SAA Orange Tail

June/Junie 1967

No. 42

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STEPPING OUT IN STYLE

South African Airways’ travel hostesses have good reason to smile right now. From July 1, the present greyish-blue uniform will be replaced by the elegant two-piece suit shown here – but in official language it, too, will still be known as a “uniform” – in spite of the fact that there are no bands around the sleeves, or brass buttons to shine!

In fashion jargon, the suit presents the newest in high fashion and styling and has an overall “with it” look. In airline parlance, it is a practical, comfortable garment specially designed to meet the conditions and difficulties experienced within the confines of an aircraft cabin and galley.

STYLES AND SMILES! Travel hostess Eleanor Auer says any girl will be proud to be seen in a uniform like this. Judging by her smiles,

she certainly is pleased.

DETAILS

This happy com­bination has been achieved after long and exacting consul­tations between Manager, Traffic Operations, lady supervisors, local fashion designers and clothing manufac­turers. Made by Messrs. Fairweather, of Cape Town, the winter weight costume is of 100 per cent. South African virgin wool; the summer version of “Trevira” material as now manu­factured locally. The latter model, shown in our picture, is of a “supersonic” shade of blue; it comprises a figure-flattering A-line skirt and a relaxed, semi-fitting jacket.

ACCESSORIES

A white tucked blouse and a pill-box cap, accessories consisting of black leather court shoes, black leather handbag, short white fabric gloves for summer and black fabric or leather for winter, complete the attractive ensemble.

The smart overdress to be worn on board the aircraft.

OVERDRESS

The overcoat is an all wool jersey cloth of a darker shade of blue than the winter uniform. It has a de­tachable lining of nylon quilting to make it comfortably warm in northern climates.

An entirely new in­novation is the func­tional overdress of a pale blue drip-dry material which goes with the uniform. It is worn over the blouse and skirt on board the aircraft.

In the twenty-one years since travel hostesses were first introduced within our ranks, uniforms have undergone m a n y changes. It is, how­ever, the first time that the Management has virtually thrown a challenge at the cloth­ing industry in order

to ensure that our hostesses’ attire is fully in keeping with the latest fashion trends. A major breakthrough has, in fact, been achieved which holds much promise for the future.

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CUTTING THE LOOSE TALK

At a recent meeting of the Skal Club in Johannesburg, Mr. A. M. Conradie, Chief Executive, addressed the members on why South Africa cannot afford to throw open its doors to cut-rate charter tourism. He stated inter alia that charter operators apply from time to time to the Department of Transport for permission to introduce cheap package tours to the Republic. “These applications which have been in­creasing of late, have, naturally, been opposed by South African Airways”, Mr. Conradie said. “But in lodging these objections South African Airways has not thereby sought to serve its own selfish ends (as some people have alleged); we have, in fact, acted in what we consider to be not only our own interests, but the interests of all scheduled operators flying to and from this country. South African Airways has been spokesman for no less than 10 international carriers, who provide 36 scheduled flights a week to Britain and Europe. The impression, however, created in the public mind by Press comment from time to time, is that South African Airways is motivated purely by narrow-minded self-interest, consequently South African Airways is invariably the whipping boy. “The reasons why scheduled carriers are unable to operate economically at fares which charter operators find profitable, have been stated many times. In a nutshell, the overheads involved in maintaining regular schedules, year in and year out, in good times or bad, full or empty, are such as to render it impossible to match the fares of the entrepreneur who flies only as and when he can gather together a full load, unhampered as a rule by the heavy costs necessarily incidental to the maintenance of scheduled operations. “And when one is thinking in terms of overall economic benefit to South Africa, another thing that the advocates of the “open door” policy to foreign charter operators are apt to ignore is this. Very little, if any, of the money that is paid to these foreign operators in air fares enures to the benefit of this country. Unlike the regular airlines, these operators do not maintain establishments in this country; they don’t pay rents, they don’t employ local staff, they don’t pay foreign company licence fees, or pay South African income tax on earnings from their operations to this country. In short, the regular airlines have a stake in this country, while the foreign charter operator does not.

“It can bear repeating that South African Airways as such does not have power to grant or refuse applications by foreign operators to undertake charter flights to this country. All it can do is to state its views”.

In the words of one subsequent press report, these clear­cut views should do much to cut the loose talk.

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MOSSIE MAAR MAN

Op ons foto verskyn een van die twee-motorige Aztec-vlieg­tuie waarmee die S.A.L. retoerdienste op Dinsdae en Donderdae tussen Windhoek en Keetmanshoop eksploiteer. Die vliegtuie wat deur Suidwes-Lugdiens verskaf word lê die afstand tussen bogenoemde sentrums in twee uur af en verskaf gerieflike aansluitings met ander dienste na en van plekke in Suidwes-Afrika en die Republiek.

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AAN DIE SPITS

Ons is trots om te kan verklaar dat drie manne uit die Lug­diensgeledere in die toekoms die voortou in SALSTAFF­aangeleenthede sal neem.

