SAA Orange Tail

April 1971

No. 88

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SAAFARI OFFICIALLY INAUGURATED

At precisely 9.45 a.m. on the 23rd March, the first of a series of messages appeared on SAAFARI terminal sets throughout South Africa, heralding the official inaugura­tion of S.A.A.’s new fully-automated reservations and message switching installation. From S.A.A.’s headquarters in Johannesburg the air­line’s Chief Executive, Mr. A. M. Conradie, welcomed the Minister of Transport, The Hon. B. J. Schoeman, to S.A.A.’s Cape Town reservations office. The Minister replied as follows: “The introduction of this highly efficient and ad­vanced system again proves the ability of S.A.A, to keep abreast of world trends, and I congratulate all concerned. I am glad that S.A.A, is in this way con­tinuing to improve its service to the public”. Brief messages of congratulations were also relayed on behalf of the General Manager of the South African Railways, Mr. J. G. H. Loubser, and the Manager of I.B.M., Mr. Cowley.

In his message Mr. Loubser congratulated the staff of S.A.A. on “this fine undertaking, which is a suitable intro­duction to the era of mass transportation. To have installed the system and done all new training whilst keeping the old system going was no mean feat”.

Finally, the Minister declared SAAFARI to be officially in use and the short ceremony, attended by Pressmen in Durban, Johannesburg, Pretoria and Cape Town, had come to an end. However, it was apparent that all those present at each centre had been greatly impressed by the speed and efficiency with which the SAAFARI system operates.

The Minister of Transport, The Hon. B. J. Schoeman, M.P. (second from right), inspects a SAAFARI terminal screen at the official opening in Cape Town of S.A.A.’s new reservations system. On his left is Mr. J. G. H. Loubser and on his right is Mr. A. S. Cronjê, S.A.A.’s Manager, Reservations and Data Processing.

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COMPUTERISED DEPARTURE CONTROL

In the photo above, Mr. A. M. Conradie, Chief Execu­tive of S.A.A., signs the Agreement of Lease for RAYTHEON DIDS-400 Series Equipment, for the new Departure Control System, which will be computerised, connected to SAAFARI and be operational by December this year.

The cost of leasing the equipment, which is to be supplied by Raytheon Data Systems Co., of Norwood, Massachusettes, U.S.A., will amount to R22,464 per month.

With Mr. Conradie are from left to right Messrs. J. M. Gillespie, Manager of the First National City Bank of New York S.A. Ltd.; N. S. Louw, Commercial Director, S.A.A.; V. Hall, Managing Director of Aerosignals M. and M. (Pty.) Ltd., local agents for Raytheon Data Systems Company; and W. G. Fries, Contracts Manager of Raytheon Data Systems Company.

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A VETERAN RETIRES

Captain A. J. “Don” Donnelly, one of our Senior Captains, taxied S.A.A.’s Boeing 707, “Durban”, to a halt at Jan Smuts Airport on Sunday, March 28, 1971. to end a flying career which began before World War II. He retired from the service of S.A.A. with effect from April 1, 1971, after 23 years with the airline.

Captain and Mrs. ” Don ” Donnelly photographed shortly after his final flight.

“Don”, as he is known among his flying friends, has logged 18,000 hours during his 30 years of flying, which at the speed of modern aircraft would have taken him almost 500 times around the world.

During the war Captain Donnelly served as a South African Air Force pilot, mainly in Italy. At 55 years of age, he became the second S.A.A. pilot to retire at the extended age limit.

Although he is keen to continue flying, he has made no definite plans and is rostered for an extended holiday with his wife, Evelyn. They have one married daughter and in­tend remaining in Johannesburg.

Captain Donnelly remarked shortly after landing that he could recollect no specific highlights of his career but en­joyed every minute of those thirty years he was a pilot.

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VOORSTELLERS BELOON

‘n Beloning van R100 vir die ontwerp van ‘n nuwe metode vir die op­knapping van verbrandings­kamers in die Pratt en Whitney-enjins is onlangs aan mnr. J. A. Kruger, lugvaarttegnikus (sweis­werk) , op Jan Smutslug­hawe. Ander lede van die lugdienspersoneel wat ook belonings vir voorstelle ontvang het is: Mnr. C. W. Alexander, lugvaarttegnikus (draai- en masjineerwerk), R20 vir die ontwerp van ‘n set­maat. Mnr. J. Saadien, lug­vaarttegnikus (draai- en masjineerwerk), R20 vir verandering aan profiel­ruimer. Mnr. I. M. Bay, lug­vaarttegnikus (radio), R10 vir verandering aan stabi­liseerder se trimrelês van die Boeing 727 – nabootser.

