MIDWEEK UPDATE 1 DECEMBER 2021Google Banner Ad    AERO CLUB COMMUNIQUE NOVEMBER 2021 #1 We are preparing for the membership renewal season for 2022 and our website will be open on 1 December for 2022 memberships. If you are not a member and wish to join the Aero Club and any of its sections, feel free to do so at the member-renewals-and-new-memberships section. The South African Civil Aviation Authority has published the Twenty First Amendment to the Civil Aviation Regulations 2021. These regulations have been promulgated by Minister Fikile Mbalula. We have found and are receiving feedback on numerous errors, some of which substantially change the intended meaning of the regulations compared to what was agreed and sent for promulgation by members. If you were part of the CARcom process and have noted discrepancies, please make contact with the Aero Club in this regard in order that it be addressed. www.caa.co.za/Legal%20Documents/21st%20Amendment%202021%2015%20November%202021.pdf Progress is being made on our on-line ATF renewal system, which is now in an extensive testing phase. We expect to start rolling it out to the wider aviation community in December. Members need to take note of the recent General Aviation Notice related to introductory flights released by the CAA as per the link below. The Aero Club will continue to review the imposed restrictions deemed impractical with the CAA. WWW.AEROCLUB.ORG.ZA/SHOP     1 EAA Chapter 322 virtual monthly meeting via Zoom. Contact Neil Bowden E-mail: neil1@telkomsa.net Cell: 084 674 5674 3,4 & 5 Tonto Skydive Boogie at the JHB Skydive Club 4 & 5 Sports Aerobatics Club ACE of Base Baragwaneth Airfield. Contact Annie Boon on E-mail: chunge@mweb.co.za 4 Steady Climb Fly-In and expo at Rhino Park airfield. Contact David Le Roux on Cell: 073 338 5200   22 & 23 SAC Gauteng Regionals venue TBA. Contact Annie Boon Email: chunge@mweb.co.za 29 SAPFA Rand Airport Challenge Rand Airport. Contact Frank Eckard on Email: frank.eckard@mweb.co.za or Cell: 083 269 1516   SLING TSI, NO MATTER THE MISSION As pilots rise through the ranks and through aircraft of ever-increasing sophistication, one question remains constant: What is next? And one answer will always resonate: More. More speed. More capability. More power. More capacity. The Sling TSi encompasses all of these qualities and has become an aircraft with an uncompromising mission: To offer unrivalled performance, safety, comfort and reliability to any pilot, no matter the mission. The Sling TSi is not simply more aircraft. It is more of all the reasons you fly. SLEEK DESIGN In addition to the leather interior, cabin heating and ventilation are standard for all occupants. The carbon fibre instrument panel and centre console throttle add to the elegance which the Sling TSi exudes. The superior comfort and elegance, as well as the unsurpassed attention to detail, puts the Sling TSi in a class of its own. UNRIVALLED AVIONICS Designed by pilots for pilots, the Sling TSi contains a selection of Garmin technologies designed to deliver a refined and integrated flight experience. The advanced configuration of the Garmin 10" G3X touch EFIS and backup Garmin G5 electronic flight display delivers exceptional performance, reliability and peace of mind. POWERPLANT AND PERFORMANCE Based on the indisputable success of the Rotax 912 ULS and 914 UL engine series, the Rotax 915 iS offers increased power, the best power-to-weight ratio in its class, full take-off power up to 16,000 feet (4,877 m) and a service ceiling of 18,000 feet (5,486 m) which can all be attributed to the turbocharged engine.  The Denali prototype aircraft, along with two additional flight test articles and three full airframe ground test articles, will continue to expand on operational goals, focusing on testing aircraft systems, engine, avionics and overall performance. The company is targeting certification for the Denali in 2023.  