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Flight News On Douglas DC-68 ,Botswana Pilot Cadet & Fighting Loss of Control Accidents

The two year-long restoration effort to get the Douglas DC-6B ready for her final ferry flight from Swartkop, near Pretoria, was successfully concluded on October 29 2010.

This followed a final series of fast taxi tests in preparation for the flight to her new "home base" north of Pretoria, which was scheduled for the next morning, October 30, 2010.

After inspecting the aircraft, the SA Civil Aviation Authority issued the registration ZS-MUL with an authority to fly (ferry permit) , much to the delight of project leader, Mike Meyers, and his hard working restoration team.

The registration, ZS-MUL, which the DC-6 previously carried 20 years earlier, was allocated by the SACAA.

Coincidently, Mayers maintained and flew this specific aircraft together with her sister ship, ZS-MTE, at Avia during the early 1990s, operating out of Wonder boom on cargo charter flights.

For the DC-6B to land at its new home, an airstrip had to be prepared by the owners, basically an extension of an existing micro light facility. The runway was extended to 700 metres and widened by 30 metres.

With the aircraft ready to go ,permits and permissions in place, a host of aviation enthusiasts and the press lined up to witness the historic event, the flying crew having conducted a final runway inspection the previous afternoon. An approach and landing was flown in a Cessna 210 to evaluate the suitability of the 700 metre strip.

The ferry flight, however, was not to be –at least not on that day. The pilots, Johan Van den Berg and "Flip pie" Vermeulen and flight engineer, Mike Mayers, finally reached agreement that the approach to the landing was not suitable for the large DC-6 .Obstructing blue gum trees on the approach were the main concern, but it was felt that the runway had to be extended by another 200 metres to allow more over-run space.

Although disappointing for some, the final decision was made in the interest of safety-for the crew and a very historic and rare aircraft.

The flight was therefore postponed until further improvements can be made to the runway, hopefully before the end of last year.

Takeoff weight for the DC-6B at Swartkop will be a total of 63000 pounds (28578kg) which included 8000 pounds (3629kg) of avgas.

Takeoff speed for the planned departure was 95 knots which could change depending on conditions prevailing on the day of the eventual takeoff.

Cruising speed will be 150 knots and approach speed will be about 90knots, again depending on conditions on the day.

Landing distance required for the aircraft on a hard surface and calm wind prior to modifications 700 metres of runway were available, which will now be increased before the historic flight.

World Air news will keep readers posted on developments as they unfold.

Botswana Cadet Pilot Training Forges Ahead

The second group of the Botswana Government sponsored cadet pilots who began their training with Babcock Central Flying Academy (CFA) at Grand Central Airport, near Johannesburg, in September 2008, recently completed their courses.

The groups, consisting of Bathuseng Kesotlegile, Benedict Gaborakanelwe and Kgolagamo Sehanze, have all qualified as Commercial Pilots with Instrument Rating and are also Multi-engine rated.

They were selected as part of a Botswana Government –sponsored skills development and recruitment programme. This programme, run under the auspices of the country's Department of Education, empowers students through education and training in a range of disciplines.

The Central Flying Academy was chosen by the Botswana Department of Education after previous service providers did not meet with their expectations.

Babcock CFA was recommended to the Botswana Consulate in South Africa who arranged for the Grand Central Airport, Midrand-based flying academy to be audited by a representative of the Botswana DCA.

Chief Operating Officer-Central Flying Academy, Michael de Weijer, explained that Botswana put a lot of effort into educating its citizens and also recognized the importance of pilots to the country's economy.

"CFA initially trained a single pilot as part of this programme and he completed his training in January 2010- the first candidate from this programme to graduate from a South African flight training school."

CFA believes in the personal touch and de Weijer said it was rewarding to see how these students had grown in the time they had been in Babcock's care."Some arrive rather ‘green' and from rural areas, but all have been lauded by our designated examiners for their ability and conduct. They are excellent ambassadors for their country and will no doubt all be excellent ambassadors for CFA in their professional careers in Botswana."

The three cadets, all 22-year-old Botswana citizens, were chosen from applicants who completed their senior school education in 2007 and who had responded to a newspaper advertisement placed by the Department of Education calling for applicants for Commercial Pilot training.

