Page 50 - World Airnews September 2020 Edition

NEWS DIGITAL

SAPFA ANR – BRAKPAN

First aviation event held under Covid conditions
by Rob Jonkers

competitor slots were snapped up within a opportunity to arrive as Covid registration
day. It had been decided that the 20 aircraft protocols had to be carried out. From
We are in one of the most unusual slots would result in 40 competitors, there Frank provided the plan for the day
times in recent history. Since April, the with 10 officials and photographers and which consisted of two routes to be flown.
lockdown restrictions brought all flying this would make up the 50 allowed. Nigel The first one was fairly easy with a 0.5 nm
operations to a halt. Then with concerted Musgrave was the safety and compliance corridor and the next a bit harder with
officer for the day. He doubled as the
more acute turns and a corridor width of
efforts working together with the regulator landing marshal together with Derek 0.3 nm.
we were able to re-open to a limited Hopkins while Frank and Cally Eckard as the
Then everyone got down to plotting. The
extent, first for maintenance, then for route planners and organisers. In the end first aircraft took off at 10.15 with Jonty
proficiency, and shortly thereafter the there were 16 competitors as four dropped and Jonathan Esser in their C150. The
means to hold events. out, some with aircraft troubles and others rest of the field followed in five minute
This Brakpan ANR was the first aviation finding the forecasted windy conditions a intervals, all flying at 80 kts. The visibility
sporting event held under Covid conditions, little challenging. was not great, lots of haze and windswept
where specific Covid compliances had to be It was between 15 - 20 kts on the ground dust making the longer view ahead difficult
put into place to uphold social distancing and between 20 - 25 kts with a 10 kt gust to see. Trying to keep an even speed
and protection. differential. The briefing took place a little proved virtually impossible. The timing
After the date was published, the later than normal to give everybody an only measured at the start and finish, flying

World Airnews | September Extra 2020
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