Mnr. J. A. Kruger met sy nuwe ontwerp.

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AU REVOIR TO BABS

Despite concerted efforts by all those present, Babs de Villiers could only raise a shaky smile at her official farewell which was held in the mock-Lip at Jan Smuts Airport on Friday, March 19.

About sixty people gathered to say goodbye to this very competent, popular Chief Air Hostess. Mr. W. Sly, Cabin Services Manager, said that Babs had impressed all with her charm and smiling face which hid a will of steel. Mr. Coen Strydom, Assistant Cabin Services Manager, stated that there had never been as much co-operation between flight personnel and administrative staff as when Babs had been holding the reins.

Babs de Villiers (who is also a qualified maternity sister), joined S.A.A, on 1st June, 1960, as Ground Hostess. She started flying in October, 1963, became a Check Hostess in January, 1969 and soon attained the position of Chief Air Hostess in April, 1970. She readily admitted that it had been 11 wonderful years which she thoroughly en­joyed and that she had a “funny feeling” about leaving.

But she is being retained in the S.A.A, family. On April 17 she married Deon van der Nest who is attached to the Personnel Department. She has also agreed to assist as instructress from June, 1971, for a period of six months.

From all at S.A.A., sincere congratulations to Babs and Deon and every good wish for the future.

From left to right: Neil Haasbroek (new Chief Air Hostess), Babs de Villiers and Deon van der Nest.

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S.A.A. 747 A STAR OF THE SHOW

South African Airways’ main exhibit in the South African Government Pavilion at the Rand Easter Show in Johannesburg, was a 115 feet long mock-up of S.A.A.’s Boeing 747B, the “Tafelberg”. It was approximately half the length of the actual aircraft. The interior was fitted with a limited number of first and economy class seats to give viewers an idea of the seating configuration, but the first class lounge, which could be reached by a spiral staircase connecting the lower and upper decks, was unfurnished. This was to enable a great number of visitors to move freely inside the cabin and to view the lounge and flight deck simultaneously.

Three galleys were constructed in the model, one of which showed the exact detail of the 7 galleys which will be used in the actual aircraft.

S.A.A. has three Boeing 747′s on order with seating capacity for 352 passengers. The aircraft will be fitted with fifteen toilets which will be placed throughout the cabin to avoid the usual early morning queues and to add to^, passenger comfort.

The exhibit was further augmented by three SAAFARI terminal sets which enabled visitors to see how the new fully-automated reservation system functions, and even to book seats on any flight they might have required.

Travel films were shown throughout the day in the cinema at the top end of the exhibition hall.

Air and ground hostesses were in attendance at the S.A.A. counter to furnish visitors to the exhibition with information, and in doing so added a charming finishing touch to the exhibition, which proved extremely popular amongst visitors to the Rand Easter Show.

An exterior view of the Boeing 747 mock-up at the Rand Easter Show.

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INLYWINGSKURSUS - NIE-TEGNIESE PERSONEEL

Nuwe toetreders tot die diens vir nie-tegniese per­soneel van die S.A.L. is onderworpe aan ‘n vyf-daagse inlywingskursus op Jan Smutslughawe kort nadat hulle in diens getree het. Alhoewel dit nie een van daardie kursusse is waar die student oor die finale uitslag van ‘n eksamen hoef te bekommer nie, behels dit nogtans verskeie interessante onderwerpe en lesings. Die kandidate word gekies uit al die nie-tegniese afdelings van die lugredery, maar weens die huidige gebrek aan akkommodasie kan slegs 25 op ‘n keer die klasse bywoon. Bestuurders van verskillende afdelings van die lugdiens word genooi om kandidate oor die funksies en werksaam­hede van hul onderskeie afdelings in te lig. Die nuwelinge word op ‘n toer van die lughawe vergesel en toegelaat om al die vliegtuie van die redery van buite en binne te besig­tig. Hulle besoek ook aangrensende geboue en kantore en die Hoofkantoor in Johannesburg. By laasgenoemde gebou word hulle onder andere deur die atdeling Plekbesprekings en Dataverwerking geneem en van die funksies van SAAFARI vergewis.

Die doe] van die kursus en lesings is om die seuns en dogters te help om aan to pas by die oorskakeling van die skoolbank na die werkbank en om te besef dat as hulle vir ‘n organisasie soos die Suid-Afrikaanse Lugdiens werk, hulle n rat in die groot masjien is wat hulle aan die gang moet hou, afgesien van die afdeling waarin hulle werksaam is. Klem word veral gale op die fait dat elke afdeling van die redery afhanklik is van die ander om die werk te laat vlot. Kandidate begin feitlik hul beknopte vyf-daagse kursus deur te leer hoe om ‘n tydtafel te lees en beëindig dit deur die kontrolestelsel in die stuurkajuit van ‘n Boeing 707 te bewonder.

