SAA Orange Tail

JUNE/JUNIE

1966

NO. 30

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PIONEERS ALL

Much has been written about the history of South African Airways and the way in which our national airline, from a modest beginning in 1934, has achieved the scope and international recognition it enjoys today. These thirty odd years cover the whole romantic period of the develop­ment of civil aviation in this country, from the “stick and wire” Gipsy Moths and single-engined Junkers F13 and W34′s, to the present sub-sonic jet era. Among the 3,500 White mem­bers who comprise the S.A.A. staff today, we were able, after searching enquiries, to find but half a dozen men who have been in the airline’s service since the year of its inception. They are Messrs. D. Kirkwood, Manager Traffic Operations; A. A. Smith, Assistant Superintendent (Power Plants); L. G. Trichardt, Assistant Superintendent (Workshops); C. P. Daverin, Sales Manager (United Kingdom); J. R. Scott, Assistant Traffic Manager and 0. C. Schelin, Technical Assistant.

  Mr. D. Kirkwood                             Mr. L. G. Trichardt

Between them, these gentle­men have contributed almost 200 years of devoted service to South African Airways. Their’s have been interesting careers and they can relate interesting incidents and stories that could fill an entire book. Messrs. Schelin and Daverin for example, saw the name of the organisation they had joined, change from Union Airways to South African Airways on February 1, 1934. Otto Schelin, at first an aircraft mechanic, later flew as Flight Engineer Officer on Junkers F13, W34, JU52 and 1U86 aircraft and afterwards served jointly as Flight Engineer cum Radio Officer. Those were the days when flying crew worked just as hard in the workshops in between flights, for he was responsible for the well-being of each aircraft assigned to him. Maintenance facilities were in many respects dependent upon the technician’s ingenuity and his ability to improvise. In this respect, the accompanying photo­graph of an early test bench illustrates the point. Messrs. Trichardt, Smith and Kirkwood were employed by Imperial Airways prior to joining South African Airways at Durban. Doug Kirkwood, then a young Traffic Clerk, took charge of all flight operations, engineering sche­duling, the rostering of aircrew, etc. He also developed the original S.A.A. timetables. In those days the total staff estab­lishment was 23. As a point of interest, Mr. Kirkwood opened the Windhoek air station during 1935.

Mr. A. A. Smith                              Mr. J. R. Scott

Louis Trichardt was originally a qualified aircraft mechanic, responsible for maintenance and servicing, fuelling, radio and instrument repairs, carpentry and welding. During the War he saw active service with the S.A.A.F. in Abyssinia, North Africa, Sicily, Italy and the United Kingdom. Mr. Trichardt is the only South African ever to have been personally decorated by the late King George VI of Britain. He was awarded the M.B.E. – a rare field distinc­tion. Alec Smith has been con­nected with maintenance on every single S.A.A. aircraft type from the outset up to the present. Apart from an impressive War record, during which time he also salvaged downed enemy aircraft spares for our own Junkers, he recalls the days when the ground engineer who serviced an aircraft was obliged to fly along on the test flight – just in case!

Mr. C. P. Daverin                           Mr. O. C. Schelin

Charles Daverin, son of a Senator, and also ex Union Airways, was the first Air Station Supervisor, at Uitenhage; then Air Station Supervisor, Durban and Germiston respec­tively. In later years he joined the Sales side and managed various offices abroad until he finally took up his present position in London as Sales Manager, United Kingdom.

Jeff Scott transferred from the Railways at Pietermaritzburg to S.A.A. during 1934, as a Traffic Clerk in Durban. Mr. Scott was S.A.A.’s first purser. He became Air Station Supervisor at Windhoek in 1939 and during the War he acted as Liaison Officer, S.A.A.F., to the free French in the Congo. After the War he took charge of various air stations in the Republic and was deputised to investigate the traffic potential at several centres locally and abroad, before the opening-up of new routes by S.A.A. These men, “1934 originals” to their colleagues, deserve commendation for their loyalty and service to South African Airways throughout its existence. Their contribution has helped to build the fine organisation of today.

An early test bench.

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VOLTAL

Ons wil graag ‘n vyftiental lugdiensmanne wat ‘n onlangse kursus in Stasierekeninge (goedere en passasiers) bygewoon en almal met welslae daarvan afgekom het, baie geluk wens met hul mooi prestasie.

