AERO CLUB OF SOUTH AFRICA ANNUAL AWARDS DINNER 2014 By Garth Calitz The Aero Club of South Africa once again pulled out all the stops at the annual awards dinner, making the "black tie" event very memorable indeed. The SAAF Museum hosted the function in their beautifully decorated 5 Hangar, which is permanently set up to handle functions and conferences. Air Force Base Zwartkop was the perfect setting for the function, being the oldest continuously operational air force base in the world, something has to be said about celebrating such a prestigious aviation event in a hangar dating back to the 1920's. All the guests eagerly awaited the planned Vampire display but the weather had other plans and the flight was called off by the pilot Col Rama Iyer as the thunderstorms made flying very dangerous. Karl Jensen the MC for the occasion welcomed all and introduced all the VIP guests that included Simon Segwaba, Gawie Bestbier, Thabo Fischa and Mary Stephens from the CAA Executive Board, Stan Oliver, Neil de Lange and Asruf Seedat from RAASA, Gaboerkwe Khambule head of SA Weather Services, JP Truter Deputy GM of Commercial Aviation Association of SA and Wendy Santilhano from Mayday-SA. Ret Col Jeff Earl the Chairman of the AeCSA addressed the guests as they enjoyed their starters. Next up was the presentation of National Colours and what was encouraging was the amount of young members that had excelled over the past year. The following people received 2014 Aero Club awards: National Colours BAFSA - Balloon and Airship Federation of SA 21st FAI Hot Air Balloon championships David Mac Gregor SAC - Sport Aerobatics Club Advanced Aerobatic championship Elton Bondi Senior Colours Advanced Aerobatic Championship Annie Boon Manager Advanced Aerobatic Championship Steve Brown Senior Colours Advanced Aerobatic Championship Patrick Davidson Senior Colours Advanced Aerobatic Championship Barrie Eeles Senior Colours Advanced Aerobatic Championship Johnie Smith Senior Colours Advanced Aerobatic Championship Charles Urban Senior Colours Advanced Aerobatic Championship SAMAA - South African Modelling Association of SA 9th FAI World Championship for Soaring Model Aircraft-Class F3J Craig Goodrum Senior Colours 9th FAI World Championship for Soaring Model Aircraft Class F3J Michelle Goodrum Senior Colours 9th FAI World Championship for Soaring Model Aircraft Class F3J - Assistant Manager Wouter Kruger Senior Colours 9th FAI World Championship for Soaring Model Aircraft Class F3J Tshepo Molefe Junior Colours 9th FAI World Championship for Soaring Model Aircraft Class F3J Alan Smith Senior Colours 9th FAI World Championship for Soaring Model Aircraft Class F3J Jethro van der Molen Junior Colours 9th FAI World Championship for Soaring Model Aircraft Class F3J Jason Weber Junior Colours 9th FAI World Championship for Soaring Model Aircraft Class F3J South African Modelling Association of SA World Championship for control line model Aircraft Keith Renecle Senior Colours World Championship for Control Line Model Aircraft SAPFA - South African Power Flying Association World Rally Flying Championship Frank Eckard Senior Colours World Rally Flying Championships Caroline(Cally)Eckard Senior Colours World Rally Flying Championships Jozef Jacobs Senior Colours World Rally Flying Championships Rob Jonkers Senior Colours World Rally Flying Championships Martin Meyer Senior Colours World Rally Flying Championships Hans Schwebel Senior Colours World Rally Flying Championships Ronald Stirk Senior Colours World Rally Flying Championships SSSA - Soaring Society of South Africa 33rd FAI World Gliding Championship Open, 18m and 20m Carol Clifford Team Manager 33rd FAI World Gliding Championships Open 18m and 15m Classes Laurens Goudriaan Senior Colours 33rd FAI World Gliding Championships Open 18m and 15m Classes Jacobus Jonker Senior Colours 33rd FAI World Gliding Championships Open 18m and 15m Classes Andriaan Jonker Senior Colours 33rd FAI World Gliding Championships Open 18m and 15m Classes Sven Olivier Senior Colours 33rd FAI World Gliding Championships Open 18m and 15m Classes Wayne Schmidt Senior Colours 33rd FAI World Gliding Championships Open 18m and 15m Classes Soaring Society of South Africa 33rd FAI