Civil Aviation Authority

East Africa has been the hub for both cargo and passengers flights especially within Eastern,Central,Southern,Northern Africa, United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan & Europe. It serves the Humanitarian & Relief Flights for cargo and passengers, Air Ambulance, Emergency & Medical Evacuation Flights,V.I.P Executive Private Flights, Executive Private Jet Flights, Cargo for both bulky and unbulky globally. Also it is the hub for flights to war torn countries like DR Congo, Central Africa Republic, Mozambique, South Sudan, Chad, Somalia, Afghanistan, and Darfur among other countries.

There are International flights arriving into and departing in Kenya at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi, Moi International Airport Mombassa and connecting to various countries in Africa. These flights also fly in tourists who arrive and depart directly from Moi International Airport to Masai Mara, Amboseli, Tsavo East/West, Malindi, Lamu, Diani Beach, Wasini Island, and Funzi Island in Kenya

And to Zanzibar and Pemba Island in Tanzania. The tourist can take commercial flights to Masai Mara and Amboseli and private charter flights to other destinations as there is only one daily service to Masai Mara via Malindi, Ukunda ,Amboseli to Masai Mara and in the afternoon back to Mombassa for the rest you can take road transport or private charter.

Arriving flights at Jomo Kenyatta fly in tourists who connect direct to National Parks & Reserves or drive to Wilson Airport to connect either commercial flights or private charters. Since the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority do not grant permission to foreign aircraft to fly cargo out of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport without an Air Service License which you must have a registered company in Kenya there are air charter operators that you can partner with and use their license.

Air news around the World,

(a) Kenyan Flights Expansion.

The National Carrier Kenya Airways has leased Boeing 767-300 ER from ILFC for an 18-month period in addition to the existing B767-300ER. Also Jet link Express has leased an additional Bombardier CRJ, bringing its fleet to three for CRJs.

(b) Rwanda Expands its Scheduled Services to South Africa.

Rwanda has again introduced scheduled services linking its capital city Kigali direct to Johannesburg. It also during the month of February 2010 introduced flights to the Tanzanian port city of Daresalam via Bujumbura and flights to Goma and Kinshasa in the DRC will follow by end of March 2010.It has also plans to add one each BOEING 767 and Boeing 737-800 in March 2010 in addition of the two recently acquired Bombardier CRJ regional Jets.

(c) Nigeria Increases its Scheduled Services.

Arik Air ,Nigeria's largest Airline, has expanded its extensive regional services with the launch of flights between Abuja and Accra (Ghana) Bajui(Gambia) and Dakar(Senegal).This being new services introduced by Arik Air from Nigeria's capital,Abuja,to points in West Africa and will operate twice weekly non-stop services between Abuja and Accra using Boeing 737-700 aircraft. In supplement, Arik Air has launched further regional services between Lagos and Cotonou (Benin) and Dakar (Senegal) including new non-stops services between Lagos and Dakar. A Bombardier CRJ900s aircraft operate the routes, one of the four CRJ1900s in the airlines fleet.

(d) DR Congo's BizAfrika Congo And SA Express Enter into A Joint Venture Forming Congo Express.

Lubumbashi, Kinshasha, Mbuji Mayi is now being served by a new regional airline Congo Express. The airline is a joint venture and collaboration between established Congolese business, BizAfrika Congo and SA Express, one of the fastest growing regional carriers on the continent. Congo Express is set to flourish as an extension of the recently re-launched SA Express brand, which aims to offer customers abespoke, seamless travel experience. Siza Mzimela, CEO of SA Express is proudly positioned as the premier intra-regional African brand.

The airlines long-term strategy is to transform air transport in the region-stimulating markets, developing hubs and providing those all important links between lucrative destinations. They are delighted to take this first step in achieving their goal.The joint venture took over 4 years before the marriage was formalized.SA Express holds 49% of Congo Express shares in this joint venture. Its operations will be rolled out in three phase as disclosed by Didier Kindambu the Managing Director Congo Express the first being Lubumbashi-Kinshasha and Kinshasha-Mbuju Mayi routes. Next will be to increase the domestic routes to serve other airports within DRC, followed by an extension of services beyond the borders of the DRC.

Its corporate identity will be similar to those of SA Express, yet uniquely distinctive. The logo reflects the colours of the national flag of DRC and will be reflected in the livery of the aircraft servicing the route, and also in the chic uniform to be worn by staff. Its maintaince will be done by SA Express, who boasts a commendable safety record. The Johannesburg –Lubumbashi route has since flourished, currently frequenting the DRC 6-days a week. Congo Express will operate 7 days a week between Lubumbashi and Kinshasa and 4 times a week between Lubumbashi and Mbuji Mayi.