MAINTENANCE AND REPLACEMENT PARTS FOR SAAF C-130BZS Written by defenceWeb  The State-owned defence and security acquisition agency published the RFI last week. It, verbatim, asks for "SAAF C-130BZ ADS-B OUT Implementation, SFD Obsolescence Replacement and Aircraft Servicing". Denel Aviation is, as far as is known, still a registered AMO (aircraft maintenance organisation) for Lockheed Martin, the American manufacturer of the phenomenally successful C-130 Hercules medium transport aircraft. Retired SAAF officers told defenceWeb, on condition of anonymity, Denel Aviation "should be the obvious tenderer" adding "much depends on the financial situation as the entire Denel group faces major problems". ADS-B OUT is equipment that broadcasts information on an aircraft's GPS (global positioning system) location, altitude, ground speed and other data to ground stations and other aircraft, once a second. SFD refers to standby flight display. The tender notification seeks to replace units currently installed due to "obsolescence" and aircraft servicing. In 2009, a three-way partnership among the SAAF, Denel and Lockheed Martin saw the State-owned defence and technology conglomerate named an authorised C-130 service centre - the only one in Africa - providing support to SAAF Hercules and others in Africa. The closing date for the Armscor RFI is 7 January. The C-130 is the SAAF's transport workhorse, most recently supporting South Africa's contribution to the SADC Mission in Mozambique (SAMIM) and in July, transporting soldiers and equipment to KwaZulu-Natal to help quell civil unrest there. Eight years ago in 2013, the SAAF and 28 Squadron in particular marked the 50th in-service anniversary of the American transporter. It coincided with the AFB (Air Force Base) Waterkloof squadron's 70th anniversary. A C-130BZ which featured prominently in the 2013 commemorative events was 403. It, along with cargo drop parachutes, was décor for the gala evening in a 28 Squadron hangar. The aircraft was written off following a runway excursion at Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in January 2020. It was disassembled by SAAF ground crew technicians with usable components returned to South Africa to assist in keeping the remaining C-130BZs flying. There are many of 28 Squadron's missions, sorties and taskings that will long be remembered by the squadron, its current and past personnel as well as the SAAF, but some stand out. One was delivery of 218 tons of much-needed equipment to South African paratroopers to Bangui in Central African Republic (CAR) in March 2013. More than 170 flying hours were logged in 15 days by one of the Allison-powered workhorses. In 1963, the SAAF received five C-130Bs from the US assigned South African tail numbers 401, 402, 403, 404 and 405. All were officially taken on strength by the SAAF on 19 January 1963. Two more - 406 and 407 - were delivered to 28 Squadron the same year. In 1997/8, the US donated a pair of ex-USAF C-130Bs (408 and 409) and three ex-USN C-130F Hercules aircraft as part of an excess defence articles programme to the airborne service of the SA National Defence Force (SANDF). Both ex-US C-130Bs and one C-130F were subsequently taken into service with the C-130F retired soon after. defenceWeb understands 401 and 405 are undergoing scheduled maintenance, while 406 and 409 are airworthy and flying with a major service recently completed.  Written by Guy Martin Turkey will supply Hurkus turboprop light attack/trainer aircraft and Bayraktar TB2 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) as well as armoured vehicles to Niger, according to Turkish President Recep Erdogan. In an interview with CNN Turk on 11 November, Turkish Aerospace CEO Temel Kotil said the first Hurkus will be delivered to its first export customer by mid-2022. In April, Kotil said an unnamed country was close to signing a deal for a dozen Hurkus-C - it is not clear which variant of the aircraft Niger will be getting. "The sale of Hurkus marks Turkey's first military aircraft export that was designed and manufactured entirely with domestic resources," Kotil said earlier this month. The Hurkus is a tandem two-seat, low-wing, single-engine turboprop aircraft that was designed as a new-generation trainer as well as a platform for performing light-attack and armed reconnaissance combat missions. The Hurkus-A is the basic version that can be used by non-military customers while the Hurkus-B is a more advanced version with more sophisticated avionics. The Hurkus-C is an armed variant that can be used for close air support. It is fitted with a forward-looking infrared (FLIR) sensor and can carry 1 500 kg of weaponry. It has been seen fitted with L-UMTAS anti-tank guided missiles, Cirit laser-guided rockets and external fuel tanks. It will also be able to carry bombs, 12.7 mm machineguns and 20 mm cannon pods. The Hurkus-A first flew in August 2013 and the aircraft is in production for the Turkish military. Powered by a PT6A-68T turboprop, the aircraft