Latest News

Rainer Frieboese's 50th year of flying

2010-02-25T15:35:00.002+02:00

Pilots arrived from far and wide at Brits airfield. From as far away as Botswana, Lesotho and Cape Town to help Rainer celebrate his 50th year in aviation. Parked on the immaculate lawns fronting the Wings and Tracks’ hangars were scores of aircraft belonging to proud customers as well as other types owned by friends who visited for the weekend and who were entertained with typical German hospitality. I was honoured to be amongst those who were invited and witness first-hand the passion of the proud owners for their immaculate aircraft. Twenty-seven aircraft including two Casa 1.131-Es (Spanish built Bucker Jungmans) took to the air and flew a salute in honour of Rainer who must surely be one of South Africa’s most prolific and successful builders of aircraft. What a proud moment it must have been for Rainer as he sat draped in a cloak and with a crown on his head to see his handiwork displayed in such splendid fashion.

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Website Revamped

2009-07-22T15:34:00.002+02:00

To our customers and pilot friends

Dear all,

We are proud to announce that the website has undergone a makeover. Our revamped site includes a video presentation and some great new photos including Rainers trip up to Kenya via the East Coast and a Kalahari excursion.

Our news posting system can also be tagged as a RSS feed which will allow you to keep up to date on latest happenings and service bulletins.

For now - Happy Flying

Barbara and Rainer

Temporary Airspace Restrictions from 13 June to 28 June due to the Confederations Cup.

2009-07-22T15:31:00.000+02:00

To our customers and pilot friends

Dear all,

Who are flying Power Planes and Motor Gliders privately, (We are not competent to speak for Commercial Pilots and Commercial Flying Enterprises).

Don’t say “Not again this Temp. Restricted Airspace business!”

In your own interest, please occupy yourself with it. Otherwise it may hit you hard.

In 2010, the Temp. Restricted Airspace Period will last for four weeks!Also, more parts of the country than this year will be affected.

We are making reference to our previous news item and would like to give you some Updates. They are positive! :

IMPORTANT ADVICE

Before you continue reading or before you want to delete this notice, may we give you some ADVICE – even if you do not intend to fly within the Temp. Restricted Airspace this time.

(Nobody can foresee today whether the requirements might not be stricter again next year).

Apply these days for your Security Screening Code (SSC), your unique code. It will cost you only a few minutes and one or two phone calls. It will be to your advantage. Keep it safe, perhaps with your Pilot’s License, for next year. You will have to apply for another SSC for the Temp. Restricted Airspace period in 2010. Being able to confirm your this years SSC, will certainly speed up your screening process next year!

And now some Updates, as we learn that there is still some uncertainty out there among pilots :

TAKE NOTE THAT THERE ARE NO PROBLEMS WHATSOEVER. We had a lot of activity at Brits Airfield between Sat., 13 June and Tuesday, 16 June 2009. Brits Airfield falls under the Temporary Restricted Airspace.

One is allowed to fly through this Temporary Restricted Airspace (but should stay clear of the 5 nm zone from a soccer stadium).

The aircraft must be Transponder equipped.

The pilot (also a Student Pilot, because he is the one who flies the aircraft) has to be armed with:

the SSC (Security Screening Number), which is unique to the person/pilot and valid for six months

the Vetting (Clearance) Number for the Flight Plan

a Flight Plan.

The pilot (also a Student Pilot) has to talk to an ATC or else to FLIGHT INFORMATION SERVICE, if out of reach of a controlled airfield.

Reminder: Close your Flight Plan after each completed flight, when landing at an uncontrolled airfield.

Update on application period for Security Screening Code (SSC) and Vetting (Clearance) Number for Flight Plan.

The 24 hrs application period for the SSC and Vetting (Flight Clearance) Number has been dropped.

There is no need to submit the application in writing. If done though, make a telephone follow-up!

Applications by phone are attended to as follows:

Security Screening Code (SSC) – takes about two (2) hours

Vetting (Clearance) number – given immediately over the phone, the same day a pilot wants to fly.

It is also given ahead of time, i.e. for each day within the period of the Confederations Cup (see above).

If a flight does not take place, the number does not have to be cancelled.

