SAA Orange Tail

Oktober/October 1970

No. 82

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TIEN JAAR VAN STRALERDIENSTE

Die instelling van Boeing Interkontinentale stralers op die Springbokroetes tien jaar gelede was ‘n betekenisvolle gebeurtenis in die ontwikkelingsgang van die Suid-Afrikaanse Lugdiens. Die oorspronklike vier dienste per week na Europa is op 1 Oktober 1960 ingestel. Tans is daar sewentien. Gedurende die eerste vyf jaar van stralerdienste het passasiers wat oor hierdie roetes vervoer is van 32,364 tot 50,815 toegeneem, wat ‘n vermeerdering van 57 persent verteenwoordig, terwyl die getal t.o.v. die boekjaar wat op 31 Maart 1970 geëindig het op 122,279 to staan kom. Op die binnelandse roetes het stralerdienste gedurende Augustus 1965 beskikbaar geword toe vyf Boeing 727′s in ontvangs geneem is. Gedurende die tydperk wat deur die jongste vyf finansiële fare gedek word het die getal passa­siers op binnelandse dienste van 524,752 tot meer as een­miljoen gestyg. Die S.A.L. se Boeing-vloot bestaan tans uit agt 707′s, sewe 727′s (met nog twee op bestelling) en ses 737′s. Hierbenewens word Brie superstralers Boeing 74713′s in Oktober, November en Desember van volgende jaar afge­lewer. Hierdie indrukwekkende uitbouing van sy stralervloot het die S.A.L. se posisie van ‘n „klein” na ‘n „middelslag” redery verander. Vandag is by die grootste lugredery in Afrika en een van die drie grotes in die Suidelike Half­rond; onder die 105 lede van die Internasionale Lugvervoer­vereniging (I.A.T.A.) staan by 25ste in terme van die syfer t.o.v. jaarlikse in”.omstedraende tonkilometer. Tans, na tien jaar, onderneem die S.A.L. se Boeing 707′s elke week 17 retorevlugte na tien van die belangrikste stede in Europa en die Verenigde Koninkryk ni. Lissabon, Madrid, Rome, Athene, Zurich, Frankfurt, Wenen, Parys, Brussel en Londen. Een van hierdie dienste vertrek weekliks van Kaapstad of na Londen oor Luanda en Lissabon. ‘n Ander treffende voorbeeld van die Boeing se sukses is to vinde in die volume vrag wat per lug vervoer word. ‘n Ontleding toon nl. ‘n toename aan van 580 ton lugvrag vir die jaar geëindig 31 Maart 1960 tot 3,590 ton t.o.v. die boekjaar wat op 31 Maart 1970 ten einde geloop het – ‘n vermeerdering van bykans 518 persent in die 10 jaar.

Die S.A.L. het ook die eerste Boeing-stralerdiens na Aus­tralië gedurende Maart 1967 ingestel en terselfdertyd sy Wallaby-roete van Perth of na Sydney verleng. Die Wallaby­diens dies nie alleen as ‘n skakel tussen die twee vaste­lande nie maar is ook ‘n belangrike sektor wanneer reise om die wêreld beplan word. Passasiers wat van die Verenig­de Koninkryk of sekere plekke in Wes-Europa na Australië reis, kan in Suid-Afrika en Mauritius oorstap, teen dieselfde reisgeld as wat op die roetes oor die Midde-Ooste van toe­passing is.

Op 23 Februarie 1969 het die S.A.L. die eerste reg­streekse vlug, ook met Boeing 707′s, oor die Suid-Atlantiese oseaan tussen Johannesburg en New York oor Rio de Janeiro ingestel. Sodoende is die vinnigste verbinding tussen hier­die stede daargestel, en het dit die netwerk van lugroetes in die Suidelike Halfrond ingrypend uitgebrei deur Australië, Suid-Afrika, Suid- en Noord-Amerika regstreeks deur middel van stralerdienste to koppel.

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PUMA WITH S.A.A.

Ronnie Foster, the Argentine rugby front-row forward, has been appointed District Sales Manager for S.A.A. in Buenos Aires, Argentine.

Ronnie toured South Africa in 1965 with the first Pumas team to leave the Argentine. He played in both “inter­nationals” against the Gazelles when they toured South America the following year and hopes to return to South Africa when the Argentine tours next year. Foster was also a member of the Argentine team which recently beat Ire­land.