has a maximum cruise speed of more than 570 km/h, an endurance of over four hours and a range of nearly 1 500 km. Turkey has racked up multiple sales of its Bayraktar TB2 UAV, including to Ukraine, Qatar, Kyrgyzstan, Libya, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan and Poland. Last month it emerged that Turkey had negotiated sales to Morocco and Ethiopia. The Bayraktar TB2 has a cruising speed of 130 km/h with an operational altitude of 7 300 metres and 27 hours endurance. The 12 metre wingspan aircraft has a maximum take-off weight of 650 kg and can carry a 150 kg payload. The Bayraktar TB2 is used operationally by the Turkish Armed Forces and is able to employ MAM and MAM-L guided munitions and UMTAS missiles. The equipment sales to Niger come a month after Nigeria ordered two new offshore patrol vessels from Turkish shipyard Dearsan.   The Egyptian and Indian air forces conducted a joint air training exercise at an airbase in Egypt for several days, the Egyptian Armed Forces announced last Wednesday. The training included a number of theoretical lectures and practical exercises to unify concepts, refine skills and manage joint operations using various modern air combat methods. The training also included refuelling drills in the air and joint sorties to attack enemy targets. The drills aim to boost military relations between Egypt and India via holding joint military exercises on executing various tasks using available resources to overcome current and possible security threats, the Egyptian Armed Forces said.  The contract for the acquisition by Egypt of 30 additional Rafales to equip its air force came into force. Announced on 4 May, this contract completes the first acquisition of 24 Rafales, signed in 2015 and will bring to 54 the number of Rafales operated by the Egyptian Air Force, the second in the world, after the French Air Force, to operate such a fleet of Rafales. It sets a new milestone in the strategic partnership between Egypt and France and strengthens the historical ties forged with Dassault Aviation for nearly fifty years. It also demonstrates the satisfaction of the Egyptian authorities with the smooth execution of the first contract. Finally, it confirms the technological and operational excellence of the Rafale and its export success. "In a demanding geopolitical context, Egypt has chosen the Rafale to ensure its role as a key player in the regional and international arena, in full sovereignty. This is an honour for Dassault Aviation and its partners, who are fully committed to meeting the expectations of the Egyptian authorities," said Eric Trappier, Chairman and CEO of Dassault Aviation. With over 10,000 military and civil aircraft (including 2,500 Falcons) delivered in more than 90 countries over the last century, Dassault Aviation has built up expertise recognized worldwide in the design, development, sale and support of all types of aircraft, ranging from the Rafale fighter, to the high-end Falcon family of business jets, military drones and space systems.   SKYLOCK is a leading authority in the design and production of anti-drone systems for the detection, verification and neutralisation of unauthorised drones. Skylock's modular, multi-layered anti-drone systems delivers comprehensive solutions for airports, critical infrastructures, military bases and national events against evolving drone threats. The system anticipates and rapidly responds effectively to unlawful drone incursions. The Moroccan Defence Force has according to news reports taken delivery of some systems. The contract does not include technology transfer for local manufacturing in Morocco. Since the return of military activities by the Polisario Front, the organisations attempt to use commercial drones for reconnaissance against the kingdom's forces stationed behind the security belt in the Moroccan Sahara have increased. The acquisition of the Skylock system would to a large extend neutralise this and help protect vital and sensitive installations from drones, such as critical economic, military and government installations. The Polisario Front is a political-military organization that aims to end Moroccan control of the former Spanish territory of Western Sahara, in north-western Africa and gain independence for that region.  