February 2023 – The poor quality of African accident investigation reports is once again in the spotlight. THE FALLOUT FROM THE TWO Boeing Max crashes has been enormous – not just in the 346 lives lost, but in the inestimable damage to the once proud Boeing reputation for engineering excellence.Read More →
It is an aphorism to say that aviation safety is a matter of life or death and thus safety must be non-negotiable. Using this justification, the South African Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) gets away with being quick to ground airlines for breaches of safety requirements. GROUNDING AN AIRLINE is theRead More →
As the impact of Covid-19 is limited through vaccination and the development of herd immunity, and perhaps also an acceptance of the new normal, I get a sense that the entire airline industry is moving into a new phase. Most notable is the retirement of key industry stalwarts: Willie Walsh,Read More →
The African aviation insurance market is undergoing a period of profound transformation which represents a fantastic opportunity for those ready to take advantage of the market changes. INTRODUCTION A recent McKinsey report notes that prior to the impact of COVID-19, the insurance market was expected to grow at compound annualRead More →
March 27th marked the 44th anniversary of what is still the world’s worst aviation disaster – the collision of two Boeing 747s at Tenerife Airport, Spain. WORST AS IN TWO ASPECTS: The highest single death toll for any aircraft accident, as well as the worst in human behaviour in theRead More →
The Labour Court has struck an urgent application by the SAA Pilots’ Association from the role. The application related, among other things, to the use of replacement labour by SAA. SAAPA members have been locked out by the airline since mid-December, but some of them are needed for essential trainingRead More →
DEPENDING ON THEIR MISSION. SATELLITES HAVE DIFFERENT ORBITS. Weather and communication satellites are placed in Geostationary Orbits (GEO) at an altitude of 36,000 km above the equator, from which they have a constant gaze on the same region of the Earth. Other satellites are placed in Low Earth Orbits (LEO)Read More →
As an educational tool or refresher course to our readers, we run an occasional series of briefing articles to explain key aspects of the airline industry that often cause confusion. Here we provide an overview of the range of airline alliances, codeshares, partnerships and joint ventures. THE GROWTH OF THERead More →
Cathay Pacific is working with Airbus to introduce “reduced crew” long-haul flights with a sole pilot in the cockpit much of the time. The programme, known within Airbus as Project Connect, aims to certify its A350 jet for single-pilot operations during high-altitude cruise, starting in 2025 on Cathay passenger flights, the sourcesRead More →
The struggle over the remains of SAA has taken an appalling twist. Up to now I have held a grudging respect for the CAA’s commitment to uphold standards, whether ICAO SARPs, or its own regulations. I may have often disagreed with the methods and the lack of engagement with its subjects, yet the CAA has by and large maintained itsRead More →