Dit was die vyfde amptelike kursus van hierdie aard om by die Jan Smutslughawe aangebied te word en groot sukses is reeds in hierdie verband behaal. Die vraestelle is deur die Spoorwegkollege, Esselenpark, saamgestel en aldaar nagesien.

Die kursusgangers wat saam met mnr. M. M. Louw, Personeel­bestuurder (links voor) en hul instrukteur mnr. D. Pelser (regs voor) afgeneem is, is soos volg:­ VOORSTE RY: Mnre. B. Townsend, J. Valentin, L. Nel, M. Kleynhans. MIDDELSTE RY: Mnre. M. Alberis, V. Viviers, M. Nel, J. Bosman, J. Coetzee. ACTERSTE RY: Mnre. J. Schutte, W, van Heerden, M. van Heerden, G. Engelbrecht, S. Klue, B. Campbell.

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DUBBELRUIMTE

Groot hoera’s het opgestyg toe die aankondiging onlangs gedoen is dat die boubedrywighede aan die vergroting van die Suid-Afrikaanse Lugdiens se Administratiewe gebou op die Jan Smutslughawe afge­handel is.

Hierdie gebou wat oorspronklik net uit drie ver­diepings bestaan het, is onlangs verdubbel na ses vloerhoogtes en so netjies is die werk verrig dat nie die geringste teken bestaan dat uitbreidings ooit daar­oan aangebring is nie.

Kort na die aankondiging, het ‘n ware “Groot Trek” begin en teen die tyd dat hierdie berig verskyn sal die personeel reeds in hul nuwe “tuistes” gevestig wees.

Die groter Administratiewe-gebou to Jan Smutslughawe.

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Q.C. (QUICK COPYING)

In order to facilitate the documentation at the air station at Jan Smuts Airport, a Rank Xerox RX914 copying machine was recently installed in the freight section.

This machine, tastefully designed, has unique charac­teristics whereby multiple copies of documents can be undertaken, without losing any detail of the original document copied. In fact, it has the advantage of reproducing a clearer image than that appearing on the original. It further possesses the added advantage that an image can be largely improved upon by producing a copy from a copy.

Operating on a dry basis whereby cumbersome and expensive chemicals are eliminated, costs are kept down to a very marginal figure. A copy can automatically be produced every seven seconds which means 450 copies p-r hour.

Since it was installed on March 17, this year, the machine has proved to be a great boon and during the first three months of service a total of approximately 48,000 copies have been made.

The machine is largely employed for the quick copying of flight documents as well as short-delivered freight way­bills. etc.

The Rank Xerox RX 914 with Mr. Struwig in attendance

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LEKKER RUS

Onder voorsitterskap van mnr. J. D. Fuhri, rekenpligte ampte­naar (lugdiensinkomste), is daar op 2 Junie 1966 op paslike wyse afskeid geneem van mnr. D. P. Grib, klerk graad I, afdeling Rekenpligte en Algemeen, Johan­nesburg, wat met pensioen uit die diens getree het.

‘n Groot aantal persone het die afskeidsplegtigheid byge­woon en verskeie sprekers, waaronder mnre. A. M. Conradie, waarnemende bestuurshoof en D. M. Beaton, handelsbestuurder het mnr. Grib aangeprys vir sy lojale diens en vriendelike geaardheid.

Ons beste wense vergesel mnr. Grib.

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WELCOME 13

We wish to welcome the following thirteen First Officers, who recently joined the staff of the South African Airways:

Messrs. C. J. V. Erasmus, W. J. Barker, S. C. Basson, A. H. Schuiling, W. J. Hook, P. D. van Wyk, J. C. Nel, A. G. Richards, G. R. Liggett, M. H. Copeland, J. D. Kruger, L. B. Pringle, D. W. Hoidge.

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VOËLKENNER

Hierdie maand stel ons graag aan u voor, mnr. P. F. von Mollendorff, hoofklerk in die on­derafdeling Beplanning, Johannes­burg.

Jack, soos hy algemeen onder sy makkers bekend is, is ‘n ver­samelaar van sowel buitelandse as inheemse voëls. Ook geen wonder dat hy in hierdie stok­perdjie belangstel nie want hy is afkomstig uit die geweste met die grootste voëls in die wëreld, naamlik Oudsthoorn – die middelpunt van ons volstruisbedryf.

