SAA Orange Tail

Februarie/February 1968

No. 50

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BOEKJAAR 1966/67 IN OËNSKOU

BEDRYFSRESULTATE: Uit ‘n finansiële oogpunt was die jaar 1966-67 die suksesvolste in die geskiedenis van die S.A.L. Die wins wat aangeteken is het R3,882,731 beloop teenoor R623,767 die vorige jaar; die vorige hoogste syfer was R2,244,614 in 1955-56. Die totale inkomste vir die verslagjaar het op R48.5 miljoen to staan gekom, wat 1910.3 miljoen meer is as die syfer vir 1965-66, en die uitgawe het van R37.6 rniljoen die vorige jaar vermeerder tot R44.6 miljoen, dit wil sê met R7 miljoen. As daar in ag geneem word dat die ruimtevermeerdering 30.04 persent was, is die bedryfsresultate ‘n bewys van groter doel­treffendheid en laer koste per vermoëtonmyl. ROETES EN DIENSTE: Die boekjaar 1966/67 was gekenmerk deur ‘n merkwaar­dige verkeersopbloei, soos blyk daaruit dat die getal inkomste­vragtonmyl met altesaam 30.2 persent gestyg het van 96.1 miljoen die vorige jaar tot 125 miljoen. Die getal passasiers wat vervoer is, het die 900,000 kerf genader deur met 22.9 persent to vermeerder van 721,522 in 1965/66 tot 887,056 in 1966/67. Die getal weeklikse vlugte op die Springbokroete is ver­meerder met ingang 1 April 1966 tot nege in elke rigting en tot tien vanaf 1 November 1966. Die getal passasiers wat op die Springbokdiens vervoer is, het met 37.3 persent toegeneem van 57,941 tot 79,531. Die vyfde Boeing 707, die „Windhoek” wat ook die S.A.L. se tweede model 344B is, is op 2 Februarie 1967 op die oor­sese dienste in gebruik geneem. Die eerste stralerdiens tussen Suid-Afrika en Australië is deur die S.A.L. op 29 Maart 1967 ingestel, en terselfdertyd is die weeklikse diens uitgebrei tot by Sydney. Passasiers wat op hierdie roete vervoer is, het vermeerder van 3,515 tot 4.948 of met 40.8 persent. Pasassiersreise op die dienste na Rhodesië en Lourenco Marques het onderskeidelik met 23.3 en 17.9 persent gestyg. Op die Rhodesiese diens het die syfer toegeneem van 43,031 verlede jaar tot 53,053, terwyl dit in die geval van Mosambiek vermeerder het van 11,257 tot 13,276. ‘n Poelooreenkoms tussen die S.A.L. en Botswana National Airways (B.N.A.) het op 1 September 1966 in werking getree toe die S.A.L. ‘n weeklikse DC.3-diens tussen Johannes­burg en Gaberones ingestel het. Tot aan die end van die jaar is 212 weeklikse standaard­klasdienste dwarsdeur die Republiek en Suidwes-Afrika geëksploiteer, waarvan 124 met Boeing 727′s, 78 met Viscounts en 10 met DC-3′s was. Die getal passasiers op hierdie dienste het van 482,205 gedurende 1965/66 tot 582,708 gestyg – ‘n vermeerdering van 20.8 persent. Die getal passasiers wat op die lugkoetsdienste vervoer is, het met 23.6 persent van 123,573 tot 152,769 vermeerder. HUURVLUGTE: Veertien noordwaartse en dertien suidwaartse Boeing 707­dienste is gedurende die jaar afgesonder vir huurvlugte. Altesaam 113 spesiale huurvlugte is onderneem na plekke in Suid-Afrika en die aangrensende gebiede teenoor 116 die vorige jaar. VRAG: Tonmyl vir beide vrag en pos het ‘n rekordpeil bereik met ‘n styging onderskeidelik van 34.9 en 41.3 persent. Vragton­myl het 26,737,452 en postonmyl 5,200,075 beloop. Gedurende die slagseisoen in Suidwes-Afrika is daar van spesiaal omge­skepte vliegtuie gebruik gemaak om altesaam 215,088 kilo’s karakoelvelle na Johannesburg te vervoer waar dit oorgelaai is vir die Londense mark. INGENIEURSWESE: Die S.A.L. se ingenieursafdeling het dwarsdeur die jaar sy trotse rekord vir doeltreffendheid gehandhaaf en op hoogte van tegnologiese ontwikkelings gebly. ‘n Merkwaardige ken­merk was die gestadigde verbetering in die tye tussen die opknappings van die verskeie tipes vliegtuigenjins. In die geval van die Pratt and Whitney JT3-, JT4- en JT8-straalenjins is dië tye nou opgeskuif onderskeidelik tot 5,600, 6,000 en 3,600 uur vergeleke met 4,200, 5,400 en 2,000 uur die vorige jaar. Bestendige vorderings is gemaak met tegniese oplei­dingskursusse vir onderhoudspersoneel, en daar kan gemeld word dat van die S.A.L. se vakleerlinge tot 90 persent in hulle eksamens by tegniese kolleges behaal het. VLIEGOPLEIDING: Gedurende die verslagjaar is daar 14 aanpassings- en 67 opknappingskursusse vir bemanningslede aangebied, wat 988 vliegure behels het. Altesaam 2,544 uur is deur nabootser­instrukteurs en opleidingskapteins op die nabootsers deur­gebring. PADVERVOER: Altesaam 1,911,316 myl is deur padvoertuie in die Repu­bliek en Suidwes-Afrika afgelê en 245,018 passasiers vervoer. Dit verteenwoordig ‘n toename van 161,114 myl en 27,598 passasiers vergeleke met die vorige jaar. VERKOOPSBEVORDERING: Ruimer akkommodasie is in Parys, Ziarich en Genêve bekom terwyl onderhandelings aan die gang was vir ‘n nuwe verkoopskantoor te Sydney.

