SAA Orange Tail

November 1969

No. 71

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ADRI IN CHICAGO

Miss Adri Wessels, S.A.A.’s chief hostess was recently dele­gated to the Fourth International Chief Hostess Conference held in Chicago, with United Airlines as host. She is here be­ing greeted by Mr. G. E. Keck. president of the Airline. Chief Hostesses representing 47 airlines from 33 countries attended the meeting to discuss mutual problems and exchange ideas in several areas of common interest with specific emphasis on communications, appearance, discipline and training.

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ZS-SAH NAMED “PRETORIA”

On Wednesday, October 8, S.A.A.’s newest Boeing 707 ­344C. ZS-SAH, took off from Jan Smuts at about 1 p.m. bound in the direction of Lourenco Marques for a demonstration flight with Senior Captain “Pi” Pienaar at the controls. On board were guests mainly from Pretoria who were invited to attend a short ceremony aloft during which the aircraft was officially named after their city. Chief Executive, A. M. Conradie was Master of Ceremonies whilst Deputy Minister the Hon. H. E. Martins hosted the proceedings and said inter alia that a demonstration flight was a fitting manner in which to conduct a naming ceremony as it afforded the guests an opportunity to gain an intimate knowledge of the aircraft which would carry their city’s name to many countries abroad. On the question of hijacking the Minister expressed the hope that some effective means would soon be found to put an end to the practice and, referring to discussions held in the United Nations of a Resolution calling on all member States ;o take adequate steps to ensure that hijackers do not go un­punished. said “We in S.A.A, welcome this move and we can but hope that it will lead to positive international action to rid air travel of this scourge by which it has been afflicted in recent times.”

In replying Councillor L. A. Cloete, the Mayor of Pretoria, expressed the citizens of Pretoria’s appreciation for S.A.A.’s decision to again name one of its aircraft after the Capital and extended good wishes to both the airline and the “Pretoria”. The Mayor then presented the Minister with an engraved plaque commemorating the occasion. The plaque has since been mounted in the aircraft.

Overseas Fleet Capt. Pienaar being presented with a set of cuff-links bearing Pretoria’s coat of arms by the Mayor (left) while the Deputy Minister looks on. Commented “Pi”: “I’ll have to acquire another uniform to match the cuff-links!”

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SERVICE CERTIFICATES PRESENTED

Service Certificates to certain members of S.A.A.’s overseas staff who have completed five years service, were recently presented by the Commercial Director, Mr. N. S. Louw, during the course of the seventh Sales Planning Conference held at Las Palmas.

The Staff members who received certificates were: Messrs. J. K. Rennie, Sales Manager, London; J. M. Dos Santos, Sales Representative, Lisbon; C. B. Baily, District Sales Manager, Birmingham: M. Juers, District Sales Manager, Las Palmas and A. Quevedo. Port Steward, Las Palmas.

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R¹/₄  MILJOEN VIR PLEKBESPREKENINGSTELSEL

Die kontrak van ‘n R¹/₄-miljoen vir bykomstighede vir die S.A.L. se nuwe gekoppelde rekenoutomaat-plekbesprekingstel­sel op hoofkantoor, Johannesburg, is onlangs aan ‘n Suid ­Airikaanse firma toegeken.

Daar word voorsiening gemaak vir die beskikbaarstelling van 18.000 vk. vt. van spesiaal verhoogde vloerruimte vir kabels. pype en lugreëling.

Die firma sal ook toesig hou oor die lugreëling, humiditeits­kontrole, die elektriese stelsel, die toevoer van kooldioksied en beskerming teen rookmis.

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IT’S A GROWING WORLD

On December 17, 1903, two scientifically minded brothers changed the technological complexion of the 20th century. At Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, Wilbur and Orville Wright pilot­ed a mechanically driven, heavier-than air machine some 120 feet across a wind-swept stretch of level sand. As Orville Wright put it: ”This flight lasted only 12 seconds, but it was nevertheless the first in history in which a machine carrying a man had raised itself by its own power into the air in full flight, had sailed forward without reduction of speed, and finally landed at a point as high as that from which it started.”

The distance of the world’s first powered flight is only about one half the length of the Boeing 747 which is 231 feet 4 inches long. We wonder what the percentage in the total weight of the Wright aeroplane was in relation to the maxi­mum gross weight of 710,000 Ibs, of the 747, capable of carry­ing almost 500 people.

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FLEDGELINGS

S.A.A.’s twelve new hostesses. From left to right: M. Seyffert, S. Davin, B. Baxter, T, van Aardt, M. Davidson, L. Lynch, N. Haasbroek (Instructress), Mrs. M. Reid of the Matty Reid School of Modelling in Johannesburg who instructed the girls in deportment, make-up, skin-care and hairstyling; J. Comins, A. Venter, P. Robinson, A. Webber, M. Neophytos, M. Martin.