Jack vertel dat hy sedert sy kinderjare in hierdie stok­perdjie geinteresseerd is, maar hom eers sedert 1951 met erns daarop begin toelê het. In teenstelling met die meeste ander voëlversamelaars wat hulle op die tentoonstelling van voëls toespits, lê hy hom daarop toe om verskeie voëlsoorte in bewaring te broei. Orn sukses hiermee te behaal, moet die natuurlike omgewing en eetgewoontes van die voëls goed bestudeer en nageboots word. Wat veral interessant is, is dat saadeters in die natuur ten minste vyftig persent van hul voedsel in die vorm van insekte inneem.

Om toestande so natuurlik moontlik te maak, het mnr. Von Mollendorff sy hokke met struike en blomme beplant – veral die tipe waarop plant:uise teer. Verder vul hy die insekleemte aan met miere en goggas wat in die veld gehaal word. Lopende water is ook noodsaaklik en lok terselfdertyd ander insekte vir die voëls. Jack se voëlhokke then terself­dertyd as blomtuin en die waarneming van die kleurryke voëls teen ‘n agtergrond van blomme het ‘n strelende uitwerking op die gemoed en is ‘n goeie teenmiddel vir gespanne sc.i;uwees.

Diegene wat dit oorweeg om met voêls te boer, waarsku Jack, moet vooraf ‘n permit van die Provinsiale Administrasie verkry.

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MONEY FOR JAM

Since the Sales Incentive Scheme for members of the J staff of South African Airways was started less than two years ago, 24 members have already submitted 36 claims. The total value of tickets sold in this manner amounted to R 17,800.

Some of the participants, particularly flying staff who regularly visit what is for others those far-away places, have used their credit to assist with the purchase of tickets for their families to fly overseas.

The scheme is available to the staff of all sections of S.A.A. excepting those members directly concerned with selling, i.e. Counter Booking Clerks, Sales Promotion Officers and personnel holding the rank of Superintendent or higher.

An interesting brochure, containing valuable hints on ways and means of gaining credits through canvassing passengers for the overseas services of S.A.A. or its pool partners, has been published and copies with claim forms are obtainable from any Air Station Manager.

There are many well-defined avenues of approach for selling S.A.A. and with some initiative, it becomes quite easy. The only remaining conditions are that participants should study the current S.A.A. timetable and know our services, routes and fares. Also, no member of the staff is permitted to introduce him or herself as an S.A.A. Sales Representative.

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AGTER DIE SKERMS – PUBLIKASIES

Lugdienspublikasies kan min of meer in twee hoofde ingedeel word, nl. handel en tegnies. Die dokumentasie onder albei hoofde is ewe belangrik en speel ‘n vername rol in die gladde werkverrigting van die Suid-Afrikaanse Lugdiens.

TEGNIES

Wanneer ‘n persoon ‘n nuwe motor aankoop, word by gewoonlik voorsien van ‘n handleiding oor die onderhoud en opknapping van die betrokke voertuig. Dieselfde geld ook in die geval van vliegtuie behalwe dat ons hier met ‘n perd van ‘n ander kleur to doen het, want ‘n stapel dokumente en publikasies wat handel oor elke faset van die vliegtuig en sy bybehore, vergesel laasgenoemde by aflewering. ‘n Spesiale kantoor, vir die hantering van aile tegniese dokumente word by die Jan Smutslughawe in stand gehou. Wanneer ‘n mens die onderafdeling tegniese inligting binnetree kry mens die indruk van ‘n rustige biblioteek met al die netjiese rakke gevul met rye en rye boeke. Daar word trouens, behalwe vir die boeke en dokumente wat aan ver­skeie werkswinkels uitgereik is meer as 100,000 boeke gehuisves. Dit word beweer dat as die tegniese dokumente vir die instandhouding en onderhoud van een stralervliegtuig opmekaar gestapel sou word, dit sowat 14 voet hoog sal toning. AI die dokumente moet gereeld van wysigings voor­sien en nuwe inligting bygewerk word en verder onderneem die afdeling die verspreiding van tegniese inligting aan elke betrokke afdeling in die organisasie. ‘n Uitstekende kaart­stelsel, vir indeksering, word in stand gehou en besonderhede oor elke onderdeeltjie van watter aard ookal, van elke S.A.L.-vliegtuig, kan hier nageslaan word. ‘n Oneindige stroom losblad-materiaal, bulletins en tydskrifte vloei weekliks deur hierdie kantoor van leweransiers uit alle wêrelddele. In ‘n aangrensende vertrek is die onderafdeling hand­leidingwysigings en tegniese publikasies gehuisves wat ‘n ewe belangrike rat van die Lugdiens se groot publikasie­masjien uitmaak. Hierdie onderafdeling is hoofsaaklik verant­woordelik vir die voorbereiding en produksie van alle tegniese inligting en materiaall bedoel vir die S.A.L. se handleiding oor werkmetodes. Hierdie handleiding is terloops ‘n vereiste vir ‘n gelisensieerde onderhoudsorganisasie soos die S.A.L. Tweedens onderneem diê kantoor ook die opstel en produksie van wysigings vir vliegtuigvervaardigers se handleidings Laasgenoemde spruit voort uit modifikasies wat deur die vervaardigers vereis word hetsy dit vliegrame, enjins, instru­mente, radio, ens. behels.