(e) Ethiopian Airline Orders 10 Next-Generations 737-800s

Ethiopian Airlines have announced an order of 10 next—Generation 737-800s With Boeing in Seattle and this order is valued at $767-million at list prices.

Based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopian Airlines last year became the first African Carrier to order and operate the ultra-long range 777-200LR. Ethiopian also was the first African Carrier to order the B787 Dream liner, ordering 10 in 2005.

(f) Togolese Carrier starts Flights

Lome-ASKY, a new Togolese carrier started operations recently with two wet-leased 737-700s from Ethiopian Airlines, and began operations as Ethiopian West African hub.

(g)Virgin Wins "Flight Deal of the Century"

Australian airline, Virgin Blue has been awarded the contract for passenger services between Perth and two Indian Ocean territories after winning a Federal Government tender to conduct flights to Christmas and the Cocos Island. Details of the "can't lose" Federal Government contract were revealed at WAtoday.com.au last year. The Government subsidizes the flight once the revenue falls beneath agreed minimum threshold, and did so to the tune of $ 972,000 in the last financial year.

The services were previously operated by Cob ham Aviation, the former National Jet, which actually lost the contract in 2008 but continued to operate them after the winning bidder, Sky Air World, went into administration. The airline will start thrice-weekly flights in April 2010 from Perth to both territories, and flights between the territories and Virgin Blue would boost its domestic network to 30 destinations.

From Perth, Christmas and Cocos Islands are two of the best, unspoilt and truly unique island holiday destinations the region has to offer. With other markets this airline has entered, they are confident the new services will further stimulate tourism of these most remarkable jewels in the Indian Ocean and also help to strengthen relations with the mainland. While the new flights were within the Australian domestic network, all services to and fro Australia will arrive into and depart from Perth International Airport.

(h) Indian Airline to Fly to South Africa.

India's largest passenger airline, Jet Airways (India) Ltd, is set to become the countries first carrier to fly to South Africa and is keen to commence flights ahead of the Football World Cup scheduled to start on June 11, 2010. The airline is also entering into a code share agreement with Kenya Airways to connect to the northern regions of Africa, coinciding with India's recent thrust to improve economic diplomacy in the continent.

Permission for Jet Air to schedule non-stop daily flights from Mumbai to Johannesburg has been requested from the Indian authorities but the airline is still waiting for formal clearance to be given by the aviation Ministry. clause in the bilateral rights with South Africa allowed for only one carrier to fly from Mumbai but that restriction was lifted some time ago leaving the way clear for Jet Airways to seek approval for the airline to use the route.

With these air news the users of aviation services will be always aware of the new routes introduced, new aircrafts manufactured, new travel regulations, ,aviation events of the year, safety and security alerts.

A plane crashed in the Margalla Hills in Islamabad Wednesday, they said. Said at least 157 people were aboard the ABQ-202, a civil aviation officer. The 157 included 151 passengers and six crew members, the official said. Rescue crews arrived and managed to get four injured from the rubble. Interior Minister of Pakistan Mr. Rehman Malik said that five people injured at the scene have been rescued and were taken to hospital for treatment.

Meanwhile, Channel Imtiaz Inayat, a senior municipal official in Islamabad, during a private TV channel up to five bodies recovered from the crash site. Several organizations in the region. Four or five bodies had been taken, said Inayat. In addition, said Imtiaz Elahi, Chairman of Development Capital, We have fire trucks, sent to the scene recovered five bodies so far. The total number of survivors was not initially known, another official of the local government.

Rescue teams arrived in the area. You are fully equipped. It is scanning the entire surface. The injured survivors are helped and arrangements for them to hospital. We try to get information about passengers. This is a great tragedy. It really is a great tragedy, he said. Mubare Shah, a spokesman for the Civil Aviation Authority, said: We are collecting information. We have no details. The plane was traveling from Karachi to Islamabad and the exact cause of the accident was not immediately clear. The plane was in contact with the control tower in the battle, the place among dense fog and heavy rain in Islamabad has lost.

Guards with the forest service said they found the remains and saw bodies, police officer Mohammed Saeed said. The army said it was sending special forces to help in the area with helicopters. Mohammed Usman, an official of Benazir Bhutto has said the international airport met with dozens of family members of passengers, weeping and desperate for information on their relatives. Saqlain Altaf was a news channel, reported a private TV he at a family gathering in the mountains when he saw the plane, looking in unstable air.