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S.A.A.’s HS748′s NAMED

The two Hawker Siddeley 748 aircraft purchased by South African Airways to replace the DC-3 Dakotas on the services to the Republic’s neighbouring states of Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland, have been registered as ZS-SBU and ZS-SBV and named SKUKUZA and ETOSHA, respectively. The aircraft will be operated in a 40-seat configuration. In the photo above an HS.748 in S.A.A. livery is seen in flight.

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S.A.A. CHAIRS INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE

Mr. A. O. M. Vialls, Engineering Director, S.A.A., delivering the opening address at the 22nd International Airlines Tech­nical Pool Conference, Paris, recently.

On his right is Mr. T. Phillips, Group Manager for Development Standards and Quality Control and on his left is Mr. J. C. Huber, Chief Technical Pool co-ordinator who were convenors of the Conference under the chairmanship of South African Airways.

Delegates from the airlines in attendance.

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VISUAL SYSTEM FOR FLIGHT SIMULATOR

South African Airways has placed an order for a Closed Circuit Colour Television Visual System which is to be in­corporated with a Link/Boeing 747 digital Flight Simulator.

The Visual System is capable of being shared by more than one flight simulator, thereby enabling S.A.A. to incor­porate the digital Boeing 737 and Boeing 707 Simulators.

This is the third Link Simulator of this type to be equip­ped with a Television System, the first of which is already installed and fully operational at American Airlines training centre, at Fort Worth, Texas. The total number of flight simulators fitted with this type of Visual System now ex­ceeds fifty.

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FIRST IN FIRST AID

One of sixteen attractive young ladies who successfully completed the course for Air Hostesses this month, is Miss Marina Steyn.

She also won the trophy for obtaining the highest marks in first aid.

Mr. N. S. Louw, Commercial Director is here seen pinning on her wing at a special func­tion attended by many in­terested relatives and friends.

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S.A.A. VETERAN PILOT RETIRES

When the Boeing 707 on flight SA 223 from London taxied to a halt at Jan Smuts Airport at 11.05 a.m. on Tues­day September 29, 1970, it brought to a close for the man at the controls a 33 year commercial flying career. He was Senior Captain Denis Raubenheimer, the first S.A.A. pilot to retire at the age of 55, the extended age limit for flying officers. Now he plans to enjoy the sort of retirement every pilot dreams of he says, just fish­ing, golfing, and keeping busy in his home workshop at Knysna. Captain Raubenheimer started flying four years prior to joining S.A.A. when he learnt to fly a”Gipsy Moth” biplane at the Johannesburg Light Plane Club at Baragwanath.

Besides mentioning that it had been a great life, he praised the fantastic reliability of the Boeing jets of today and said that he was pleased to have had the opportunity to fly them. Captain Raubenheimer has logged 21,000 flying hours – the equivalent of nearly three years in the air – of which 7,000 hours were flown in jet aircraft. Some impor­tant highlights in his career included the inaugural flights to Australia and Rio de Janeiro over the Southern Hemisphere routes.

Although he does not intend to fly commercially again at this stage, he is keeping all his pilot licenses valid, and will take to the air from time to time, he said.

We wish Captain Raubenheimer many years of happy retirement.

Captain D. B. Raubenheimer steps down from S.A.A. Boeing 707 “Durban” at Jan Smuts Airport at the end of his last command.

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DOEANESAAL BY D.F. MALAN GEREED

Die nuwe tydelike doeanesaal vir buitelandse vlugte by die lughawe D. F. Malan is op 4 Oktober vir die eerste keer in gebruik geneem toe die passasiers op vlug SA 238 na Londen ingeskeep is.

Die saal het ‘n oppervlakte van 139 vk. meter, kan sowat 200 passasiers behartig en is toegerus met moderne geriewe soos vervoerbande vir bagasie ens.

Die gebou bestaan onder andere uit twee aparte alge­mene sitkamers asook private vertrekke vir belangrike per­sone, elk met lugreëling toegedien.

Die plafon is van veselglas en ryspapier met klein gaat­jies vir die absorbering van klank om akoestiek te bevorder. Dubbele glasdeure na buite skakel alle geraas uit en open en sluit outomaties.

Die saal sal na verwagting oor sowat agtien maande deur permanente geboue vervang word.