Verder onderneem die onderafdeling ook die opstel en verspreiding van die Ingenieursbestuurder se kennisgewings aan ingenieurspersoneel en alle tegniese vorms wat in die ingenieursafdeling plaaslik en oorsee gebruik word. Tans is daar meer as 746 tipe vorms, sommige waarvan soveel as 50 bladsye beslaan en wat gereeld gewysig of bygewerk moet word. Hierbenewens sluit die vole ander pligte van die onderafdeling ook die uitreik van tegniese skedules vir die Boeingpoel en ander vliegpoelooreenkomstes in.

Fotograaf J. A. Theron by die uithaler-kamera.

HANDEL

Die onderafdeling publikasies te Jan Smutslughawe is beurtelings verantwoordelik om aan alle handelshandleidings­vereistes van die S.A.L. te voorsien of dit nou ookal tariewe, verkeer, vrag, tydtafels, verversings, verkope of reis- en doeaneregulasies behels. Die Suid-Afrikaanse Lugdiens het sommer ‘n groot reeks van hierdie handleidings in gebruik en elkeen bestaan uit ‘n dik bundel wat gedurig bygewerk of gewysig moet word. Die werk wat in hierdie afdeling verrig word is van ‘n hoë standaard en die talle netjiese hand­leidings met hulle deftige blou omslae, is ‘n sprekende voor­beeld van deeglikheid. In die afgelope bedryfsjaar is 4,666,455 velle gedrukte werk gelewer wat, as dit aanmekaar gelas sou word, ‘n afstand van bykans 1,000 myl sal beloop. Nuwe of gewysigde instruksies, werkmetodes en inligting word van verskeie oorde ontvang waarna dit opgestel en uiteengesit word en die inligting vir plasing in die handleidings op spesiale elektriese tikmasjiene getik word. Een van hierdie tikmasjiene is onder andere in staat om in 10 verskillende lettersoorte te tik. Die voorbereide inligting gaan dan na die fotografiese donkerkamer vir die vervaardiging van plate, sketse, grafieke, foto’s, ens., wat later op drukmasjiene vir insluiting in die handboeke gebruik word. In die fotografiese kamer is ‘n uithaler-kamera wat tot feitlik enigiets in staat is en kan wedersyds ‘n direkte ver­groting of verkleining, van ‘n onderwerp wat gefotografeer word, onderneem. Dikwels onderneem hierdie fotografiese ateljee die fotografering van defektiewe onderdele wat dan na die vervaardigers gestuur word in plaas van die onderdeel self. Dit bring ‘n besparing in verpakking en versendings­koste mee. Nadat die nodige afrolplate ens. gereed is, gaan dit na die drukkerskamer waar die groot en moderne afsetmasjiene elk tot 7,000 afdrukke per uur kan lewer. In die drukkers­kamer is daar ook etlike afrolmasjiene, ‘n T-gleuf- en kram­masjien vir inbinding en les bes ‘n groot elektriese papier­snymasjien of “guillotine”. Hierdie masjien laat mens se hare letterlik rys wanneer die lem daarvan vinniger deur pakke papier kap as wat ‘n warm mes deur botter gly.

Die finale produk word na die distribusiekamer deur­gestuur waar dit netjies gesorteer en verpak word en na alle betrokkenes, plaaslik en oorsee versprei word.

Operateur P. H. McKechnie besig om papier te sny met die “guillotine”.

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