"The plane he had lost his balance, then we saw that,"he said, adding that he heard the crash. Thick clouds of smoke rose from the Margalla Hills. Prime Minister of Pakistan Yusuf Raza Gilani has directed the authorities to immediately control the fire and rescue passengers. Airblue could not be reached for comment. The company began operations in 2004 with a fleet Airbus A320 and A321, the company said on its website.

The plane crashed that Wednesday was also built by Airbus, said Airbus. We regret to confirm that you have an accident involving an Airbus aircraft and provide you more details when we have more information available, confirmed spokesman Stefan Schaffrath said Airbus. According to recent data published by Airbus operates six A320 family Airblue for short and medium distances, with a capacity of 185 passengers. Forty-five people were killed when a plane crashed into Pakistan International Airlines in the vicinity include Multan in 2006

The aviation industry is failing to provide passengers with adequate protection if airlines fail, according to a report by the Air Travel Insolvency Advisory Committee (ATIPAC). ATIPAC, which advises the Civil Aviation Authority, called for an end to the current system in which scheduled airlines are able to operate without offering passengers the same financial security that package holidaymakers enjoy, through the Air Tour Organiser’s License (ATOL) system.

Passengers flying as part of a package holiday with ATOL-protected operators automatically have a £1 charge added to the price of their holiday, which contributes to a regulated travel insurance fund. The news comes in the wake of a report by Blue Oar investments claiming at least 50 European airlines face bankruptcy if the current decline in the aviation industry fails to improve.

Rising fuel costs and the worldwide credit crunch have already seen at least 25 airlines go bust this year, including Silverjet, Eos, Maxjet, ATA and Oasis Hong Kong, while EasyJet, Ryanair and British Airways have announced cutbacks in flights this winter and falling profit in the last few weeks.

So how do you you protect yourself when an airline or tour operator goes bust? Who or what is out there? Some insurers offer Passenger Protection Insurance sold separately or Dynamic Packaging Protection as part of a travel insurance policy but always check the small print if this is offered because these are quite often restrictive in their cover. You can reduce the risk further by organising your travel through companies and agents covered by ATOL or who hold bonding through an approved body, such as ABTA or AITO.

ATOL stands for Air Travel Organiser’s licensing and is a protection scheme for flights and air holidays, managed by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and protects the customer from losing money or being stranded abroad when a tour operator goes bust. All licensed firms have to lodge bonds with the CAA so that, if they go out of business, the CAA can give refunds to people who can’t travel and arrange for people abroad to finish their holidays and fly home. And ABTA? Members of the Association of British Travel Agents are required to provide financial protection for their customers which means that you can book your holiday knowing that if an ABTA member fails financially while you are on holiday, you can continue your holiday as planned.

If your holiday has not started, then you will receive a full refund or be given help to make alternative arrangements for the trip to proceed. Likewise AITO, or Association of Independent Tour Operators to give it its full title, require their members to protect their customer’s money in the event of an AITO member going into liquidation. Above all of this, it is vital you have a comprehensive travel insurance policy incase the worth was to happen.

These services have become more depending and many players are penetrating into this industry to ensure the travelers have all the products and services they need.

In East Africa which comprises Kenya,Tanzania,Uganda,Burundi,Rwanda the services are available from the major Airports Like,Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Wilson Airport,Moi International Airport, Nanyuki Airstrip, Lamu, Malindi, Kilimanjaro International Airport, Arusha Airport, Daresalaam, Mwanza, Zanzibar, Mbeya, Dodoma, Entebbe, Soroti, Kampala, Kigali, Bujumbura which provides both international and local private aviation flights. You charter flights from Kilimanjaro/Arusha Airports to Lake Manyara, Ngorongo Crater, Seronera, Grumeti, Sasakwa, Lobo, Mafia Island, Pemba Island, Mahale, Zanzibar, Kigoma, Kogadete, Ndutu, Kleins Camp, Serengeti and many others including major cities like Dodoma, Musoma, Tabora, Kigoma, Mbeya, Geita, Mwanza.

In Tanzania you can get aircrafts ranging from Caravan 208 12 seater single turbo prop engne,Let 410 18 seater twin engine, Twin otter 17 seater twin engine, Beechcraft 1900C 18 seater pressurized, Beechcraft 200 Superkingair 10 seater pressurized,PA-34 5 seater twin piston engine,ATR 42 45 seater turbo prop twin which mostly are based in Arusha, Kilimanjaro, Mwanza and Daresaalam. You can charter an aircraft to national parks & reserves at short notice and an aircraft of your choice and with the capacity that you require.