World Gliding Championships Club, Standard and 20m Martin Lessle Senior Colours 33rd FAI World Gliding Championships Club Standard and 20m Classes John Mclauchlan Senior Colours 33rd FAI World Gliding Championships Club Standard and 20m Classes Marijn Schaap Manager 33rd FAI World Gliding Championships Club Standard and 20m Classes Manager Gary Whitecross Senior Colours 33rd FAI World Gliding Championships Club Standard and 20m Classes PASA - Parachute Association of South Africa 21st FAI World Formation Skydiving Championships Bailey Edmunds Senior Colours 21st FAI World Formation Skydiving Championships Warren Hitchcock Senior Colours 21st FAI World Formation Skydiving Championships Alex Jordaan Senior Colours 21st FAI World Formation Skydiving Championships Amy Kirtland Senior Colours 21st FAI World Formation Skydiving Championships Andre van Heerden Senior Colours 21st FAI World Formation Skydiving Championships Parachute Association of South Africa 5th FAI World Canopy piloting Championship Chris Teague Senior Colours 5th FAI World Canopy Piloting Championships Dian Kemp Senior Colours 5th FAI World Canopy Piloting Championships Jean-Jacques Wallis Senior Colours 5th FAI World Canopy Piloting Championships Parachute Association of South Africa Special Acknowledgement for a record attempt Naomi Kotzee Special Acknowledgement 2014 Upright World record attempt After a brief description on the selection process and criteria for special acknowledgements Karl made a request to all members and section leaders within the AeCSA to please forward the detail of any members that have excelled in their particular field to the board so that they can be considered for such an acknowledgment. Special acknowledgements awarded to: · Jenny Bowley - 15 years of unwavering service to the Sport Aerobatics fraternity · Ardyn Moolman - Supptrting role as international Judge in World Rally Flying Championships · Coena Smith - For his heroic part in saving 5 lives in a daring rescue in a swollen river in the Waterberg , without his skill and heroism the outcome would undoubtedly been tragically different. Silver Wings for exceptional service / projects to further Aero Club Dennis Cohen Nigel Hopkins Paul Sabatier Herman Weber Gold Wings ten years continuous service to Aero Club Frank Eckard Alex Rudd James Wardle The African Pilot Air Show of the year Award 1st place - Durban Land, Sea and Air Festival - Dr Clive Coetzee (finance KZN province), Nigel Hopkins and Brian Emmenis 2nd place - Port Elizabeth Air Show - Dr Crystal Watson 3rd place - SAAF Museum Air Show - LtCol Mike O'Connor After the main course was served, Wing Commander Nigel "Cookie" Cookson, Naval and Air Advisor of the Royal Air Force accredited to Mozambique, Namibia and Angola, gave a very informative talk highlighting the need for proper planning in any form of aviation. Cookie is a fast jet navigator with 2400 hours in the training and operational GR1/4, ground attack and nuclear deterrent role for the past 20 years. Nigel a veteran of Gulf War 1 and 4, NATO operations over Kosovo and Serbia and was stationed in Libya. He had all present hanging on every word. The final awards followed PGS Award: Manufacture or design for South African recreational aviation to Christopher Dales James Gilliland Trophy: Most meritorious feat during the past year to Calle Hedberg Dennis Jankelow Trophy: Airmanship: presented to Karl Jensen Don Tilley Trophy: Safety in Aviation to Mark Swarts SA Eagle Trophy: Most meritorious achievement at an international event to South African Junior F3J Team: Justin van der Molen, Craig Goodrum, Jason Weber, Tshepo Molefe Lewis Lange Trophy: Pilot of the year to Patrick Davidson Thanks for the evening's organisation: Sandra Strydom and AeCSA personnel, Trixie Heron (brochure and citation editing), Col Rama Ayer and his wife, Col Mike O'Connor (SAAF Museum), Wing Commander Nigel Cookson (guest speaker), Marie Reddy and Michelle Marias (event organisers). Also thanks to all nominees, winners and members of AeCSA and especially to you good people who have travelled from far and wide to grace us with your company, see you all next year.

Events 2014 AeCSA

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