Page 5 - World Airnews Magazine March 2021
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REGULARS DRONES FLAREPATH
Flarepath 3 Malta launches first drone ecosystem 21
Hangar Talk 48 Russia completes testing of new drone-hunting UAV 28
Cargo drone with 65kg payload 32
AFRICA Hydrogen-powered drones 32
Uganda military helicopter crash 6
HELICOPTERS
Fatal helicopter accidents down 20% in 2020 6
Air Tanzania on the rise 17 Africa attack helicopters demand low 4 - 5
Kenya Airways ups cargo capacity 17 Operations in Mali 7
Uganda’s longest serving pilot retires 23 Accelerating helicopter innovation 14
Airbus helicopters - the next generation European rotorcraft 16 AN AVIATION SKILLS
AIRCRAFT
Gulf Med Aviation services grow 21
ETOPS for BelugaXL 30 Racer off to a slow start 27 RETENTION PLATFORM
A special missions Beechcraft King 44 MILITARY
United Airlines invests in our air taxi future 45 By Heidi Gibson
Moderate loss for Denel Aeronautics 18
AIRPORTS Boeing F-15EX goes vertical 33 Further afield the British Business Aviation ing financial support at such a critical time
and to those organisations such as the BBGA
Association (BBGA) have announced their
he South African national carrier
Six African airports 19 Lockheed Martin - India pact 34 Tremains grounded with indicati ons support for a UK government-backed Avia- and others who have worked hard to ensure
tion Skills Retention Platform or ASRP.
the future of both sectors,” he added.
“If we are lucky, then perhaps 15-20% of
The platform was launched by UK avi-
SAF that domestic and regional might be back ation minister Robert Courts who spoke jobs may be directed to SME’s through this
AIRSHOWS as early as April. International operations passionately about the importance of channel,” Bailey said. “People can also be
Green benefits of Satnav over north Atlantic 36 have been put back as far as October. retaining and supporting the UK’s highly redeployed into complementary industries
Don’t hold your breath anyone - it’s my
Airventure planning through unknowns 34 Green hydrogen opens new market for utilities 41 view that we won’t see the airline back in talented workforce. so that they retain their skills and their
He called on industry organisations, and
The Aircraft Unlimited Withbank Speed Naviation Rally 46 - 47 KLM’s first flight with sustainable fuel 42 the air this year - unless the country pumps adjacent industries, to share as many va- interest in aviation. It is vital that we retain
contact with colleagues via this innovative
more money into it. resource so that further down the recovery
As always, the SA Public Enterprises Min- cancies and opportunities on the platform path we can encourage a return to aviation
ister Pravin Gordhan has stated that three as they can and stressed the need to avoid as the market slowly returns.”
an exodus of talent.
READ YOUR ‘EXTRA’ equity partners could result in a new airline “Our interest is in helping so many So for example what might happen is a
PLEASE NOTE: Opinions expressed in signed articles or in adver- in “the next month or so”. colleagues who are sadly out of work as displaced pilot could move from commer-
tisements appearing in World Airnews, are those of the author or But before that happens, the airline’s cial airline to retrain and work on the flight
advertiser and do not necessarily reflect those of this journal nor business rescue practitioners need to settle a result of this devasting pandemic. The
of its publisher. The mention of specific companies or products in CONTENT NOW whole landscape of aviation has changed operations side of drones.
articles or advertisements, does not imply that they are endorsed outstanding debts and conclude payment inside a year, which has forced employ- The platform was developed by Talent
or recommended by this journal or its publisher in preference to arrangements with dissatisfied labour
others of a similar nature which are not mentioned or advertised. union members. ers to make cuts in both operations and Retention Solutions and is funded by the
WORLD COPYRIGHT RESERVED. personnel. Business aviation has not been government and supported by UK busi-
EXTRA More than 3,200 employees, who accept- immune from job losses either, but we do nesses. Through a simple to use online
ed voluntary severance packages, should believe our sector has the resilience to platform it marries talented specialist em-
have received their long-awaited pay-outs
Twice as many first time buyers 1 while the union - the SAA Pilots’ Asso- bounce back first,” said Marc Bailey, CEO of ployees in with suitable roles. It is aimed
Air Cote d’Ivoire receives their first A320 neo 2 ciation (Saapa) battles for its members’ the BBGA. at workers in the aviation sector – not just
pilots, cabin crew and flight engineers, but
Terry Scuoler CBE, Talent Retention
Official journal of:- backpay. Solutions chairman said, “The airline and individuals working in airports, air traffic,
The ongoing stalemate includes a lockout
handling and FBO, ground operations, MRO
aviation sectors are key to our nation’s
EXTRA order preventing almost 400 pilots from re- economy and sense of well-being. We and airworthiness. For more you can go to
turning to work. The lockout order will end are therefore delighted to support and be www.aviationtalent.co.uk.
Antonov AN-124 carries 54 tonne generator 7 when pilots cancel their current regulating part of the government’s Aviation Skills Here is wishing and dreaming we could
Commercial Aviation Association of Southern Africa, agreement and accept new terms of em- Retention Programme, aimed at safe- see something similar in South Africa or any
The Airlines Association of SA, The Association of SA Bell acquires Response Technologies 8 ployment, which includes new wage scales. guarding employment and aiding the post African country.
Aircraft Traders, Association of Training Organisa- The department of public enterprises and Covid recovery.”
tions of SA, Aerodromes & Airports Association of SA, business rescue practitioners have stated On a sad note, an African airline has
Association of Aviation Maintenance Organisations, EXTRA that only 88 pilots are needed to restart “Credit must go the to the aviation minis- folded. Air Namibia announced that they
SA Society of Aerospace & Environmental Medicine, the airline - an amount that is equivalent ter, Robert Courts and his officials for secur- have halted all operations and the airline
Helicopter Association of Southern Africa, Aircraft Botswana Police train on an Enstrom 480B 9 to an operating capacity one-tenth of the has entered liquidation.
Owners & Pilots’ Association of SA, Air side Opera- Federal Airlines comes on board 19 size of SAA’s pilot roster in 2010. Sapaa has Last year there were a fair share of
tors’ Association of SA, SA Aerial Applicators Associ- countered with a proposal which looks to airline bankruptcies, mainly due to the
ation, East African Commercial Aviation Association, save 135 jobs. Covid-19 crisis.
African Airline Association (AFRAA) Media Partner. Saapa chairperson Grant Back has said Government support went a long way
Advertising or Subscriptions the lockout is an attempt to force pilots to for many, saving numerous airlines from
+27 (0)31 564 1319 accept retrenchment packages and protect unavoidable bankruptcy. Statistics stated
that at the end of 2020, 34 global airlines
info@airnews.co.za the department and business rescue practi- had gone under. Air Namibia is the first
www.airnews.co.za tioners against an unfair dismissal claim. African carrier to announce their demise
All of which brings me to a positive note.
this year. Q
World Airnews | March 2021 World Airnews | March 2021
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