Alle nuwe toetreders tot die nie-tegniese afdelings van die S.A.L. word ‘n geleentheid gebied om binne hul eerste jaar in die Diens ‘n inlywingskursus by te woon.

Opknappings- en gevorderde kursusse word tans deur die afdeling personeel beplan vir beide jong en ouer lede van die lugdienspersoneel. Die voorneme is om die huidige opleidingsfasiliteite tot so ‘n mate uit te brei dat werk­nemers deskundiges in hul besondere werkrigting kan word.

‘n S.A.L.- inlywingskursus in swang in die Administrasie­gebou op Jan Smutslughawe. Die instrukteur is mnr. E. Vosloo.

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HOE, WAT, WAAR EN HOEVEEL?

„Die S.A.L. beantwoord al u vrae oor buitelandse lugreise”. lees die titel van ‘n nuwe S.A.L: pamflet. En hierdie blaadjie doen presies dit.

Die pamflet is propvol inligting oor die S.A.L. se roetes na Europa, die Amerikas en ook Australië. Dit gee ‘n verduideliking van hoe te werk gegaan moet word as mens na ‘n stad of plek wil reis wat nie regstreeks deur die S.A.L. bedien word nie.

Daar word op gewys dat die netwerk van die S.A.L. se buitelandse kantore in meeste van die wêreld se groot stede, altyd gereed is om die S.A.L. se passasiers met

raad en daad by te staan wanneer daar valuta- of taal­probleme in die vreemde ontstaan.

Belangrike inligting in verband met die S.A.L. se eks­kursiereisgeld, asook watter kortings daar vir kinders op die S.A.L. se vlugte bestaan, word in hierdie pamflet uit­eengesit.

Die blaadjie meld ook hoeveel geld Suid-Afrikaners jaarliks na die buiteland mag neem en hoeveel sigarette en spiritualieë hulle deur doeane mag neem sonder om belast­ing daarop te betaal.

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COMPUTER TRACING SYSTEM FOR S.A.A.

The Airlines Computer Tracing System (A.C.T.S.), operated for the purpose of tracing and matching lost and found baggage and first introduced by a major airline in the U.S.A. some time ago, has now also been introduced by S.A.A. Most of the major airlines in the world are participants to the scheme and by S.A.A., now also having joined, a further facility has been established in connecting “Lost” and “Found” baggage. A.C.T.S. is actually an extension to the Central Lost and Found Office at Jan Smuts Airport, when the latter has been unsuccessful in matching “Lost” and “On hand un­claimed” baggage. Details of such baggage are trans­mitted by telex in a special code to the computer in a final effort to trace either the “Lost” baggage or to find the owner of the “Found” baggage. This development does not change the activity of air stations where normal tracing is concerned, as the sole link with the computer is the Central Lost and Found Office at Jan Smuts Airport (JNBLZSA). However, it is most essential that the right information is provided by stations to JNBLZSA so that effective details can be fed to the computer and in order to ensure the success of the sys­tem.

If tracing at station level after 48 hours has proved unsuccessful, full details are immediately transmitted to the Central Lost and Found Office at Jan Smuts Airport in the prescribed format. In the case of “Found” baggage full details are also transmitted in the prescribed format to JNBLZSA after 48 hours and if the owner has not been located after 72 hours, the baggage is forwarded immedia­tely to the Central Lost and Found Office at Jan Smuts Airport under cover of a “Rush Label” and telex advice of despatch furnished.

The latter office actions all messages received and if unable to establish a match, commences tracing through the Eastern Airlines Computer Tracing System.

The Computer used by Eastern Airlines for ACTS is a Univac 494 with a processing speed in nanoseconds (billionth of a second). The baggage data is stored on mass-storage, random access drums.

Several “Lost” items have already been matched by ACTS with “Found” baggage, and if the staff of participat­ing airlines adhere to the necessary instructions, codes and telex formats, the system should prove most effective and successful.

A section of the Lost Property Office at Jan Smuts Airport. Messrs. Derek Lubbe (Clerk in Charge) and Mr. F. Schrerk, a clerk, are seen checking items of unclaimed clothing and baggage on hand.

