Market Intelligence: Africa

Training Aircraft Crash Lands in South Africa – Residents Attempt to Rob Pilot and Student

A training aircraft from a South African Flight School crash landed, following engine failure, near Cape Town yesterday. Both Flight Instructor and Student did not suffer any major injuries but experienced a horrific experience as local residents attempted to rob them and loot the aircraft.

“A crowd quickly gathered around the plane. The pilot radioed air traffic, calling for urgent assistance, complaining that they were being robbed of their personal belongings, and the aircraft looted.

“Cape Town metro police were the first on the scene. They managed to secure the area, followed by the arrival of our law enforcement and traffic services. Fire and rescue services dispatched motor pumps and a water tanker,” said Cape Town EMS spokesperson Eckardt Winks.

This is already the second crash landing that the South African Flight School experienced in June.

Video from South African Media outlet News24 below showing the shocking scene – a video from on the ground can be found here.

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South African Aircraft Manufacturer Shares Video Tour of Factory

Sling Aircraft shared a video tour of its factory with its Founder Mike Blyth. Check out the video below.

“Sling Aircraft HQ are located at Tedderfield Airpark in Johannesburg, South Africa. The factory itself is a sprawling Hangar Complex on the airfield that encompasses approximately 2,880 m2. The Hangars house the assembly line for Sling 2, Sling TSi and Sling High Wing production,” said Sling Aircraft.

Factory offices are also located within the Hangar so Directors, Mike, James and Andrew, can keep a watchful eye on the process for quality assurance. There is a full-time staff of over 300 people and the complex includes all the amenities necessary for the production of high-quality Slings.

In addition to this, we have three warehouses in Alrode, Johannesburg South, which house our Composites, Sling High Wing Composites and Parts Manufacturing Departments.”

For more information, kindly contact Sling Aircraft.

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Kidnapped Flight School Students Brought Back to Safety

The Egyptian Embassy in Pretoria, South Africa announced that two kidnapped Egyptian students in South Africa had been released unharmed and reunited with their families on Friday.

Momen Haitham Kamel and Fady Said Mahmoud, two student pilots at ATIS Aviation Academy in Gauteng province in northeastern South Africa, were kidnapped on 14 May.

In a statement on its official page on Facebook, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said that the students have been released following intensive efforts pursued by the Egyptian embassy in cooperation with relevant authorities in South Africa, including security bodies and senior government officials.

Meanwhile, Egypt’s Ambassador to South Africa Ahmed El-Fadely received the two students after they were freed and reassured their families that they are in good health.

Fadely said the embassy had preferred to deal with the matter discreetly without attracting media attention to ensure the safety of the kidnapped nationals and secure their safe and smooth release.

He added that any leaked information could have endangered the lives of the two students.

The ambassador thanked the South African authorities for their cooperation with the Egyptian side regarding the issue, noting that such act of solidarity testifies to the robust ties binding the sisterly African nations.

Source – Egyptian State Information Service

Further information from Local South African Media – The Citizen

“Muwmin Hitham Kamel Gaber (19) and Fadi Said Elhadi Mohamed Hamond (31) both student pilots from a flying school in Vereeniging near Roshnee were kidnapped last month.

“Their rented vehicle was found abandoned along the R59 road and the suspects reportedly demanded a ransom for the safe release of the victims,” police spokesperson Colonel Athlenda Mathe said in a statement.

According to Ahram Online, the Egyptian embassy in Pretoria was working with the South African authorities and ATIS Aviation Academy to free the two Egyptian students, Minister of Emigration and Expatriate Affairs Nabila Makram said.

Haitham Kamel Gaber, Momen’s father, published a video on Facebook asking Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi to save his son and his friend Fady.

A 72-hour activation was initiated by South African authorities to rescue the two students.

A source close to the investigation told The Citizen the suspects who kidnapped the students made contact with representative of the victims on Friday instructing them to drive towards a shopping centre in the South Johannesburg for a drop off of ransom money for the release of the students.

