Connecting Skies • Bridging Continents
As international passenger travel continues to rebound in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic, aviation is increasingly making its mark as an enabler of business
Garmin has announced the launch of its most advanced integrated flight deck to date — the G5000® PRIME, specifically engineered for Part 25 transport aircraft.
Bell Textron Inc., a Textron Inc. company, has successfully completed the delivery of 40 Bell 505 helicopters to the Republic of Korea Army (ROKA) and Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN), fulfilling its contract with the Defence Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) signed in May 2022. The delivery
Rolls-Royce has responded positively to the UK Government’s renewed commitment to its Industrial Strategy, particularly the focus on advancing the aerospace and nuclear sectors. CEO Tufan Erginbilgic praised the government’s long-term strategic vision, highlighting the alignment with Rolls-Royce’s core capabilities in gas turbines, Small Modular Reactors
Northrop Grumman’s latest MQ-4C Triton uncrewed aircraft has entered flight testing with the U.S. Navy’s Naval Air Systems Command, marking a significant step forward for maritime surveillance and multi-intelligence capabilities. The new aircraft is undergoing calibration and additional test flights over the company’s Palmdale, California facility
Air Austral and Madagascar Airlines have officially signed a codeshare and Special Prorate Agreement, signalling a revitalised commercial partnership aimed at enhancing regional and international connectivity. The landmark agreement, signed at the Paris Air Show, ushers in a new strategic chapter for both carriers, strengthening their
Hello Paul! Tell us a bit about InterCal and what brings you to AEROSA 2025.
Paul Haarhof: Thanks! InterCal has been providing calibration services since 1992. We’re SANAS ISO17025-accredited in eight measurement fields—everything from temperature and humidity to RF and electrical systems. Our clients come from aviation, medical, and industrial sectors across Sub-Saharan Africa.
That’s impressive. Are your services geared toward newer aviation technologies as well?
Paul Haarhof: Absolutely. We calibrate equipment used in both legacy and next-gen platforms, including eVTOLs and military applications. Our services are suitable for retrofitted systems too.
Do you operate mostly in South Africa?
Paul Haarhof: Our head office is here, yes—but we operate across the region. We travel to clients in Mauritius and Sub-Saharan Africa and often perform calibration on-site. It’s about being flexible and reliable.
What products are you showcasing at AEROSA?
Paul Haarhof: We’re featuring Laversab Air Data testers and our RF testers for Aircraft. We’re here to show how quality calibration supports aviation safety and performance.
Where can people find out more?
Paul Haarhof: Come see us at Booth F8, or visit www.intercal.co.za. We’re always ready to assist with tailored calibration solutions.
Hi Kaela, great to meet you. Tell us a bit about Paramount Aviation Academy.
Kaela: Thanks! We officially launched in 2017, but the groundwork started even earlier. We’re based at Rand Airport and offer full pilot training—from Private Pilot Licence (PPL) all the way to Commercial and even Airline Transport Pilot Licences (ATPL). We focus on hands-on aircraft training using Piper and Cessna aircraft, not just simulators.
That’s a very practical approach. Do you fly yourself?
Kaela: I’m a qualified instructor, yes! But these days I focus mainly on running the academy. We have a team of experienced airline pilots as instructors, so our students really get top-tier guidance.
And how do students usually find you?
Kaela: Most of our students come through word of mouth—particularly from other African countries. I get messages almost daily from prospective students saying, “My friend trained with you and recommended Paramount.” That reputation means a lot to us.
What’s your student capacity at the moment?
Kaela: We can accommodate up to 50 students at a time. Our PPL course takes about six months to complete, and commercial training takes a bit longer, of course.
Do you provide accommodation and student support?
Kaela: Absolutely! That’s actually one of the reasons families choose Paramount. We offer accommodation, three meals a day, and our facilities are just five minutes from Rand Airport. We also provide local transport between the academy and student housing.
That’s a strong support structure. Anything else you’d like prospective students to know?
Kaela: Yes—our number one value is safety. Education begins with a safe environment, and we instil that mindset in every student. It’s about creating confident, responsible aviators who are ready to take on the skies. Please come and see us at AeroSA or visit our website www.flyparamount.co.za for more information.
Bill tell us a bit about Southern Cross Aviation and what brings you to AEROSA 2025.
Bill: Southern Cross has been around for 36 years. We represent more than 70 top-tier aviation manufacturers—names like Lycoming, Honeywell, Tecnam, Michelin, and 3M. We operate globally in about 80 countries and have strong relationships in Africa with key players like Absolute Aviation.
Impressive reach. What exactly do you offer to your customers?
Bill: We’re a distributor and stockist—so while we don’t manufacture parts ourselves, we stock and supply everything from engines to avionics, batteries, and helicopter components. Some parts are new, some are overhauled—it depends on the product. We have three stocking facilities in the U.S.—Fort Lauderdale, Alaska, and Phoenix—to support clients worldwide.
Are you looking at newer technologies like 3D printing for aviation parts?
Bill: It’s promising for small components, but in aviation, certification is everything. The cost and time to certify 3D-printed parts for flight makes it more suitable for non-certified aircraft at this point.
And how about the shift toward electric aviation—eVTOLs, UAVs, electric taxis?
Bill: We’re already supporting several companies in that space. Some are developing electric aircraft from scratch, others are retrofitting existing models like the Caravan with cleaner tech. We’re supplying parts for crash testing, landing gear, you name it.
You also mentioned business in Brazil—do you work with Embraer?