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S.A.A. IN THE HOLY LAND

What was possibly the largest group of S.A.A. staff members ever to undertake an Interline tour left Johannes­burg for Tel Aviv on February 17, as guests of EL AL. Leader of the group was a petite bundle of energy, EL AL’S Annette Kofsky, whose infectious personality was largely responsible for a very happy touring party. The party’s introduction to Israel was a midnight bus ride from Lod Airport to Jerusalem followed by a rude awakening in the early morning by a devout gent who yelled his prayers from the top of a nearby minaret. The first day of touring was filled with interest: a breathtaking panorama from the Mount of Olives, a walking tour of the fascinating old city of Jerusalem; a minor riot which occurred in the vicinity of the Wailing Wall; and finally a delightful evening at a typically Israeli nightclub. Highlights of the second day included a trip to Jericho and the Dead Sea, a drive along the Jordanian frontier and Joan Gould’s baptism in the River Jordan. Life on a kibbutz proved thoroughly delightful despite a very general loath­ing of gefilte fish”.

The trip to the Golan Heights was marked by an ex­tremely entertaining “lecture” from Chris Coetzee who waxed lyrical about a tribe of “Druzies” who dwell in a “vallage” below the snow-capped Mount Hermon. Everyone enjoyed a boat ride across the Sea of Galilee and a subse­quent exhibition of high diving by Danie Capes, who seemed undeterred by the prospect of surfacing with a St. Peter’s fish in his mouth. Mavis Forsythe and Joan Gould tried desperately to walk on the waters of the lake, but were lucky to escape a ducking.

Our two bathing fanatics showed the same eagerness to paddle in the waters of the Mediterranean and were it not for Shlomo, the very patient and understanding bus driver, might well have been left behind to spend a cold and windy night on the sands of Caesarea.

A trip to the ruins of Messada, a day of shopping in Tel Aviv and a rip-roaring farewell party at the Hotel Tower brought to an end what had been a very interesting and enjoyable week.

The S.A.A. party photographed on the first day of the tour on the steps of Jerusalem’s Holy Land East Hotel.

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NEW PLATE-MAKING SYSTEM

With the installation of the new 3 M camera plate system (MR-412) in the darkroom at Jan Smuts Airport recently, the output of plate-making can now be increased by approximately 500 per cent. The system is one of the most modern and also one of the cheapest to operate. Apart from the fact that this camera is fully automatic, it also has the advantage that it can be operated in a day­light room, which is not the case with most other systems which produce polyester base off-set plates.

The MR-412 camera can produce 4 plates a minute (press ready) at a cost of 21 cents per plate, chemicals and processing included. This compares very favourably with the 49 cents per plate and 30 per hour of the old camera seen in the background, on the right in the photo. Developing of these plates had to be done in subdued light, while the exposing and developing of the other negative plate type which was produced at an average cost of R1.25 each at the rate of five per hour had to be done in a dark room. The polyester plate produced by the new MR-412 camera is more advantageous, in that it can be stored indefinitely after use, whereas the metal plates could not be stored due to oxidation. With the new camera the backlog of work will soon be brought up to date and thus eliminate delays experi­enced in the past. It will also lighten the burden when additional printing work for the Boeing 747′s starts rolling in.

Thanks to the scientifically-minded staff at Jan Smuts Airport, a chemical has been developed which proves to be far better and more ecohomical than the starter solution supplied by the manufacturers, and increases the average run on a plate from approximately 1,000 to approximately 3,500 copies, with a reduction in cost from R2.45 to R1.00 for the solution.

Another addition to the equipment in the photographic section of the Publications Department is the Combi Multi­-shot Camera. This Polaroid-type camera can take four identical photographs at a time or four different ones in sequence.

At present urgent passport or identification photographs can be pro­duced immediately, where­as in the past a few hours were required to produce a photograph, with the re­sult that the routine work in the darkroom was dis­rupted when urgent photo­graphs were required. The new fully-automatic camera will, therefore, be a boon to the section.

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NA ILHA DO SAL

Mnr, Marius P. Bothma van die S.A.L. se afdeling verkope en bemarking in Johannesburg is aangestel as lugdiensverteenwoordiger op Ilha do Sal.

Dit is die eerste keer dat ‘n Suid-Afrikaanse Lugdiensverteen­woordiger permanent op die eiland gestasioneer sal wees.

Met sewe S.A.L: vlugte wat weekliks daar aandoen, bene­wens ongeskeduleerde landings wat soms om tegniese redes ook op die eiland plaasvind, behoort mnr. Bothma redelik besig te bly maar sy wye ondervinding in die lugdiens behoort hom goed te pas te kom.

Ons wens Marius alle sukses toe in sy nuwe pos en stywe lyne!

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