In Uganda there aircrafts like PA-34 SENECA 3 5 seater twin piston engine,Beehcraft 1900C 18 seater pressurized, Beechcraft 200 Superkingair 10 seater pressurized, Let 410 18 seater unpressurized,C-208 Caravan 12 seater single turbo prop engine with many others. You can charter from Entebbe to South Sudan, Somalia, DR Congo, Khartoum, Juba, and Rumbek for either cargo or passengers.

In Rwanda you can charter CRJ Regional jets, Beechcraft 1900D 18 Seater Pressurized same to Burundi but most of the Aircrafts will be chartered from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and DR Congo. Most of the aircrafts are on contract by United Nations or Non-Governmental organizations and you can't charter them.

There direct private charter flights from/into Kenya National Parks & Reserves to point of entry/exit in Tanzania like, Kilimanjaro, Musoma, Mwanza, Zanzibar, Arusha. All is required 4 working days notice to organize for immigration & immigration officers who will facilitate the clearing and obtaining permission to land in Tanzania. For those firms with a month timetable then a block clearance can be obtained with a roaster for the officers and stand-by and their telephone contacts.

Kenya is a hub for all commercial and non-commercial flights for cargo and passengers within Africa including South Sudan, Somalia,Darfur,DR Congo out of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Wilson Airport, Lokichogio and out of Uganda Entebbe International Airport, Gulu Airport for flights to Central Africa Republic,DR Congo, South Sudan, Juba, Yei, Rumbek and many others.

For flights into Uganda from Kenya you will require 1 day notice to obtain clearance, Tanzania 2 working days notice same to Rwanda and Burundi as these are cross-border flights and you require over flight and landing permission from the Civil Aviation Authority of that country. Flights to Somalia the charterer will have to give a letter on the firm letterhead to the carrier with details of flight, departure date, names and nationality of the passengers or nature of cargo and purpose for the flight which the carrier will attach on the request letter to Ministry of Foreign Affairs Kenya for clearance issuance and the flight will not take off until an official communication has been received which is copied to Control Tower, Kenya Civil Aviation Authority and Kenya Airports Authority.

Flights to South Sudan you will be required to give 2 working days notice for obtaining the passes and you will have to take original passport,2 copies passport size photos for every passenger and you will be issued with one to three month passes or 1 to 6 month which you should renew on expiry and on arrival South Sudan you will pay visa fee of USD 100=00 per person for one month.

Please when planning to travel to cross-border, observe the above condition carefully in terms of duration for obtaining permission and the required documentation as in South Sudan if you fly there without passes the aircraft will be shot and this is endangering your safety

Air charter companies in Kenya and East Africa have segmented their services into different categories in line with ones budget. There are both non-scheduled and scheduled flights offered.

Private Charter Flights Kenya.

In Kenya we have Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and Wilson Airport in Nairobi which provide these services. In Most cases for smaller aircrafts you can charter them from Wilson Airport but still you can be picked and Dropped at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for those connecting international or local flights due to the traffic jam on Mombassa Road which might cause you missing the connecting flights.

There aircrafts of different capacity found at Wilson Airport namely, C-172 /C-182 3 seater single piston engine which takes two passengers with 15 kilos of cargo in soft bags and it is ideal for scenic flights, sight seeing flights, aerial survey& photography flights. They have low wings and flies at 8,000 feet enabling the passengers to view geographical features and even take photographs as it flies visual. For short distances of 3 hours return with 10 kilos per person baggage allowance it can take upto 3 passengers and it works out perfect for families and business travelers.

The C-208 Caravan which is the horse and the most reliable aircraft with short take-off and landing performance it has proved to be the most reliable 12 seater single engine turbo prop in Africa, America ,Middle East, Europe and especially in war torn areas as it is easily converted into cargo and passenger configuration at a short notice. The caravan is mostly used for humanitarian and relief supplies in South Sudan, Somalia, DR Congo, Mozambique as it is the most economical in terms of fuel, maintenance and it can carry upto 1 tone of cargo only for a flight of 3 hrs and 30 minutes one-way and there has to be fuel at the arrival destination or at alternate airstrip to allow it fly back to point of departure.

The C-206/C-210 5 seater single piston engine also plays an important role in aircraft charter and they very few and for any bookings it has to be done in advance. These are the ideal aircrafts to use to shorter airstrips of less than 800 meters long like, Mfangano Island, Rusinga Island, Loisaba, Kitich, Muktan, Maktau, Shaba, Joys Camp (Shaba), Satao, Solio, shompole, chyullu hills, kambi ya kanzi, among other airstrips just to mention a few.