Op die SALSTAFF-kongres wat gedurende Mei in Pretoria gehou is, is mnr. P. C. du Plessis, hoofklerk, Johannesburg, tot Ere-President van hierdie vereniging verkies en het mnr. P. J. Marais, tegniese assistent, Jan Smutslughawe (Voorsitter van die Lugdiensafdeling) lid van SALSTAFF se Uitvoerende Komitee geword. Terselfdertyd is mnr. G. R. Jooste, beplan­nings-assistent, Jan Smutslughawe en Ondervoorsitter van die Lugdiensafdeling van SALSTAFF, gekies as lid van die Dag­bestuur.

Alhoewel hulle Lugdiensmanne is, verteenwoordig hierdie persone onder andere tans die meer as 24,000 SALSTAFF-lede oor die hale Republiek en hulle dien ook in verskeie ander belangrike onder-komitees van SALSTAFF.

Ons sê baie geluk aan hierdie kollegas en wens hulle alle sukses toe gedurende hul ampstermyn.

Mnr. P. C. du Plessis                   Mnr. P. J. Marais                   Mnr. G. R. Jooste

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WHAT PRICE SUNSHINE?

Reports from overseas indicate that the new 19/45-day excursion fare as well as the individual and group inclusive tour fares for travel from Europe to South Africa have been well received in travel circles abroad. From S.A.A.’s side, every possible assistance has been given by all overseas managers to promote and advertise these facilities.

Frankfurt was able to claim a first in so far as advertising of these fares in Germany was concerned. Full marks are also due to London for the following slogan used in the U.K. Campaign: “Price Reduction: South African Airways will fly you to sterling sunshine for only £197 return!”

It is hoped that these very attractive fares will have a marked effect on tourist travel to South Africa, as such a development will provide another counter to the pleas of the non-skeds.

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DANKIE VIR DIE DANKIE

Daar is al dikwels op gewys dat die S.A.L. nie net briewe ontvang van mense wat klagtes het nie; heel dikwels hoor ons ook van passasiers wat besonder in hul noppies was met die gehalte van die diens wat ons lewer. Terwyl die Bestuur ook die betrokke personeellede felisiteer, wil hy die vertroue uitspreek dat dit tot aansporing vir ander sal dien:

„My vrou en ek is so ingenome met die behandeling wat ons van die Suid-Afrikaanse Lugdiens ontvang het dat „Eerstens het mnr. Bert Loubser van u Pretoria-kantoor besonder veel moeite gedoen om reëlings te tref en dikwels te wysig waar my besondere omstandighede dit genoodsaak het. Hy het baie bygedra tot die sukses van ons reis. „Op 4 April 1967 het ons per vlug SA. 232 vertrek. Ons het Toeristeklas gereis. Die behandeling aan boord was puik. S.A.L.-vliegtuie, organisasie en bemanningslede boesem vertroue in. „Op 5 Mei 1967 net ons per vlug SA. 221 uit Parys vertrek en is so tuis gemaak aan boord dat ons gevoel het die lede van die bemanning was ou vriende. Ons reelings was om in Las Palmas te oornag en die volgende aand met vlug SA. 227 verder te reis huistoe. Ons was verheug om te hoor dat die bemanning ook sou oorbly en weer op vlug 227 aan diens wees. Hulle het ons toe ook die Saterdagaand laat voel dat ons besonder welkorn was aan boord.

,,Ongelukkig ken ons nie die naam van die lugwaardin in die toeristeklas nie, maar wil graag sê dat die dame se vriendelikheid, geduld, hulpvaardigheid en opgeruimdheid vir beide passasiers en S.A.L. veel beteken. Sy het veel bygedra tot die aangenaamheid van die reis. Die kelners was baie bedagsaam, hulpvaardig en vriendelik”.

Kapt. Greder was baie aangenaam in sy gesprekke met cnsself en ander passasiers, en het die reis interessanter gemaak met sy mededelings betreffende vliegtoestande en die terrein waaroor ons vlieg. Sy hantering van die vliegtuig net te alle tye groot vertroue ingeboesem.

In Europa het ons nege vlugte onderneem in ander lugrederye se vliegtuie. S.A.L. blink ver bo hulle almal uit in alle opsigte, veral die skoon en nette voorkoms van die vliegtuie, vriendelikheid van die bemanning, gehalte en bediening van etes aan boord”.

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MAKE NO WILD PROMISES

Of late numerous complaints have been received from passengers who have been brought under the erroneous impression that their unaccompanied baggage would be immediately available to them on arrival at the same time as their registered baggage.

The purpose of the concession rate for unaccompanied baggage is that it should be accepted only on a space available basis.

Unaccompanied baggage is treated as freight and can seldom be cleared in less than two hours after arrival. Passengers are not prepared to wait, and consequently leave the airport in a disgruntled mood, firmly convinced that they had been badly let down by S.A.A. and/or our handling agents-an opinion which would not be tenable if no misleading guarantee had been given in the first instance!