Extremely lightweight design of the airframe and all components and highest power and energy densities are the key to success. The fully electric eMagic One has a maximum take-off weight of 420 kilograms (925 pounds) and a maximum speed of 170 Kilometres per hour (92 knots). It has a lift-plus-cruise design, with eight lifting propellers distributed across two rails connecting the aircraft's tandem wings and a tractor propeller up front for forward flight. Unfortunately, according to eMagic co-founder Michael Kügelgen, the company is not interested in selling this single-seater to anybody. The tandem-wing plane is strictly a proof-of-concept aircraft. Nevertheless, Kügelgen said, it is a "first and very important milestone" on the way to a larger, more capable model that could be used for personal transportation and other missions.  Textron Aviation Defence LLC has announced that the fleet of 12 Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) Beechcraft T-6TH Texan II aircraft is nearing manufacturing completion and surpassing technical inspection milestones ahead of schedule. "The Royal Thai Air Force is eager to equip its cadre of student pilots with the Beechcraft T-6TH Texan II aircraft," said Betsy Relph, the Textron Aviation Defence T-6 program manager for Thailand. "We showcased all 12 of the aircraft during a recent visit from the RTAF acceptance committee and are especially proud that RTAF Air Chief Marshal Chanon Mungthanya was here to fly the T-6." Slated to arrive at the Royal Thai Air Force Flying Training School located at Kamphaeng Saen Air Base between late in 2022 and early 2023, the aircraft are on schedule as they progress down the production line. "Flying the RTAF Beechcraft T-6TH Texan II from the historic hangar where the entire global fleet of T-6 aircraft are manufactured was a very memorable milestone," said RTAF Air Chief Marshal Chanon Mungthanya. "These aircraft will equip our students with a significant technological advantage in preparation for their transition to advanced fighter and attack aircraft." The Beechcraft T-6TH Texan II holds the distinction of being the first RTAF procurement contracted in support of S-Curve 11, a Thai plan that focuses on the modernization of key capabilities and promotes the development of the Thai defence industry. To date, the Beechcraft T-6 Texan II has logged more than 4.6 million flight hours across a global fleet of nearly 1,000 aircraft and achieves daily readiness rates of up to 91 percent among the Textron Aviation Defence-supported international T-6 fleet. Each year, more than 300 pilots from 42 countries graduate from T-6 training via the NATO Flight Training program in Canada, the Euro NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training Program (ENJJPT) at Sheppard AFB in Texas and the U.S. Air Force Aviation Leadership Program. Another 2,000-plus pilots graduate from T-6 programs across the U.S. Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, Army and Coast Guard while more than 2,700 pilots graduate from T-6 programs across the Hellenic Air Force, the Argentine Air Force, the Israeli Air Force, the Royal Air Force, the Iraqi Air Force, the Royal Canadian Air Force, Mexican Navy, the Mexican Air Force, the Royal Moroccan Air Force, the Colombian Air Force and the Royal New Zealand Air Force. The RTAF also recently awarded Textron Aviation Defence a $143 million contract for an Integrated System in support of the 41st Wing light attack operations at Chiang Mai Air Base. The historic contract for eight Beechcraft AT-6 Wolverine aircraft, ground support equipment, spare parts, training and other equipment establishes Thailand as the international launch customer for the USAF's latest light attack aircraft. The procurement of the AT-6 - designated the Beechcraft AT-6TH in Thailand - supports the S-Curve 11 plan and the mutual defence cooperation between the U.S. and Thailand.  Wisk, the U.S. leader in autonomous advanced air mobility (AAM) flight, will be displaying its fifth generation, self-flying, electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) air taxi during CoMotion LA. "We're extremely excited to be an Impact partner for CoMotion again this year," said Tanner. "Throughout history, there have been advancements that have fundamentally changed our lives and pushed us into the future with a leap. We are on the edge of another great leap- one that will take us from congested, ground-based, fossil-fuel-driven transportation, to cleaner, all-electric, everyday flight." CoMotion LA will be the first time that Wisk has publicly displayed its eVTOL air taxi in the U.S. To date, the