The LET 410 and DHC-6 Twin-otter18 seater twin engine turbo prop which have both short takeoff and landing performance is used in flying into national parks & reserves and also for charter to major cities in Kenya. The aircraft is non-pressurized and you can carry baggage allowance when full capacity of 20 kilos per person. There is other airport/airstrip like Mombasa, Lamu, and Nanyuki where you can get private charter aircrafts to any destination within /out of Kenya.

The Beech craft 200 Superkingair 10 seater pressurized turbo prop which is mostly used for long haul charters and can be configured into V.I.P and it is also used for Air Ambulance, Emergency & Medical Evacuation flights as it flies above 25,000 feet above sea level and at 250 knots per hour.

The Citation Jet Bravo 550 7 seater is also available fitted with Air Ambulance medical facilities and which can also be used with Business Executive with tidy schedule and the commercial flights does not meet their requirements or fit in their diary. Special services are offered like champagne, hot luches, hot and soft drinks, DVD and a flight attendant but also you can request for special meals, breakfast, lunch.The citation bravo flies at 40,000 feet above sea level at a cruising speed of 420 knots per hour they are very scarce and an advance booking as to be made.

The Beech craft 1900C 18 seater pressurized with the same performance like the Beech craft 200 which can be configured into V.IP is also used for air ambulance, emergency & medical evacuation flights, V.IP executive flight and other corporate private charters. There is a B737-300 purely for adhoc charter flights for passengers and you can obtain a quotation on request. You can charter to anywhere within Kenya Kitale, Kisumu, Kakamega, Busia, Eldoret, Webuye, Mandera, Mombasa, Lamu, Malindi, Diani, Kiwayu, Masai Mara, Amboseli, Tsavo, Samburu, Nanyuki, Lake Nakuru, Lake Naivasha, Elwak, Wajir, Garisaa, Lokichogio, Lodwar, Marsabit, Moyale, Loyengalani, North Horr, Hola, Bura, Lokori, Lokitaung among other destination.

For cargo charter flights there Fokker 27-500 5 toner,DC-9 Freighter 10 toner,B737-300 15 toner,H748 5 toner ,LET 410 1.5 tones, Caravan 1 tone for all cargo flights within Africa.

Be aware flights to Northern and North Eastern Kenya a police clearance will have to obtain as these are restricted areas which will take approximately 2 working days notice. The areas that are restricted are Lokichogio, Lokori, Lokitaung, Lodwar, Marsabit, Moyale, North Horr, Iliret, Lasamis, Garisaa, Wajir, Mandera, Elwak, Banisa, Takaba, Hola, Bura among others. There are also choppers or another name helicopter AS350 Single engine in 3 and 5 seater capacity for private charter but only found at Wilson Airport, Nairobi and Nanyuki Airstrip. There are also cash-in transit services by private charter to South Sudan and to Northern and North Eastern Kenya to Mandera, Moyale, Marsabit, Wajir, Hola using a 5 seater or 3 seater aircraft .These services can be extended to South Sudan to destinations like Malkal, Wau, Yei, Rumbek, Darfur, Yambio, Bentiu, Juba and many other destinations.

(a) Africa Aviation Exhibition.

These exhibitions was organized by Lynne Browne and Peter Moyanga of Duma Exhibition, managed to pull off their crucial first event with an ultimately small and seemingly quite inaugural African Aviation Exhibition (AAE) which was held at Halfway Houses Gallagher Estate exhibition complex and occupying a single hall, some 45 exhibitors invested in the show.

Whilst the event was originally touted as being predominantly general aviation oriented, as deadline approached the Duma team must have leveraged its long list of industry contacts to get stands signed up. Consequently, the event represented a wide mix of exhibitors ranging from used aircraft sales, companies to a mechanical cherry-picker supplier and everything in between. For exhibitors, these events represent a sizeable marketing budget commitment, not just in square meterage costs but staff and logistics. Its testament to Dumas long experience that a sprinkling of big names and aerospace suppliers supported the event.

Whilst none of the bigger general aviation companies were present, including Comair, Execujet, NAC, and PLACO, used aircraft sales were represented by energetic Nico van staden of Aerostratus. Businessure aviation insurance brokers were in attendance along with Comet Aviation Supplies and aircraft sales and security specialists Professional Group. Steven Wrights International Flight Clearances shared a stand with colleagues, Elite Jet and Sennheiser headsets were represented. It was good to see Wonder booms Global Composite Solutions and its CEO, Errol Van Rensburg, who have been making a name for themselves with their STC'd external cargo panniers and integrated reconnaissance belly pods.