After a period of 7 weeks of intensive training 12 new “ambassadors” of South African Airways’ “front-line” staff recently assembled in the Cabin Services Building to receive their wings.

In the presence of senior members of the staff at Jan Smuts Airport, proud parents and relatives also joined to see their daughters being “winged”.

Having received their wings and their certificates in first aid, a surprise was in store for Miss Millie Seyffert when she was presented with a beautiful set of silver serviette rings, bearing the St. John’s coat of arms, by Mr. J. J. Muller, District Secretary of the Railway Division, Western Transvaal branch of the St. John’s Ambulance Brigade for having attained out­standing results and the highest marks in the course attended by the class.

To round things off Miss. D. Davin made a short well deliver­ed speech of thanks to the Management and Miss Mariette Martin presented their instructress Miss N. Haasbroek with a lovely bouquet.

Our dozen girls are congratulated and wished every success in their flying careers.

The proud Miss Millie Seyffert being presented’ with the special St. John’s gift by Mr. J. J. Muller, District Secretary of the S.A.R. & FI. Western Transvaal St. John’s Ambulance Brigade.

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JAN SMUTS KRY HOTEL

‘n Kunstenaarsindruk van die nuwe internasionale hotel wat tans by Jan Smutslughawe in aanbou is.

Die Eerste Minister, Sy Edele B. J. Vorster, het die knoppie onlangs gedruk om die bouwerk van die R2¹/₄ miljoen onder­neming aan die gang te sit, wat na verwagting teen Mei 1971 voltooi sal word.

Die hotel wat in ‘n wesenlike behoefte sal voorsien sal 240 ruim, ryklik gemeubileerde slaapkamers hë, elk met ‘n bad­kamer.

Daar sal ‘n uitkykskemerkelkkroeg en sitkamer op die dak wees van waar gaste ‘n uitstekende panoramiese blik van die lughawebedrywighede en Johannesburg se wolkekrabbers sal hê.

Fasiliteite vir inkopies, ‘n diamantsentrum, kantore vir reis­agente, lugrederye-/en huurmotorkiosks sal beskikbaar wees. Op die grondverdieping sal daar ook ‘n deurnag-koffiestalle­tjie wees, ‘n restaurant en ‘n „braai”-eetkamer.

Die puik konferensiesentrum is as ‘n integrale deel van die hotel ontwerp en sal byeenkomste van 10 tot 100 mense in ‘n samestelling van ses verskillende konferensiesale huisves. Fasiliteite vir onmiddellike vertaling in ses verskillende tale sal verskaf word.

Die hotel sal waarskynlik die konferensiesentrum van Suide­like Afrika word. Besprekings vir afgevaardigdes na konferen­sies is reeds van lande soos Kenia, Tanzanië en Zambië ont­vang.

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R1-MILLION REFEULLING SYSTEM FOR JAN SMUTS AIRPORT

A R1-million refuelling system to pump millions of gallons of aviation fuel into giant and supersonic airliners is to be in­stalled at Jan Smuts Airport. The system will do away with big tankers carrying fuel to aircraft. Instead, it will be pumped from hydrant pits built into the parking apron. Nearly 100 hydrants will be installed in the system, which is due to start operation in September, 1971 – a few months before Boeing 747′s start flying to South Africa. Designed by the South African oil industry in conjuction with the Government, the system makes allowance for Concorde supersonic jets, the proposed Boeing supersonic airliner and for 300-passenger “airbus” designs now being finalised in Europe. “The big advantage of the hydrant system is that it cuts down on the swarm of vehicles that will surround the 747′s,” a spokesman for the oil industry said. “Operating costs will be lower and less technical manpower will be needed.”

Instead of fuel tankers – some of those at Jan Smuts carry­ing 12,000 gallons each are the biggest in the southern hemi­sphere – specially designed hose carts will park under the wings of giant jets to pump 2,000 gallons a minute into the aircraft. This fuelling rate is nearly three times faster than that used on present jetliners and will give a Boeing 747 its full fuel load of 40,000 gallons in 20 minutes.

“The hydrant system at Jan Smuts will be able to refuel four giant jets – or 10 jets of Boeing 707 size – simultaneously,” the spokesman said.

Plans for the new system include the building of a “tank farm” at the airport. The system will be able to handle four times the present volume of fuel used at the airport.

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SHAGGY HAIR, AND DIRTY, ON WAY IN?

Unwashed and unkempt hair may soon be the “in” thing for South African women, according to the president of the South African Hairdressers’ Employees’ Industrial Union.

The change from a well-brushed, profesionally-set coiffure will not be due to fashion but a serious shortage of skilled workers that threatens to disrupt the hairdressing trade, he said recently.

Surely our girls are not all that dependant on this trade for their neat and well-groomed appearance!

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