“They were instructed that the money will be dropped near a shopping centre and victims will be released.”

According to the source, the victim’s representative then proceeded to the shopping centre and awaited further instructions from the kidnappers.

A call was later received and the representatives were instructed to drop the money off under a rock at a location, south of Johannesburg.

“The drop was done and he was then instructed to return to the shopping centre and await further instruction regarding the release of the boys. Later instruction was given to the representative to proceed to the Maraisburg area where the boys will be released near a garage.”

“Members placed themselves strategically around the area for observation and awaited the release of the victims. A call was then given with instructions on where to find the boys further down in the Maraisburg area. The vehicle used by the suspects was spotted by members of the team and a takedown ensued,” said the source.

The source said the vehicle was intercepted on the N1 after Malinbongwe and two suspects were apprehended.

According to anti-crime activicst Yusuf Abramjee, more arrests are expected.

Abramjee also said the alleged suspect is a drug kingpin from the south of Johannesburg.”

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African Simulator Training Center Completes Full Flight Simulator Purchase

West and Central Africa’s first independent Full Flight Simulator Training Center Prodigy Aviation Training Centre (PATC) has announced that it has completed the acquisition of its first Full Flight Simulator – a Boeing 737-400.

Prodigy Aviation Training Centre, established in 2021, is West and Central Africa’s first independent aviation and simulator training Centre. The Simulator Training Centre offers training solutions to Airlines and Commercial Pilots on EASA, NCAA, GCAA and CCAA approved simulators to provide a regional solution for Africa’s fast growing aviation industry.

For more information, kindly contact PATC.

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African Airline Orders 5 Boeing Aircraft

Boeing and Ethiopian Airlines Announce Order for Five 777 Freighters – Africa’s largest cargo operator expands its 777 Freighter fleet to support near-term cargo demand

Boeing and Ethiopian Airlines announced the carrier is further expanding its all-Boeing freighter fleet with an order for five 777 Freighters.

“The addition of these five 777 Freighters into our cargo fleet will enable us to meet the growing demand in our cargo operation. While cementing our partnership with Boeing with new orders, the growth of our freighter fleet takes the capacity and efficiency of our shipment service to the next level,” said Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Mr. Mesfin Tasew. “We always strive to serve our customers with the latest technology aircraft the aviation industry could offer. Our cargo terminal is Africa’s largest, coupled with fuel-efficient freighters and well-trained cargo handling professionals will enable our customers get the best quality shipment service. Customers can rely on Ethiopian for wide-ranging cargo services across five continents.”

Boeing’s market-leading 777 Freighter is the world’s largest, longest-range and most capable twin-engine freighter flying with 17% lower fuel use and emissions to prior airplanes. Ethiopian Airlines operates a fleet of nine 777 Freighters, utilizing the model’s range of 4,970 nautical miles (9,200 km) and maximum structural payload of 107 tonnes (235,900 lb) to connect Africa with 66 dedicated cargo centers throughout Asia, Europe, the Middle East and the Americas.

“Ethiopian Airlines’ all-Boeing freighter fleet provides them with unrivalled capability and flexibility as Africa’s largest cargo operator,” said Ihssane Mounir, Boeing’s senior vice president of Commercial Sales and Marketing. “These additional 777 Freighters will enable Ethiopian to capitalize on near-term cargo demand, while positioning the airline for further expansion in the future.”
In early March 2022, Boeing and Ethiopian Airlines also announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding for the carrier’s intent to purchase five 777-8 Freighters, the industry’s newest, most capable and most fuel-efficient twin-engine freighter. Ethiopian Airlines also operates three 737-800 converted freighters, as well as a combined passenger fleet of more than 80 Boeing jets, including 737s, 767s, 777s and 787s.

Source: Boeing Press Release

For more information, kindly contact Boeing.

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