Flightline Weekly

01/09/2026

The Pretoria Airshow has now firmly established itself on South Africa’s aviation calendar, with the second edition of the event at Rhino Park on Saturday, 29 August delivering a day that combined serious flying with the increasingly important entertainment and family component that modern airshows require.

By Garth CalitzThe Pretoria Airshow has now firmly established itself on South Africa’s aviation calendar, with the second edition of the event at Rhino Park on Saturday, 29 August delivering a day that combined serious flying with the increasingly important entertainment and family component that...

01/09/2026

Cape Winelands Airport is being designed to do something rather more ambitious than simply provide another runway and terminal for the Western Cape. Buried within the airport’s long-term development plans is an idea that could prove considerably more important to aviation than the passenger terminal itself: a dedicated “sky corridor” designed to accommodate drones, VTOL aircraft and other emerging forms of aviation.

By Garth Calitz Cape Winelands Airport is being designed to do something rather more ambitious than simply provide another runway and terminal for the Western Cape. Buried within the airport’s long-term development plans is an idea that could prove considerably more important to aviation than the ...

01/09/2026

Every time you pick up a newspaper or travel magazine, you read about the increase in international travel to and from SA, with many overseas and foreign airlines increasing their flights into South Africa. Mainly tourists and great for the economy, but also many business people.

By Rob Russell Every time you pick up a newspaper or travel magazine, you read about the increase in international travel to and from SA, with many overseas and foreign airlines increasing their flights into South Africa. Mainly tourists and great for the economy, but also many business people.Your....

01/09/2026

South Africa’s airline industry is taking precautionary measures to protect flight operations at Johannesburg’s O.R. Tambo International Airport following an unplanned shutdown at the Natref refinery, highlighting once again the vulnerability of the country’s aviation fuel supply chain.

01/09/2026

There is something rather fitting about Air Zimbabwe returning to London after a 14-year absence. The airline’s last attempt to maintain a regular connection between Harare and the British capital ended not with a grand strategic announcement or a carefully planned network restructuring, but with one of its Boeing 767s effectively being held hostage at London Gatwick.

By Garth Calitz There is something rather fitting about Air Zimbabwe returning to London after a 14-year absence. The airline’s last attempt to maintain a regular connection between Harare and the British capital ended not with a grand strategic announcement or a carefully planned network restruct...

01/09/2026

For most pilots taking delivery of a new aircraft on the opposite side of the world, the solution is relatively straightforward: put it in a container, load it onto a ship and wait for it to arrive. Australian pilot and aircraft owner David Green evidently had other ideas.

For most pilots taking delivery of a new aircraft on the opposite side of the world, the solution is relatively straightforward: put it in a container, load it onto a ship and wait for it to arrive. Australian pilot and aircraft owner David Green evidently had other ideas. Rather than dismantling hi...

01/09/2026

Saab’s latest Gripen has finally done what aircraft are generally expected to do: it left the ground. But while the first flight of a new aircraft is hardly an unusual event in the aviation world, the first flight of the Gripen F represents a significant milestone in one of the more ambitious international fighter-development partnerships of recent years.

Saab’s latest Gripen has finally done what aircraft are generally expected to do: it left the ground. But while the first flight of a new aircraft is hardly an unusual event in the aviation world, the first flight of the Gripen F represents a significant milestone in one of the more ambitious inte...

01/09/2026

The United States Air Force has taken another significant step in the modernisation of its nuclear deterrence forces with the MH-139A Grey Wolf officially achieving Initial Operational Capability (IOC) on August 10.

The United States Air Force has taken another significant step in the modernisation of its nuclear deterrence forces with the MH-139A Grey Wolf officially achieving Initial Operational Capability (IOC) on August 10. The milestone marks the beginning of the end for one of the most enduring aircraft i...