Die 21-jarige bestaan van die S.A.L./BOAC-poelvenoot­skap op die Springbokdiens na Europa is paslik in Suid-Afrika en die Verenigde Koninkryk gevier.

ALGEMEEN: Die merkwaardige resultate wat gedurende die jaar onder bespreking bereik is, sou nie moontlik gewees het as elke lid van die personeel nie ‘n daadwerklike bydrae gelewer het nie, en ‘n woordjie van dank in dië opsig is derhalwe gepas.

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S.A.L. BOEINGS WORD VERJONG

Dit is moeilik om te besef dat daar al meer as sewe jaar verloop het sedert die S.A.L. sy eerste drie Boeing 707­vliegtuie in ontvangs geneem het. In die verlede is vliegtuie gewoonlik na omtrent die dienstermyn onttrek van die hoof­roetes, maar die groot stralers sal nog vir bale jare nie vervang word nie. ‘n Modifikasieprogram is deur die Boeing-maatskappy ont­wikkel om die leeftyd van hierdie vliegtuie teen redelike koste feitlik te verdubbel, d.w.s. om dit met sowat 30,000 uur te verleng. Alhoewel ons vliegtuie nog nuut lyk, het die redery besluit om die werk te laat onderneem. Omdat die S.A.L. egter nie oor die nodige hulpbronne van mannekrag beskik om so ‘n omvattende struktuurverwerkingsprogram in sy eie werkplase uit te voer nie, is ‘n ooreenkoms met ‘n Europese redery aangegaan om die opknapping in samewerking met die S.A.L. in Brussel te onderneem. Die vliegtuie wat hierdeur geraak word, is die eerste drie Interkontinentale stralers wat in 1960 aangekoop is.

Hulle sal die behandeling onderskeidelik gedurende die maande Junie, Julie en Augustus ondergaan, wanneer die twee nuwe 707-344C’s wat bestel is, reeds in diens geplaas sal wees.

Die modifikasieprogram sal derhalwe nie die diensrooster ongunstig beinvloed nie, aangesien net een vliegtuig op ‘n keer uit diens sal wees. Uit ‘n strukturele oogpunt beskou, sal die Boeings na voltooiing van die modifikasies vir alle praktiese doeleindes nuwe vliegtuie wees wat hulle dienstyd­perk van vooraf begin.