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VOORBEREIDINGS VIR SUPERSTRALERS

Die veiligheid en gemak van passasiers sal van primêre belang wees wanneer die S.A.L, se Boeing 747 superstralers begin vlieg. Hierdie aspekte is so noukeurig bestudeer en so om­vangryk nageboots dat die verbysterende resultaat bereik is waarvolgens dit net 90 sekondes sal neem om ‘n vol vrag passasiers en bemanning onder noodtoestande deur die 10 dubbelwydte-ingang/uitgangdeure te ontruim. (Die S.A.L. se 747′s sal toegerus wees om 352 passasiers te dra). Om betyds voorbereidings te tref vir die ontvangs van die S.A.L. se superstralers volgende jaar, funksioneer drie komitees gereeld wat elk belas is met verskillende aan­geleenthede soos ingenieurswese, skure, werkwinkels, binne­versiering, mondering, stoele ens. Die 747 se ko-ordinerende komitee onder die voorsitterskap van die Ingenieursdirek­teur, mnr. A. O. M. Vialls vergader ook met tussenposes om alle aspekte te bespreek. Die vlugkombuise vir die 747′s is in die Verenigde Koninkryk bestel en die eersteklasstoele in die V.S.A., ter­wyl die ander van die V.K. sal kom. Die koste van hierdie stoele sal op ongeveer R,-miljoen te staan kom. Die nuwe 747-nabootsergebou en ander opleidingsfasili­teite maak goeie vordering. Die koste van die gebou om die nabootser te huisves sal op R1.2-miljoen te staan kom. Stel­sels vir die ontruiming in noodgevalle sal ‘n vertoonstuk wees met spesiale uitsigfasiliteite vir die publiek en daar word verwag dat dit teen die einde van 1971 voltooi sal wees. ‘n Deel van die gebou sal egter teen Mei 1971 gereed wees vir die installering van die 747-nabootser. Suid-wes van die tegniese gebied, gaan die bou van die toetssel vir die nuwe stralermotore en die nuwe stralerop­knappingswinkel onverpoosd voort. Die uitbreiding van alle ander tegniese fasiliteite om die S.A.L. se Boeing 747-super­stralers op te neem vorder ook volgens plan. BRANDBEVEILIGING

‘n Nuwe brandbeveiligingstelsel, uniek in die wêreld, sal outomaties in werking kom as een van hierdie vliegtuie ooit in die reuse-skuur aan die brand sou raak. Die vliegtuig sal nie net deurweek word deur ‘n hoëdruk-neerstorting van skuim en water van die dak van die skuur nie, maar ook deur gelyksoortige strome wat net soos spuite opwaarts van die vloer af opskiet. Geen verwoestende brand kan vir meer as ‘n paar sekondes onder so ‘n vloedgolf bestaan nie.

Die skuur op sigself, wat vir twee van hierdie vliegtuie ontwerp is, het ‘n oppervlakte van 158,000 vk. vt. – groot genoeg om drie professionele sokkervelde te beslaan.

Op die skets hierbo word aangedui hoe twee B747 super­stralers in die reuse-skuur wat nou gebou word sal inpas.

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VEILIG VAN DIE OU KALAHARI TOT IN GOUDSTAD

Op die foto links wys mnr. J. H. Potgieter, ,corn Pottie” verantwoordelike bestuurder, klas 1, Jan Smutslughawe, na die omgewing waar hy 34 jaar gelede as motorvoertuigbe­stuurder in die Padmotordiens van die Administrasie diens aanvaar het. Hy is vir die afgelope elf jaar by die S.A.L. werksaam en in sy linkerhand hou hy ‘n 32-jaar – veligbestuursertifikaat wat hy onder dekking van ‘n brief van mnr. A. M. Conradie, bestuurshoof, ontvang het. In die brief word onder andere gemeld: Inagnemende die feit dat die verbetering van be­staande paaie skaars tred hou met die geweldige jaarlikse toename in padverkeer, is dit inderdaad ‘n lofwaardige prestasie, en ek wil derhalwe hierdie geleentheid te baat neem om u van harte geluk te wens.” Kuruman was sy eerste depot en daarvandaan het hy met die destydse „primitiewe” Thornycrofts vrag en passa­siers na plekke soos Sening, Van Zylsrust, Wargrave en Battlemount tot diep in die Kalahari vervoer. Later is hy na Swaziland oorgeplaas waar hy die eêrste vrag botter van Bremersdorp (nou Manzini) af na Stegi vervoer het, om aan te sluit by die Mosambiekse padmotordiens.