Bill: Yes, we have a strong footprint in Brazil and do work with Embraer, especially around developing electric and more sustainable engine technologies.
That’s fantastic. Where can visitors find you?
Billl: Come see us at Booth C9, or visit our website: www.scross.com to explore our parts catalogue. We’re always ready to help locate exactly what you need.
Hi Jan, great to have you with us. Can you tell us a bit about your company and what you aim to achieve with your training programme?
Jan: Thanks! We’re based in Benoni at Cabin Crew Academy and have been around for quite a while. With the increasing use of drones for everything from photography to agriculture, we saw the urgent need for legal, certified drone training. Our mission is to ensure that every person flying a drone is doing so legally—registered, licensed, and fully aware of the regulations.
Why is legal training so important right now?
Jan: Because too many people buy drones off the shelf and start flying them without understanding aviation law. That can be dangerous—drones are not toys. There are serious privacy and safety risks, especially in residential areas. We want drone pilots to know what’s allowed and what’s not.
Where can someone learn about drone regulations?
Jan: The CAA (Civil Aviation Authority) website is a good place to start. But we also offer detailed workshops where we walk people through everything—from the rules to practical application. Even if someone doesn’t want to get licensed, they should still know how to fly responsibly.
Are you seeing drones used in specific industries now?
Jan: Definitely. Security and agriculture are booming. We’ve trained people who use drones for estate surveillance, perimeter control, and crop spraying. But even those operations need certified training. For instance, we recently helped a farmer get licensed after he was already spraying crops—he didn’t realise he was operating illegally.
What does your training programme look like?
Jan: The full course can take as little as three weeks. It starts with six days of theoretical training, followed by an internal exam. We also cover restricted radio training. After that, students write their CAA exam and then begin practical flight training. If they show skill, they can complete it quickly—we tailor it to the individual.
And if someone already has a pilot’s licence?
Jan: Then they don’t need radio training—we’ve had several PPL holders join us and complete the course in under two weeks. It’s efficient and focused.
That’s excellent. Final thoughts for anyone interested in drone piloting?
Jan: Drones are becoming part of everyday professional life—in journalism, real estate, film, and farming. But flying them responsibly is critical. Our goal is to help people become safe, skilled, and certified pilots. Come and see us in person or visit our website at www.training4successacademy.net
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2009 – Zest Airways Flight 863, a Xian MA60, registration RP-C8892, overruns the runway at Godofredo P. Ramos Airport, Philippines. The aircraft is substantially damaged but is to be repaired.
1997 – First flight of the Ka-52 Alligator combat helicopter.
1992 – Launch: Space Shuttle Columbia STS-50 at 12:12:23 pm EDT. Mission highlights: Spacelab mission.
1972 – First flight of Yakovlev Yak-50 (1975) aerobatic sports airplane, V. I. Loychikov test pilot.
1955 – First flight of the Scottish Aviation Twin Pioneer
1950 – Israeli airline El Al begins service.
1947 – First flight of the Boeing B-50 Superfortress
1946 – First flight of the Northrop YB-35 Flying Wing.
1944 – First flight of the Composite jet and piston engine airplane. Ryan FR Fireball.
1942 – (Overnight) Royal Air Force Bomber Command flies its third “thousand-bomber raid, ” with 1,067 bombers targeting Bremen, badly damaging the city in exchange for the loss of 55 bombers; night fighters of II Gruppe of the Luftwaffe’s Nachtjagdgeschwader 2 alone shoot down 16 of them. The Avro Manchester bomber flies its last combat mission in this raid.
1938 – The official public opening of Manchester Airport at Ringway, England, is held with an extensive air display.
1936 – First flight of the Bristol Blenheim prototype K7033
1935 – United States Coast Guard Lieutenant Richard L. Burke sets a world seaplane speed record carrying a 500-kg (1,102-lb) load over a 100 km (62 mi) course at an average speed of 280.105 km per hour (174.049 mph) flying a Grumman JF-2 Duck.
1928 – First flight of the Boeing Model 83 biplane, the last from this company in which wood was used for the wing frame and the last biplane built by Boeing.
1928 – First flight of the Boeing P-12 with the United States Army Air Corps.
1924 – Westbound from Rangoon to Akyab, the United States Army Air Service flight of Douglas World Cruisers attempting the first aerial circumnavigation of the world unknowingly flies over the Vickers Vulture II amphibian of the Royal Air Force team of MacLaren, Plenderleith, and Andrews, which is sheltering in a coastal bay in Burma while eastbound from Akyab to Rangoon during its own attempt at a circumnavigation.
1923 – First flight in the USSR of K. K. Artseulov on a glider.
1919 – The world’s most modern airliner, the Junkers F-13, makes its first flight at Dessau, Germany. It is made entirely of metal, with a strong, corrugated outer skin and cantilever wing structure, without struts or bracing wires.
1914 – Tom Blakely flies the West Wind in Calgary, Canada. The Curtiss-type biplane was designed by Frank Ellis.
1910 – The Hubbard monoplane, also referred to as ‘Mike’, was entered in the Montreal Air Meet of 25 June-5 July, 1910.
1894 – Hermann (Julius) Oberth, German scientist who was one of three founders of space flight (with Tsiolkovsky and Goddard), is born.
1886 – Henry H. “Hap” Arnold is born at Gladwyne, PA. Arnold, who had received flying instructions from Orville Wright in 1911, was the Commanding General of the U. S. Army Air Force in WW II. Arnold retired in 1946 and died near Sonoma, CA on January 15, 1950.
