20 September, 2002, JOHANNESBURG: South African Airways’ (SAA) will perform a spectacular flypast at this year’s aerospace exhibition in Pretoria on Saturday.

More than 200,000 spectators are expected to attend Saturday and Sunday’s Africa Aerospace and Defence 2002 (AAD2002) at Waterkloof Airforce Base in Centurion.

The twelve-minute routine in one of SAA’s Boeing 747 aircraft tomorrow and a 737-800 on Sunday aims to highlight the airline’s Cadet Pilot Training Programme.

Each of the two routines will include 3 flypasts and Touch and Go landing at a slow speed. The aircraft will also be spiralled up a few thousand metres, illustrating its power and return to Johannesburg International Airport.
The perfectly rehearsed manoeuvre will be in close view of the public with the landing gear extended.

A live link-up will give the public up-to-date commentary from the plane, piloted by Captain Dennis Spence together with Captain Bastie Botha, SAA Fleet Manager. Captain Kenny Rossouw will control the 737-800 on Sunday.
Information about the Cadet Pilot scheme, which recently retuned to South Africa from Adelaide, Australia will also be commentated.

The programme, which is aimed at historically disadvantaged backgrounds, has found a new home at 43 Air School in Port Alfred.

SAA Technical will also be available at the event to provide information about the world class maintenance facility.

The AAD2002, which is the only one off its kind on the African continent, will run until Sunday.

More than 24 countries are participating in this year’s event, giving each of them the opportunity to network locally and internationally.

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