A number of planned ‘dialogue' sessions covering safety and security included talks given by Lt General (ret) Des Barker, Professional Aviations Bob Garbett, CAAs Rennie Van Zyl and ACSAs Bongani Maseko, amongst others, appeared poorly subscribed –probably because of limited pre-event publicity. The two largest exhibitors were South African Airways Technical and Netherlands-based Fokker Services. Other overseas companies were Romanian-based aircraft management specialists Jetran Air and Amman-based Jordan Airmotive.Kenyan Airways Cargo were marketing their Nairobi freight hub and RUAG Aerospace both the Donnier 228NG and twin engined Seastar amphibian. The attendance was approximately 500 attendees daily for 3 days.

However ,the first AAE was tremendous networking opportunity for both exhibitors and visitors and as always, first events, which are invariably slow, allow exhibitor staff more time with potential clients to get to know each other and build long lasting relationship.

(b) Alenia Aermacchi at Singapore Air Show 2010

A prototype of Alenia Aermacchis new advanced trainer aircraft the M-346 ‘Master', in a mimetic livery, was on static display in addition to the daily flight displays at the Singapore Air Show held early February this year. The M-346 reached Singapore after a ferry flight of 6 803 nm from Venegono Superiore.

The M-346 Master –the newest generation Advanced /Lead-In fighter trainer specifically designed to bridge the technological gap with the new generation fighters –is in the short list of the Republic of Singapore Air Force in the Fighter Wings Course (FWC) .In this programme Alenia Aermacchi is teamed with ST Aerospace and Boeing.

The partnership is a combination of the major manufacturers in the industry: Aermacchi has a strong reputation of being a leading designer and builder of advanced jet trainers. Boeing is a world leader in the aviation industry, delivering world class ground based training systems while ST Aerospace is RAFis long term partner in its technological development and growth's Aerospace offers comprehensive maintenance and engineering a capabilities for RSAFs needs.

The integrated training solution that the companies are offering the RSAF takes into account RSAFs 3G needs, in particular as it is it is based on years of first-hand knowledge from ST Aerospace's support of RSAF.The M-346 is a technologically advanced jet trainer and is a newly developed aircraft that not only meets RSAFs requirements , but will provide sustained quality training for RSAF into the future as it fully meets the Advanced European Joint Pilot Training (AEJPT-EURO-Training) Preliminary requirements, countries involved in the ARJPT program include Italy, France, Greece, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Finland,Sweden,and Austria.

In November 2009 the Italian Air Force signed a contract for the supply of the first batch of six M-346, including also simulators and integrated logistic supports, to fulfill the advanced/lead-in fighter training requirements for pilots that will fly its future generation combat aircraft. This contract forms part of a broader agreement to supply a total of 15 M-136 and related support.

In February 2009, the M-346 was selected by the United Arab Emirates for their new training air fleet and negotiations are at last stage for the acquisition of a complete Integrated Training Solution Comprehensive of 48 M-346.

The world of aviation is developing very fast considering the new technological advancement, and new aircrafts are being introduced in the market which are low consumption, long range and with extra capacity which will make it cheaper for cost par person or per kilo for cargo.

It is good news for African Continent that South Africa will be hosting the world cup 2010 starting from June 11 to July 2010. Most tourists can take this advantage by planning there safari commencing from Kenya then to South Africa as Jomo Kenyatta International Airport is hub to all connecting flights in Africa, Middle East, United Emirtaes, Asia,United States of America and Europe.

For those who are able to take private charters they can do so as there are aircrafts ranging from Turbo Prop, Jets, which can be chartered and also you have to keep in mind during this period it will be also high season immigration of wild animals into Masai Mara, Amboseli, Tsavo, Samburu, Shaba which one can take advantage of coming to Africa for the world cup 2010 and do a safari as well. We have National Carriers like Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Airways, South Africa Airways, British Airways who operates commercial flights on Nbo-Johannesberg and in addition there are private charters which you can hire ranging from 90 Seater to 124 seater using CRJ Regional Jets,B737-100,DC-9 ,Ambraer which are available.

But the inquiries for private charters are overwhelming and the need to make advance reservations to avoid last minute disappointments and even if there will be aircrafts for charter during this period it will be too expensive, so please make your bookings in good time.