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APPRECIATION

From Mr. D. V. Simpson, Public Relations Officer, S.A. Permanent Building Society, Johannesburg:­

“My sincere thanks for being so kind to let me have a copy of this year’s S.A.A. calendar which, as usual, sets a terrifically high standard. As a fairly constant S.A.A. traveller I have visited many of the places depicted on the 1968 calendar and must congratulate all concerned, particularly the photographers and the printers, on an outstanding piece of scenic reproduction.

“At the same time I should like to congratulate your cabin crews on the 727′s on their outstanding feat of serving a full breakfast between Johannesburg and Kimberley, where my Head Office is domiciled and which centre I visit frequently. Their cheerfulness and the speed of their service is really a pleasure to behold.

“May I take this opportunity of wishing you every­thing of the best during 1968.”

Comment like this is gratifying specially when coming from someone who is in a position to express an expert opinion.

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JUMBO GOES BY JET

Indicative of the great diversity of freight handled by the pooled S.A.A. U.T.A. freighter, an untamed young elephant weighing more than a ton, recently left Jan Smuts Airport on its way to a zoo in Europe.

Named Udi, because it was born on the day Rhodesia declared itself inde­pendent, the budding tusker emigrated by way of Botswana from where it was brought in a DC-4 aircraft of B.N.A. and soon settled down in her crate which was specially constructed for her long journey overseas.

Udi being palletized into the hold of the freighter.

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OPLEIDINGSPROGRAM

Die S.A.L. is tans besig met een van die omvangrykste opleidingsprogramme in sy geskiedenis ten einde tred te hou met die uitbreiding en ontwikkeling wat gedurig aan die gang is.

Wat vlugbemanning betref, behels die program wat verlede jaar ‘n aanvang geneem het, die voltooiing van die opleiding van 80 bykomende ‘vlieëniers gedurende 1968, en as gevolg van die standaard wat hier gehandhaaf moet word, is die eise wat gestel word soos gewoonlik van die hoogste.

Daar is ook reeds ‘n begin gemaak met kursusse vir 117 ontvangsdames, 42 vlugskelners en 30 reiswaardinne.

Om te voorsien in die behoefte aan opgeleide personee’ in die rekenpligtige afdeling, het die tweede kursus waarin 21 klerke onderrig sal ontvang, ook ‘n aanvang geneem.

Ons vertrou dat al die kursusgangers met vlieënde vaandels anderkant sal uitkom.

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FOREIGN PILOTS LEARN HERE

According to a recent newspaper report, South Africa is expected to attract many private pilots from overseas this year who can qualify for their commercial licences at only about half the cost of a similar course in Britain. BRITISH PUPILS Mr. Roger Lea, manager of a large flying club near Johannesburg, said he expected several pupils from Britain early this year. They would train at Grand Central airfield at Halfway House. Mr. Lea said his company had investigated the possibility of offering a commercial course to overseas private pilots. The local charges would be R4,600 compared with R9,000 which, he said, is the British fee.

The South African sum includes return air fare from Britain, accommodation for six months, examination fees and instruction costs.

Mr. Lea said that to qualify for a private licence, 40 hours’ flying time was required whereas 200 flight hours were neces­sary for a commercial licence. He added that some of the overseas men might decide to remain in South Africa since there was a big demand for qualified commercial pilots in this country.

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BOEING 737-200 CERTIFIED

The Boeing 737-200 short-range jet airliner, a long-bodied version of the new 737-100 twinjet, was formally certified for passenger service by the Federal Aviation Administration on December 21, 1967.

The aircraft which is six feet longer than the standard version will carry up to 119 passengers in economy class service or 91 in a standard class configuration.

Airlines throughout the world, including S.A.A., have ordered 157 of the 737-200 jetliners which are scheduled for service during 1968.

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FLEET CAPTAIN RETIRES

On Friday, January 12, 1968, Senior Captain J. D. de V. Rademan, S.A.A.’s Fleet Captain, Overseas Services, landed his craft for the last time prior to proceeding on leave pending his retirement from the Service on reaching the age limit in April.

When the commander stepped off at Jan Smuts Airport that day, he was pleasantly ‘surprised by a guard of honour formed for him by a large number of his colleagues who had turned up in uniform specially for the occasion.