company's fleet of fifth generation aircraft has been reserved exclusively for testing purposes and has been accessible to the broader public only through flight videos and photos. CoMotion LA marks the start of an enhanced public engagement effort, including both demonstrations and displays, designed to bring stakeholders along on the journey, see first-hand the safety of the technology and experience the future of mobility. Wisk is focused on delivering safe, everyday flight for everyone. Since 2010, the company has successfully designed and developed five generations of eVTOL aircraft (currently developing its sixth-generation aircraft) and completed more than 1,500 test flights.  The Registry of Aruba (TROA), a global one-stop aircraft registry for the business aviation sector, has announced the establishment of The Registry of Aruba Scholarship with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU). The initiative will be open to girls who wish to pursue programs in aviation at Embry-Riddle's Daytona Beach Campus. Under the program, TROA will award $6,000 to an incoming freshman every year throughout her program at The College of Aviation at Embry-Riddle.  The first recipient of The Registry of Aruba Scholarship, Masa Alkodsi, who started her degree in August 2021 and has so far obtained her private pilot's licence shared, "My end goal as a woman in aviation is to inspire young girls to think about a career in not just aviation, but the STEM field in general. One of my biggest goals through life, amplified by being honoured with the Registry of Aruba Scholarship, is to inspire more girls and young women to pursue their dreams in STEM related fields." "This scholarship opportunity generously provided by TROA is encouraging, even for women like me who already attend Embry-Riddle," said Brittney Porter, a representative of the Women's Ambassador Program. "Through our Women's Ambassador Program and other programs, we are making progress, but there is much more to be done to continue our growing success at Embry-Riddle. TROA is a big step in the right direction!"  IRELAND  An Omni Air International flight OY531, Boeing 767-300ER, suffered a left main gear fire following a rejected take-off from runway 24 at Shannon Airport (SNN/EINN), Ireland. At 05:46 hrs local time, the flight was cleared for departure from runway 24. During the take-off roll, the flight crew heard an unusual noise, which became louder in volume. The co-pilot thought one of the cockpit windows was not fully closed and the captain elected to abort the take-off. The calculated V1 speed for the flight was 146 kts and the call to reject the take-off was made at a recorded computed airspeed of 149 kts. Following the aborted take-off, the flight crew taxied to Taxiway A to carry out checks and discuss the holding time that would be required to cool the brakes before a take-off could be attempted again. Both flight crew members believed that the aircraft was travelling at an IAS of less than 120 kts when the decision was made to reject the take-off and calculated a cooling time for the brakes based on that speed. They advised the controller that they would require 35 - 40 minutes and the controller directed them to hold on Taxiway C. While on Taxiway C, the flight crew contacted the Aircraft Operator's Maintenance Department, who advised that the aircraft should return to stand so that inspections could be carried out. Following discussions with the controller, the flight crew were given permission to taxi the aircraft back to stand. At 06:13 hrs, during the taxi and while the aircraft was on runway 24, the controller advised the flight crew that smoke was observed to be emanating from the aircraft's left main landing gear. The flight crew requested a service vehicle to assist. At 06:15 hrs, the airport Duty Office informed the controller that the left main landing gear was on fire. The controller informed the flight crew of the fire and requested that they initiate an immediate evacuation from the right side of the aircraft. The AFRS immediately dispatched to the aircraft. By 06:19 hrs all passengers and cabin crew had been evacuated using the aircraft emergency slides and the fire had been extinguished. Subsequently, the commander informed ATC that the flight crew was about to leave the aircraft. One passenger sustained a minor injury during the evacuation. Probable Cause Fire in the brake assembly during taxi, following a high-speed rejected take-off which occurred 28 minutes earlier.  