,.Oom Pottie” onthou ook dat hy een van die eerste bestuurders was wat die luukse „Brill”-buskoetse van Jo­hannesburg af na Parys, O.V.S., bestuur het en later ook die dubbelverdiepingspoorwegbusse tussen Johannesburg, Germiston, Modderfontein en Alberton.

Aan die volgende bestuurders is ook veiligbestuursertifi­kate oorhandig:

Mnr. H. B. L. Klopper, bestuurder, spesiale klas, 31 jaar. Mnr. J. H. Coetzee, verantwoordelike bestuurder, klas 1, 26 jaar.

Mnr. G. J. Prinsloo, verantwoordelike bestuurder, 21 jaar.

Mnr. P. J. Viljoen, verantwoordelike bestuurder, klas II, 21 jaar.

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DUIKERS TO GERMANY

When Mr. H. F. von Ketel­hodt, Superintendent of the Queen’s Park Zoo, East Lon­don, received a cable from the Berlin Zoo saying “Ducker Gut angekommen” (“Duiker has arrived”) he gave a sigh of relief. The cable was a climax to weeks of work and planning. Crates containing five blue and two grey Duikers (ante­lope) were sent from Queens Park Zoo to the Berlin Zoo in exchange for black swans and South American ostriches – Rhea – received some time ago.

With all the necessary health, export and import permits in order, S.A.A.’s Regional Mana­ger at East London, Mr. C. A. Swanepoel made the neces­sary arrangements for the un­usual freight to be loaded to­gether with its food consist­ing of hibiscus leaves and an­telope cubes in concentrated form.

Upon arrival at Jan Smuts Airport the crates were trans­ferred to an overseas flight bound for Frankfurt where the Duikers arrived at 9 a.m. the following morning and were soon transferred to a West Berlin-bound aircraft. At noon the same day the animals were released in the Berlin Zoo less than 24 hours after leaving East London. According to Mr. van Ketelhodt it took a group of blue Duikers 30 hours to travel overland from East London to Pretoria recently. He praised S.A. Airways staff for the care and treatment afforded the animals at the South African Airports.

The crates containing the Duikers are seen here ready to be loaded on to the Boeing 727 at Ben Schoeman Airport, East London, at the start of their long journey to Europe – watching their departure are Mr. H. F. von Ketelhodt, Miss Jill Hawkes of Luft­hansa and Mr. C. A. Swane­poel of S.A.A.

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“HOMERS” KEEP HUBBIES HOME

Pigeons are kept by several male members of S.A. Air­ways personnel as pets or hobbies and many of their wives fully agree with this since “it keeps Hubby home”, they say. One wonders whether this-reaction has anything to do with the terms “homer” or “homing pigeon” as these birds are commonly known! Their owners, of course, prefer to call them racing pigeons, for that is what they are specially bred and trained for. Mr. R. J. Greeff, a clerk in the Bond Store of the S.A.A. Freight section at Port Elizabeth and the proud owner of 120 or more of these racing birds, started training pigeons and entering them in races as far back as 1943, shortly after leaving school. He recollects that during the war years timing clocks were unobtainable and only the club owned one. Competitors therefore, had to run with a strip of paper (rubber rings were rationed) to a central clock to have their birds clocked-in from races. Mr. Greeff has won trophies for every distance competed for in pigeon racing. He is a member of the Port Elizabeth, Uitenhage and Despatch club, which has a membership of more than 300, all of whom enter for competitions. In the photo Mr. Greeff can be seen with some of his most recent trophies as well as a few miniatures for past successes. Only the best birds are trained for racing, since distances of up to 800 miles have to be covered at times. Stock birds are expensive and paying up to R300 for a pair was considered cheap by Mr. Greeff. In addition many valuable racing birds are lost during races when bad weather, birds of prey such as hawks and over­head wires take their toll. Feeding, medical treatment and transport costs during training periods for about 120 birds, could amount to more than R400 per annum. The service of an expert for classifi­cation of stock and racing birds is R10 an hour and Mr. Greeff avers that this is worth it if you want to win a race.

A further indication of the cost involved in this hobby is the structure necessary for a regulation-type loft.

His eldest son Andrê, now 19 and a B.A. student in his second year at Stellenbosch University, is also a keen pigeon racer and won his first race at the age of eight.

Mrs. Greeff has had her achievements too, but in another field. She attained the highest marks in the Republic during 1969 for the Theatre Course in nursing and won the Ethicon Gold medal for outstanding theatre technique.

Mr. Greeff with some of his trophies.

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