Captain Rademan’s flying career dates from May 1, 1933, when he became an air cadet with the S.A.A.F. at Roberts Heights. He progressed to 2nd Lieutenant in 1934. Shortly after S.A.A.’s inception, he joined the airline on March 14, 1935, as First Officer and the following year advanced to Captain in Command at Windhoek. During the War, Captain Rademan served with distinction and after his discharge from military service took up the post as Liaison Officer in London. He flew as Captain in Command until becoming Line Captain of S.A.A. in 1953 and finally progressed to the top flying post in 1962. Incidentally, his brother, Senior Captain J. J. (Bert) Rademan became Fleet Captain, Internal and Regional Services at the same time.

Captain Rademan, who has flown every tipe of aircraft employed by S.A.A. is a mileage multi-millionaire with almost 19,000 flying hours to his credit which, if added together would mean that he literally spent two years and three months of his life in the air.

Although “J. de V.” has not revealed his plans for the immediate future – he had been too busy flying – we do know that he will definitely keep up his golfing interests, but if our guess is correct, we may say: “Happy chicken farming Skipper.” May you and Mrs. Rademan enjoy a long and restful retirement.

Mr. J. Adam, Deputy Chief Executive meets Senior CaptainJ. D. de V. Rademan at Jan Smuts Airport on completion of the Skipper’s last flight as Fleet Captain of S.A.A.

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IT’S A GROWING WORLD

What is believed to be the biggest aviation refuelling unit in the world was recently placed in service by an oil company at Jan Smuts Airport.

Its main duty will be to refuel S.A.A. Boeing 707′s and 727′s and, in time to come, the 737′s and any other jets that may follow.

The complete unit is almost 60 feet long and nearly 12 feet high: it weighs 28 tons and can carry 12,500 gallons of jet fuel (50 tons), making a gross weight of 78 tons. This giant, assembled in South Africa has specially reinforced axles and suspension and is powered by a 200 horse power engine. The tank trailer unit was designed and built in Cape Town, the complete vehicle costing nearly R60,000.

The long-range Boeing 707 can uplift more than 12,000 imperial gallons of jet fuel at a time which at present calls for two 6,000 gallon refuelling units and two crews. During the commissioning ceremony held at Jan Smuts Airport on January 18, 1968, demonstrations showed that one crew with this big semi-trailer can pump aboard a full fuel uplift in 20 minutes.

The aviation refueling unit at Jan Smuts Airport.

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PLEASED TO MEET YOU

We welcome Miss Sonja M. Skjoldhammer – no! we have it correct, it is not Hammerskjold and we were assured that there is no connection between her and the Director General of I.A.T.A, at all!

Fair haired Sonja, who is unmistakably from Norwegian extraction, joined S.A.A, recently as an additional Nursing Sister in the Aviation Medicine Depart­ment at Jan Smuts Airport. She has been nursing for the past ten years and finds her new position both stimulating and interesting.

We wish Miss Skjoldhammer a long and happy association with South African Airways.

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THE WIND IS FREE

Mr. N S. Crooks, Planning Assistant at Jan Smuts Airport, photographed with the yacht he built single handed in his spare time.

Creator of many other constructions, it took him six months to built this 14 ft. craft which conforms in every detail to the specifications of the South African Yacht Racing Association with whom it has been registered to enable him to compete in their regatta’s.

Races envisaged by Mr. Crooks this year are “Around the Island Race” on the Vaaldarn in February and the “All Africa Regatta” in July at Lourenco Marques.

We wish him fair winds wherever he sets sail.

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STRICTLY FOR AMUSEMENT

Meet Mr. G. P. (Gerrie) Rossouw, clerk in the Traffic Section at Jan Smuts Airport whose unusual hobby it is to collect pocket knives. Gerrie’s interest in this type of hardware was aroused a few years ago when he travelled overseas. He picked up his first collection item during a tour of window­shopping in Madrid.

There he saw what he thought to be the biggest pocket knife in the world. Who are we to argue this statement when he produces proof in the form of a dangerous looking “slicer” measuring no less than 42 inches in the open position? A special permit was needed to bring this knife to the Republic. But then there is also the smallest pen-knife measuring only half an inch which is one of Gerrie’s most prized possessions.

Our collector has approximately 50 pen and pocket knives of various interesting designs, shapes, sizes and even colours and although it is difficult to assess their value – hobbyists in any case never really consider monetary values — it is in the region of approximately R300.

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