Central African Republic, Oubangui River: A Wagner Group Aérospatiale SA 341G Gazelle with two on board reportedly operated by a Russian 'private military company', crashed in the Oubangui river shortly after take-off. All occupants were rescued by fishermen. Two were seriously injured. The helicopter sank in the river.  Japan, 11 km west of Shonai Airport: An All Nippon Airways Airbus A320-271N with 119 occupants suffered a lightning strike on its nose at 11 km west of Shonai Airport while on the second approach. The Airbus carried out a safe landing, however, the return flight ANA/NH398 was cancelled. No personal injuries were reported. Scorching and colour change were found on the nose and the wing. Costa Rica, Murcielago, Santa Elena, Guanacaste: An unregistered Pipistrel Virus crash landed and nosed over in a private farm near Santa Elena, Guanacaste. Security personnel found no traces of the pilot/s, but a bag with a Cellphone and GPS. Authorities of the Drug Control Police (PCD) along with K-9 units and police of the Air Surveillance Service tracked down the home of a suspect involved in the aircraft. At the house, they found 93 Kilograms of cocaine, cash and a firearm. They were able to locate the suspect, who was attempting to hide from the authorities while the search was being conducted.  Norway, Tvedalen, near Larvik: A Pilot Flight Academy Diamond DA42NG Twin Star with three occupants crashed in Tvedalen, near Larvik, at a wooded hill during a training flight. The instructor and 2 student pilots were fatally injured. USA, Trenton, NJ: A Frontier Airlines Airbus A320-214 struck multiple birds. A post-flight detection revealed substantial damage as well as a hole in the fuselage. The aircraft remained on the ground in Trenton for about 70 hours before returning to service.  USA, Smith Field Airport, Fort Wayne, IN: An apparently thirsty Aeronca Champ sustained substantial damage subsequent to impact with a light standard base near the fuel island at Smith Field Airport (SMD/KSMD), Fort Wayne, Indiana. There were no reported injuries. USA, Lockwood Valley, Ventura County, CA: An Alon A-2 Aircoupe crashed in Lockwood Valley, Ventura County, California. The pilot sustained serious injuries and the aircraft suffered substantial damage.  Mexico, Sierra de Mamulique, Salinas Victoria: A Valiair LC CubCrafters CC11-160 Carbon Cub with a father and son on board crashed in adverse weather conditions in Sierra de Mamulique, Salinas Victoria. The father, the pilot, survived the crash but the son did not. Beliza, Kanantik in the Stann Creek District Silver Creek Airport: A burnt Cessna 210 Centurion was found by law enforcement officers in Kanantik in the Stann Creek District (SVK/MZKT). It had been set on-fire and destroyed and was likely used for transporting drugs. No occupants were found at the scene.  Brazil, Atlantic Ocean, near Ubatuba, north of Sao Paulo: A Piper PA-23-250 Aztec made an emergency crash landing at Sandy Point Airport (MYAS), Abaco Island after a landing gear malfunction. All five POB escaped unhurt. Brazil, Atlantic Ocean, near Ubatuba, north of Sao Paulo: A Piper PA-34-220T Seneca III with three on board was lost in the sea near Ubatuba. At least one body has been recovered.   2 DECEMBER 1965  USS Enterprise becomes the first nuclear-powered warship to see combat, launching air strikes at the Viet Cong near Bien Hoa. Enterprise is also the only aircraft carrier to house more than two nuclear reactors,[6] having an eight-reactor propulsion design, with each A2W reactor taking the place of one of the conventional boilers in earlier constructions.[35] She is the only carrier with four rudders, two more than other classes and features a more cruiser-like hull. In November 1965, the Enterprise was transferred to the Seventh Fleet, home-ported at NAS Alameda, California. The following month, on 2 December, she became the first nuclear-powered ship to engage in combat when she launched aircraft against the Viet Cong near Biên Hòa City. The ship led Carrier Division Three, with Enterprise (redesignated CVAN-65), which had Carrier Air Wing Nine (CVW-9) aboard: - Bainbridge, Barry and Samuel B. Roberts. Enterprise launched 125 sorties on the first day, unleashing 167 short tons (151t) of bombs and rockets on the enemy's supply lines. On 3 December, she set a record of 165 strike sorties in a single day.  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