You can book your flights direct from anywhere globally via Jomo Kenyatta International Aiport,Nairobi ,Kenya and connect local scheduled services or non-scheduled flights to the national parks & reserve and thereafter connect to South Africa to watch world cup 2010 , what an interesting safari to and over African Continent?

Airline news.

(1) Mthatha Airport Ready for World Cup.

The R56-million upgrade of the Mthatha airport, in the Eastern Cape, would be completed by May, in time for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, according to Eastern Cape Transport, Safety and Liaison MEC Ghishma Barry. Local construction companies Tikanedywili Construction, Makole Business Enterprise, the Ludumo/Alamo Project joint venture and Intellect Construction have already started work on the upgrade. The upgrade to the airstrip to include lighting for night flights had been completed.

The South AFRICA Civil Aviation Authority has inspected the lighting and the province is now waiting the issuing of a night rating for the airport. The project includes the building of a temporary relocation structure, aterminal building upgrade, civil works and fencing. It formed part of the provinces Blue Skyway aviation strategy, which aimed to improve the potential of the Bhisho and Mthatha airports, as well as to bring new life to rural airstrips within the province.

A R78-million upgrade at the Bhisho airport was completed in August last year. The province is also expecting the Mthatha Airport upgrade to contribute to tourism in the region, particularly during the world cup event. At present the airport is used by Airlink flights from Johannesburg and other small aircraft.

Before the upgrade, the airport had only been operating at 30% of its capacity and the Eastern Cape was eager to link the airport with other larger cities, including Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban, in future.

There is need to have an airline between Cape Town and Mthatha via Bhisho. An important goal is to link Port Elizabeth to Mthatha via Bhisho with the service geared for faster movement between these three areas.

With these new developments in South Africa air transport industry you are assured that they are as many airports and airstrip that will be available to accommodate flights into and from South Africa during both night and day.

(2) Boeings 747-8 Freighter Maiden Flights on February 8, 2010 Becomes Successful.

It was indeed a success when Boeing 747-8 Freighter successfully took to the sky for the first time before more than 5,000 employees, customers, suppliers and community leaders. It was a test program for the world's most efficient freighter. This B747-8 was flown by Chief pilot Mark Feuerstein and Capt Tom Imrich in the flight deck, the newest member of the 747 family took off at 12h39 local time from Paine Field in Everett and landed at Paine Field at 16h18. According to the crew the airplane performed as expected and handled just like a 747-400.

This flight was the first of more than 1,600 flight hours in the test program for the newest member of the Boeing freighter family. The airplane followed a route over Western Washington, where it underwent tests for basic handling qualities and engine performance. The airplane reached a cruising altitude of 17,000 feet (5,181m) and a speed of up to 230knots, or about 264 miles (426km) per hour. Powered by four General Electric GEnx-2B engines, the 747-8 freighter will transition its testing program to Moses Lake, Wash, and Palmdale, Calif, where the other two test airplane will join it in the coming month.

According to Mo Yahyavi the program general manager and vice president Boeing Commercial Airplanes this was truly a great day for the Boeing Company and the 747 program. This was achieved through hard work and dedication of the company staff, suppliers and customers. While there is still additional four main-deck pallets and three lower-hold pallets," The 747 freighter continues the leadership of the 747 freighter families, which carries more than half of the worlds air freight, making it the standard of the air cargo industry" the program general manager and vice president Mo Yahyavi said.

Boeing launched the airplane on November 14, 2005, with firm orders for 18 747-8 Freighters: 10 from Cargolux of Luxembourg and eight from Nippon Cargo Airlines of Japan. All told, Boeing has secured 108 orders for the 747-8, of which 76 are orders for the new freighter. Cargolux,Nippon Cargo Airlines, AirBridge Cargo Airlines, Atlas Air, Cathay PACIFIC Dubai Aerospace Enterprise, Emirates Sky cargo, Guggenheim and Korean Air all have ordered the 747-8 freighter.

These new aircraft will make the cargo flights cheaper and affordable as it can carry more than half what the other freighters have been carrying.

In addition to the above, there are also a number of other possible uses and applications for the DIA site. One very strong possibility is to use a portion of the site to establish an Aerospace Village along the lines of the proposed Centurion Aerospace Village.

This would entail creating a centre where the domestic and foreign manufacturers of dirigibles, unmanned aerial systems (UAW) and non-type certificated aircraft (NTCA) would be encouraged to set up business. This type of concept could only be implemented with the direct support and assistance of Government.

Also, some of the excess land at DIA could be sold off and utilized for "new economy" industrial purposes, such as the manufacture of high value, low weight, time sensitive articles or components.