Kgolagamo said he had always dreamt of being as pilot. Growing up in Maun, the gateway to Botswana's premier tourist attraction, the Okavango Swamps, he spent his afternoons after school and weekends sitting at the airport watching the aircraft flying tourists to and from the myriad of lodges in the Delta, dreaming of one day piloting one of these aircraft. He read every aviation magazine he could lay his hands on.

"My mother worked for one of the local safari operator's .In 2004, as part of a school career project, she arranged with her employer for me to fly in the right seat of his Cessna 206 that was taking a group of tourists to one of the lodges in the Delta. I was then allowed to take control of the aircraft during flight, too.This experience convinced me that this was the future career for me, "he explained.

Flight training is very expensive and Kgolagamo was not sure how he was going to raise the finances to learn to fly. His dream to fly was realized when, in his final year of school at the Maun senior secondary school, he responded to the same advertisement as his colleagues and was shortlisted for an interview which he passed with the proverbial"flyinf colours."

Benedict Matriculated from Francis-town senior secondary school in late 2007."I initially planned to study medicine, but instead chose to pursue a career in aviation," he said.

Bathuseng had considered a career in the engineering field following his matriculation at Ghanzi senior secondary school in 2007, but fell under the spell of aviation.

All three underwent an interview with a selection panel before being sent to South Africa where they started training at CFA. The cadets completed their Private Pilots License before continuing with Commercial Pilots License.

The cadets have subsequently returned to Botswana and will, initially, join one of the many charter companies operating in support of the country's burgeoning tourism industry to gain experience, but all three aspire to fly for the country's national Airline, Air Botswana.

Fighting Loss of Control Accidents for Light Jet Pilots

Two major United States Organizations have joined forces to launch a unique international training course specifically designed to combat loss of control accidents and which is aimed particularly at the growing numbers of light jet owner-pilots.

The organizations are well-known Sean D. Tuckers Tutima Academy of Aviation Safety, a leading aerobatic and upset recovery training school, which, in partnership with jet AVIVA, a premier light jet firm, are launching their new light jet upset recovery training course.

Following the US Federal Aviation Administrations recent announcement urging all commercial operators to begin incorporating "Enhanced Upset Recovery Training," jet AVIVA and the Tutima Academy are demonstrating their dedication to safety by expanding this recommendation to light jet operators.

A recent NASA study demonstrated that loss of control (LOC) scenarios continue to outpace other factors as the leading cause of fatal accidents in the last 20 years. To help combat LOC accidents, the course covers various scenarios of this type and aerodynamics with a specific emphasis on LOC psychology.

The three-day course utilizes Extra 300L and Pitts S2B/C aircraft, giving pilots the ability to experience all flight attitudes and to test the edges of the aerodynamic envelope in a safe and structured environment under the guidance of some of the world's top aerobatic instructors.

This course is open to any pilot who flies a turbine-powered aircraft or is considering the purchase of such a machine.

The team at Tutima Academy, including company principal and world-renowned air show performer Sean D. Tucker, developed the curriculum in conjunction with jetAVIVAs jet instructor pilots.

According to Tucker: "Flying aerobatics is the greatest thrill I've ever experienced .Being able to share my experiences to help other pilots survive emergency situations is even more rewarding."

Since its inception, jet AVIVA has been dedicated to the development of its clients as owner-pilots.

Jet AVIVA president, Cyrus Sigari, commented:"Training for and flying in competition aerobatics has significantly helped increase my personal flying skills, potentially saving my life one day.

"As a result I have become a firm believer that upset recovery training is not just an educational option; it should be required training for all those operating turbine-powered aircraft," Sigari stressed.

Jet AVIVA developed its first jet familiarization training course several years ago and has helped hundreds of owner-pilots transition from propeller aircraft to jets.

The goal of both jet AVIVA and the Tutima Academy is to increase safety in one of the fastest growing areas of general and business aviation: the owner-flown light jet arena.

 

About the Author

Anthony Juma is the Editor and Senior Aviation Director at Wings Over Africa Aviation. 
This is an Air Charter Company that specializes on Articles On Flight News on Douglas DC-6B, Botswana Cadet Pilots & Fighting Loss Accidents For Light Jet Pilots. The website has guided thousands of travelers to achieve their dream holiday. For more information and guidance, visit the site at http:// / www.wingsoverafrica-aviation.com/index.php/services/vip-executive-flights.html

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