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ROSIE TUSSEN DIE DORINGS

Hierdie galante groep jong mans is almal aspirant-vlugs­ kelners wat sedert 1 Mei opleiding ontvang. Gedurende diê kursus wat op 23 Junie ten einde geloop het, het ons fotograaf die twaalfstuks afgeneem saam met Suster M. E. Scholtz, toe laasgenoemde hulle in die fynere kunsies van tuisverpleging afgerig het.

Van Links na Regs verskyn (agter)-mnre. I. B. Prollius, M. E. Garcia, J. P. Pieterse, M. Swart, G. Shaw, J. J. Gouws, D. W. Henning, J. P. Snyman; Voor-B. W. Sauerman, A. A. ­van Nierop, Suster M. E. Scholtz, mnre. G. H. Boyens en D. M. Jordaan.

Ons verwelkom hulle in ons geledere en wens hulle alle sukses toe in hul nuwe loopbaan.

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IT CAN BE DONE!

June 6, 1967, was no doubt a red letter day for the Opera­tions Controller whose job it is to despatch the daily delay report. On the date in question, South African Airways proved that it could operate without a single one of its flights being delayed on domestic, regional or overseas routes.

Good show and hats off to those members of the staff responsible for this achievement. It just shows that it can definitely be done-and we hope to see a few more similar telexces.

On June 15, 1967, there was only one delay, of 7 minutes -due to a missing passenger!

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IN MEMORIAM

COERT GROBBELAAR, 9.5.1914 – 6.6.1967

Dit is met diepe leedwese dat ons moet berig dat mnr. Coert Grobbelaar, in lewe hoofklerk in die Afdeling Openbare Skakeldiens.te, op 6 Junie in die ouderdom van 53 jaar, skielik oorlede is na ‘n hartaanval.

Soos hy geleef het – kalm, bedaard en beheersd, het hy ook heengegaan – in sy slaap.

Die oorledene het op 10 Oktober 1933 by die Suid-Afri­kaanse Spoorweë te Kimberley aangesluit en gedurende Desem­ber 1952 na die Lugdiensde­partement oorgeplaas. Hy is op 1 Februarie 1965 tot Hoofklerk bevorder.

Die stoflike oorskot is op 8 Junie onder blyke van groot belangstelling uit die N.G. Kerk, Primrose-Oos, waar hy bale jare lark kassier en nog tot twee dae voor sy dood orrelis was, ter aarde bestel.

Aan sy weduwee en kinders bled ons ons innige meegevoel aan en bid hulle die seën en vertroosting van Bo toe.

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LIFE SAVER

Once again a life was saved by the prompt action and combined effort of members of South African Airways. On May 20, 1967, the father of a small boy in Angola received the news from his doctor that the life of his son could not be saved, due to the fact that the drug to combat the ailment he was suffering from was unobtainable in the territory. In desperation the father contacted the local Amateur Radio Club and requested urgent assistance. An urgent message was relayed to the Republic of South Africa but without response. The message was, however, intercepted by Dieter Kramberg, DL9RC, in Wilhelmshaven, Germany, who made the necessary arrangements with a friend in Frankfurt, request­ing him to obtain and deliver the drug to S.A.A. in Frankfurt, for onward conveyance to Luanda.

It arrived in Luanda per flight SA. 227 on May 21, 1967, without any name, address or particulars. Mr. J. G. van der Mescht, Manager for Angola, opened the parcel and when he found it to contain medicine, he solicited the aid of the Police, Hospital and Radio Hams, without success. He then contacted the Broadcasting Station, who broadcast an emergency message.

Fortunately, the doctor heard the broadcast, collected the medicine and rushed to the hospital where it was adminis­tered. It saved the life of the boy.

We are proud of all those members of the staff who participated in this humanitarian effort.

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BOGEY AND A BIRDIE

The following sketch and story are reproduced with acknowledgement to the “Rhodesia Herald” of 31.5.1967:

“Wessel Nothling, South African Airways Representative in Salisbury, and a 21 handicap golfer, yesterday performed an extraordinary feat at Henry Chapman.

He scored the second hole in both a birdie and a bogey. With his second shot he decapitated a swallow for the birdie, then sank his fifth for the bogey”.

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REORGANISASIE

Van 1 Junie af is die handelsafdeling van die lugdiens­departement herorganiseer en die lugdiensbenaming van die pos Hoofsuperintendent (lugdiens), is verander na Handels­direkteur.

Terselfdertyd is twee Adjunk-handelsdirekteure (a) beplan­ning en (b) I.A.T.A. en grondhantering ingestel. Mnre. F. J. Swarts en M. Larkins is onderskeidelik in die onderhawige poste aangestel, met die volgende verantwoordelikhede:

Mnr. Swarts sal die onderafdelings beplanning, verkeers­bedryf en plekbesprekings behartig, terwyl mnr. Larkins vir die onderafdelings tariewe, rekeninge en grondhantering verant­woordelik sal wees. Die onderafdelings verkope en openbare skakeldienste ressorteer regstreeks onder mnr. N. S. Louw (handelsdirekteur).