These industries could then utilize the air transport facilities at the "City Airport" for the rapid import of manufacturing components and the export of the completed manufactured goods.

This concept has proven to be very successful in areas such as the Philippines, Dubai, Hong Kong and some industrial zones in China.

It is clear that aviation industry could construct a very compelling proposal on how DIA could be used for a variety of aviation and other purposes.However, time is running out fast. If the industry does not act now it will not be able to put together a realistic proposal before the end of the year.

The country's interested bodies and stakeholders, therefore, urgently need to start working on a consolidated proposal that will convince Government to preserve DIA. Observers feel very strongly that, unless the aviation industry does not grasp the nettle, this opportunity would be lost forever.

The current DIA infrastructure would serve as an ideal relocation site for Virginia.

It would also be quite feasible to use DIA to create a "Durban City Airport" along the lines of the London City Airport using the current runway, taxiways, ATC tower and a limited portion of the perimeter. This Durban City Airport would cater for all general aviation activities such as non-scheduled operations, corporate operations, flight training, crop spraying as well as serve as a centre for maintenance and technical support.

With ample space to the south for a new GFA that could accommodate fixed wing and helicopter flight training, these activities in Durban could be expanded.This, in turn, would attract further students from all over the continent and Middle East, thereby generating jobs and income for Kwazulu-Natal.

As DIA is located in an industrial area, there can be no environmental objections.

The South African Air Force, also a major stakeholder, would prefer to retain its base facilities at DIA as it lacks the funds to move the current base to King Shaka International .If the runways at DIA are preserved for aviation use, a move by the SAAF would be unnecessary, thereby saving the tax payers hundreds of millions of rand.

Also, with the additional facilities and space available at DIA, it might be feasible for the SAAF to relocate its school for logistical and technical training to Durban, rather than move it to the Hoedspruit area.

The other interested stakeholder, Comair, has on various occasions indicated its willingness to buy the airport with a view of using it as an alternative commercial airport for kulula.com flights, similar to its operations at Lanseria.Comairs plans are based on the model of overseas low-cost carriers, such as Easy Jet and Ryan Air in the UK, using secondary, cheaper airports to keep their costs down so that it can offer more affordable travel to the consumers.

Airport charges in South Africa constitute around 30% of the price of a low cost ticket and with the prospect of ever larger ACSA tariff increases in the future, the only way of maintaining and even reducing the cost of air travel on the Durban route would be to use an airport which has lower charges.Comairs strategy of the Department of Tourism to make South Africa tourism more affordable and therefore accessible to the majority of South Africans.

The prospects for the now closed Durban International Airport being re-opened as an aviation facility have markedly improved over the past few months following the recent pronouncements made by some very senior Government office holders.

At the release of the Airports Company of South Africas (ACSA) financial year end results,the Minister of Transport announced the following with respect to the disposal of the DIA Site:

"We have formed a steering committee which is made up of the Department of Transport, the province of KwaZulu-Natal, ACSA, City of EThekwini among others to advise on the best use/options for the land and to determine the process to be followed in disposing of this land. We will ensure, however, that due process is followed to obtain the best proposal on the table.

"A Request for Expressions of Interest will ensure that all interested parties bar none, are given the opportunity to submit proposals on the land. It is our intention that this process is completed in the shortest time possible in the interest of all bidders and the country as a whole. We will make further announcements in the coming weeks".

In addition, the Commissioner for Civil Aviation, Colin Jordaan, speaking at the recent Aviation Outlook conference in Cape Town, mentioned that there was a distinct possibility that DIA could be retained for aviation use.

Aviation observers feel that this more open-minded approach by Government to the disposal of DIA,can only benefit South Africa's aviation industry if it- the industry- jumps into action and puts together a proposal to Government combining its brightest ideas and best resources.Also,as the DIA site is so large, it would be prudent for any industry proposal to identify a "mix" of stakeholders that will be able to utilize the facility in away that serves both the economic and strategic interests of the country.

At the moment, three stakeholders have a clearly identifiable interest in utilizing the DIA,namely the operators at Virginia Airport, the SA Air Force (SAAF) and Comair Limited.

The commercial general aviation operators at Virginia, represented by the Virginia Operators Committee, have identified DIA as a possible re-location site for Virginia Airport which is currently experiencing various operating challenges .Virginia Airport currently lacks a convenient general flying area (GFA); is too small to accommodate certain types of operations and any new business entrants, and it is regarded as a noise pollutant by many Durban North residents. There is also strong rum ours that the Durban Metro intends selling the airport for real estate development.