Page 28 - World Airnews Magazine April 2021

AIRPORT AFRICA

ASTRAL’S FIRST BILL SYKES, GROUP CAPTAIN,

MIDDLE EAST HUB AVIATION HISTORIAN DIES

which cements the leading position as an service for perishables from East Africa By Wallace Mawire
international hub for freight. to Sharjah for the UAE region, while on

stral Aviation, a cargo airline “Agreements such as this confirm our the return, Astral's consolidations from

Abased in Nairobi, Kenya, has commitment to providing the highest China, & UAE will be moved from Sharjah to

joined Sharjah Airport to become the international standards and practices for Nairobi for onward connection to Astral's ill Sykes, a former air force and aviation historian, best re-

first cargo centre, as part of the expan- the air cargo sector through specialised intra-African network. The introduction of Bmembered for his involvement in the making of the short
sion of the company's operations in the warehousing, which has obtained CEIV the new freighter service between Kenya film ‘Spitfire’ passed away on February 14, 2021 after a long period

Middle East. accreditation from the International Air and UAE will result in an increase in trade of illness, according to reliable sources.

Two flights per week were launched from Transport Association (IATA). We look and new opportunities between the private The Mashonaland Flying club was informed about the news by

Nairobi, Kenya to Sharjah, using Boeing 767 forward to employing our full logistical sector with direct connectivity which will Bill Linfield.

aircraft, in January 2021. capabilities and working with Astral benefit both countries". He said that Sykes will best be remembered for his involvement

Sharjah Airport was chosen due to its Aviation to ship COVID-19 vaccines from A SERIES OF PROCEDURES AND SYS- in the making of a short film called “SPITFIRE - The pursuit of a

strategic location, as well as the services China to the African continent in an TEMS TO ENSURE QUALITY Dream " on the story of the restoration by Jack Malloch of the

efficient and smooth manner.”

it provides in accordance with the The storage and handling unit of medicinal aircraft and that ended on Jack's death.

highest international standards, such as He said ,”The advanced infrastructure products at the cargo centre at Sharjah Sykes was also involved in producing or editing many books and

the handling of shipments that require provided by the airport, and the support Airport requires continuous temperature publications that recorded the history of aviation in Zimbabwe. His

specific temperatures and the storage and air freight systems that connect the cargo control and monitoring thermal changes latest was ‘100 Years of Aviation in Victoria Falls’.

handling of medicinal and health products. centre to all international destinations, from the moment they disembark the plane According to Linfield, Sykes was also an accomplished artist with

The arrival of the plane landing – after constitutes a qualitative addition, to the moment of delivery. a lot of his paintings depicting aircraft and aviation scenes - a talent

the traditional water salute - on the runway especially since Sharjah Airport has proven Importing companies work within a series also inherited by his son William.

of Sharjah Airport was marked by the its efficiency and ability to quickly respond of procedures and regulations to ensure “Condolences are extended to his wife Mary Ann and family,”

to cargo operations that need special

presence of Ali Salim Al Midfa, chairman of the quality of medicinal products for Linfield said.

Sharjah Airport authority, Sheikh Faisal bin attention in terms of handling, shipping human health and safety. An online platform called PPTuNe Professional Pilots Rumour

Saoud Al Qassimi, director of the Authority and storage.” Network reported the following:

and Sanjeev Gadhia, founder and CEO of SHARJAH AIRPORT IS ASTRAL'S Astral Aviation began operations in

Astral Aviation, in addition to a number of FIRST MIDDLE EASTERN HUB January 2001 and is the largest private Sad news from Zim this morning - Group Captain (Rtd) Bill Sykes
cargo company in Africa, with a total of 14

employees from both sides. Sanjeev Gadhia, founder and CEO of Astral cargo planes, with plans to increase to 20 died yesterday morning after a long illness. Bill clocked up 1500
hours on Vampires with the Rhodesian Air Force, moved on to

INFRASTRUCTURE AND LOGISTICS Aviation said, “We are truly honoured aircraft by the end of 2021. Hunters as a weapons instructor, then another 1500 hours on
COMMUNICATION to enter into an agreement with Sharjah The company operates scheduled and Alouette III between '74 and '79 - the hottest time in the Rhodesian

Ali Salim Al Midfa, chairman of Sharjah Airport which has now become the airline’s unscheduled cargo services to various bush war, when Alouettes were right in the thick of it.

third global hub after Nairobi, Kenya and

Airport Authority said at the time that regional destinations in Africa and Bill was a fine artist, and made the documentary 'Pursuit of a

Sharjah Airport continued to attract new Liege, Belgium”. international flights to various European dream' about his friend Jack Malloch's (of Afretair fame) mission to

airlines and routes, such as Astral Aviation, He said, “We will provide a scheduled destinations. Q restore a Rhodesian Air Force Spitfire.
Bill's Pa was a pre-war Hurricane pilot and Chief Flying Instructor
at Mt Hampden during the war and a settler-farmer thereafter. Bill's

son, William, is also a very accomplished wildlife and aviation artist.

AIRCRAFT RIP, Bill. A fine life, well lived. Blue skies.

In October 2018, World Airnews magazine ran an article ‘Help

fill in the gaps of aviation history’ that focused on Bill’s proposed

compilation of a complete history of aviation in Victoria Falls and

Livingstone. Sykes was assisted by Econet corporate pilot Phil
AIRBORNE AZERBAJANI Scott-Riddell, who also lives in Victoria Falls.

Finally, his book ‘100 years of aviation in Victoria Falls’ was
launched in November 2020 in Harare. What saddened me is that Group Captain Bill Sykes

Bill left us when l had been chatting with him trying to do a review 1943 - 2021

on his book. We had never met but I had been provided with his presentation gave a detailed and very emotional account of the

number and was in the process of trying to set up an interview fatal last flight of Jack Malloch's Spitfire. I spoke to him afterwards.

with him. However, the COVID-19 lockdown in Zimbabwe reversed I had known Bill for a long time and he had asked me to help

those plans. Following the mobile communication and chats, Bill with the editing of his Victoria Falls book. He was obviously very

was very accommodative and willing to provide us an opportunity ill and had lost a great deal of weight. He was quite frank about
to publicize his works and achievements. One would not have his condition and accepted that he had only a few months left,”

This Azerbaijani known that was the last to chat with Bill. Rowland said.
registered Boeing 747- It is reliably understood that Bill passed away following a long Rowland added that Bill’s primary concern was that his wife
400F turned right and battle with cancer. Mary-Ann would be cared for financially and was sure that she

climbed away after According to John Rowland a long-time friend of Bill, he was would be all right from that point of view.

rotation from runway a very good artist, an avid historian, with particular reference to “I was very touched by the fact that he had taken the trouble

13 at Luqa (Malta). The aviation - especially military aviation. to bring me a tie which he had received from Aerospatiale. I felt

aircraft was flying to the Rowland said that he edited a book called "Bush Horizons" by that was an amazingly thoughtful to do such a thing at such a very

Azeri capital of Baku. N V Phillips (published 1998) and most recently, in November, Bill difficult time. This picture of him is obviously when he was in the

Photo by Mario Caruana published his book on aviation at Victoria Falls. Air Force,” Rowland said.

“He launched his book in late November last year, and at the May his soul rest in peace. Q
World Airnews | April 2021 World Airnews | April 2021
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