significant number of medium-lift helicopters and is regarded as a market ideally suited to the twinengine H145, H175 & H225 aircraft.

Airbus Southern Africa (AZA) boasts an award winning Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul (MRO) facility at Grand Central Airport hangars ranging from H120, AS350 series, H125, H130, H135 series, H145 series. From new aircraft assemblies and customisation, AZA also covers all types of maintenance, including the major inspections. As an OEM customer centre, AZA is recognised within the Airbus Group and has an excellent history with aircraft rebuilds, retrofits and Airbus approved modifications.

AZA also provides training and assistance, and has trained civil, military and parapublic pilots in the H125 FNPT simulator in Johannesburg since 2016.

Airbus Helicopters offers a new support and services structure. Operators will be matched to the best combination of services according to their profile and fleet make-up, thanks to a logistic spare parts stock at AZA, covering Parts replacement for the Region.

Simplified to just three flexible solutions, HCare is now composed of HCare Initial, HCare In-service, or a combination of the two, HCare Lifetime. For each, customers can opt for one out of three levels of material management performance. Still available for specific fleets will be the HCare First package for Airbus Corporate Helicopters (ACH) aircraft and HCare Classics for the out-ofproduction legacy fleet (H120, Dauphin, Puma and Gazelle).

To find out more about Airbus Southern Africa’s products and services, visit our website.

Contact:

Telephone : +27 11 266 2600

Fax: +27 11 266 2628

Web: www.airbushelicopters.co.za or www.airbus.com j

PAMBELE AVIATION

PAMBELE AVIATION (based at Grand Central Airport) is a dependable air charter company operating throughout Southern Africa providing light aircraft transport services. We have more than seventeen years’ experience providing charter flights for the private and business sectors, the hunting fraternity, business leaders, tourists and VIP’s.

The primary aircraft being operated are a Beechcraft King Air B200 and a Cessna Grand Caravan 208B. A number of light piston engine aircraft are available for smaller group sizes, or for those who are budget conscious.

A satellite base of operation is located at Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport serving the Lowveld region of the country.

Pambele Aviation has an unblemished safety history.

Pambele Aviation holds license N892D and a valid Part 135 AOC.

Contact Details

E-mail: fjoubert@pambele.aero

lowveld@pambele.aero j

Formerly known as JEMAX AVIATION License # N892D

Central Aerospace Medicine

Dr Kenneth Anthony Ingham is a Senior Aviation Medical Examiner with rooms situated in the immediate vicinity of Grand Central Airport, Midrand. Dr Ingham is an experienced Aviation Medical Examiner with a career beginning in 1969 as a Flight Surgeon at Langebaan air Force Base. As a registered Senior SA CAA Aviation Medical Examiner, Dr Ingham’s practice (Central Aerospace Medicine) is suitably equipped to carry out the full range of medical examinations necessary for aviation relevant to pilots, air traffic controllers and cabin crew operating under licences issued in South Africa, Australia and Canada.

He is in possession of a Certificate in Travel Medicine, a Diploma in Public Health and BSc (Hons) Aerospace Medicine and is registered with the Department of Labour for professional divers. He is also registered with the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) for medical examinations of Seafarers. For more information contact Dr Ingham on: Tel: (011) 315-5817

Email: kaingham@hotmail.com

Website: www.aerospace-medicine-sa.co.za

Consulting rooms: Block A, First Floor, 49 New Road, Opposite Grand Central Airport, Randjiespark, Midrand.

Registration Details:

HPCSA: MP0123684

Practice No: 1559257

SA CAA: MS015

Canada: A-277

CASA: 587648

Dive Med: DM 041

LANSERIA FLIGHT CENTRE

LANSERIA FLIGHT CENTRE, established in 1989 offers professional flight training located at Grand Central Airport. Our aim is to provide our clients with the highest standard of comprehensive training available and experience that you can draw on to plan your training and future in aviation. LFC is internationally recognised as a first-class flight school and aviation training organisation. We specialise in providing professional pilot training for full-time or part-time clients.

LFC is the first choice among aspiring pilots for professional flight training; we cater for domestic & international clients.

With his team and over 35 years’ experience, Ian Dyson looks forward to continuing a rich tradition of professional pilot training and flight services to

the aviation industry. We have successfully trained both domestic and international airline pilots, hobby aviators, hourbuilding programs and supported advanced pilot training from ab-inito all the way through to airline transport pilot licenses

Many of our clients now fly for the world’s top airlines including British Airways, Qantas and Emirates and many more.

Contact: Grand Central Airport, Midrand +27 11 312 5166

www.flylfc.com j