The Security Screening Code (SSC) consists of six (6) letters or figures or a combination thereof – example: 8 N V X 6 Q

The Vetting (Clearance) number/s look/s like this – example:

XL 14 BWLR (for a flight on 14 June)

XL 16 BWLR (for a flight on 16 June)

XL 21 BWLR (for a flight on 21 June)

The Air Force staff has been friendly and efficient. No moaning or any attitude.

(Is an unfriendly reaction not often the response to our own attitude???)

Uncontrolled airfields within the Temporary Restricted Airspace area – for example Brits.

SAPS Policemen are posted to every controlled and uncontrolled licensed airfield within the Temp. Restricted Airspace period.

Since Saturday, we have had two SAPS Policemen here at Brits Airfield by the Clubhouse.

This gave us a new experience which we had not been aware of last week. For every departure, they give the pilot a number, which one could perhaps call “departure” number.

The pilot MUST have his unique SSC and his PPL number at hand, that is entered into a list.

This departure number does not have to be communicated to anybody by the pilot, it merely serves to keep track of the movements on the airfield.

For example:

If you fly from Lanseria to Brits for TOUCH AND GO ONLY, there is no such thing as a departure number.

If you do a full stop landing and you want to depart again, you have to get one.

You also have to file a Flight Plan and get the Vetting (Clearance) Number, unless you have one already.

If you take off from Brits and stay within Brits Airspace (5 nm) or simply do touch and go, you only need the departure number – no Vetting (Clearance) number, no Flight Plan, no Transponder.

We are sure the same applies for other uncontrolled licensed airfields.

Again: Leaving Brits airspace no matter into which direction, the Vetting (Clearance) number, Flight Plan and Transponder are required.

The pilot has to talk to an ATC or else to FLIGHT INFORMATION SERVICE, if out of reach of a controlled airfield.

And no, we are not working for the SA Air Force, the CAA or the SAPS – we are simply keeping our eyes and ears open and want to share with you.

HAPPY LANDINGS!

Kind regards

Barbara and Rainer

Temporary Airspace Restrictions from 13 June to 28 June due to the Confederations Cup.

2009-07-22T15:29:00.000+02:00

Dear Customers and Pilot friends,

You may be aware of the Temporary Restricted Airspace around Johannesburg, Rustenburg and Bloemfontein and some procedures that need to be followed if you want to fly during this time.

There seems to be some insecurity about them. We compiled the information we received from the Air Force and the CAA website in order to assist you, and we trust it is useful for you. This applies for private/recreational flights. Don’t be discouraged to fly. Enjoy your aircraft during this time, especially after these last nasty bad weather days. Just take some 10 minutes and read through the information below, and you will find it causes less headaches than some of you might have anticipated :

You need to follow THREE STEPS, that’s all.

These restrictions do not mean that you are not allowed to fly at all. There are just some procedures to follow..

Airspace affected during the entire period, not only on days when soccer games take place:
50 nm / 80 km radius centered on VORs JSV (Johannesburg), PNV (Pilanesburg), BLV (Bloemfontein),covering the stadiums where soccer games are taking place.

Aircraft flying within the affected Airspace must be TRANSPONDER equipped.

CHARTS/MAPS of the affected Airspace are on the CAA website www.caa.org.za

On CAA website :

Click: Aeronautical Information

Click: Index of AIP Suppl.

Click: S028/09 for information – do not get upset about it, it looks worse than it is, BUT READ IT, important

Click: Temporary Restricted Airspace Johannesburg FIR – Chart 1 and Chart 2
You can enlarge the charts on your computer screen.

After several emails and phone calls to the Air Force, we seem to have received the correct information.This applies for private/recreational flights. For commercial enterprises, it might be a bit different.

There are three steps to follow, very simple:

Security Screening Code (SSC)
Each pilot has to apply to the SA Air Force for a Security Screening Code 24 hours before the first intended flight during this period. This SSC is your very own personal Code, valid for the entire period, even for six months. ID number, Name and personal contact number are required. If not urgent, you may address to the Air Force by fax or email. If urgent, you can phone the Air Force for the SSC and they will phone back within an hour or two. They may even screen you while you wait on the phone and you will receive your SSC immediately.

Tel. (012) 312 2625, Fax (012) 312 2626,
Email : wtr@mweb.co.za
(Office manned for 24 hours)

Vetting Number
Before each flight, contact Air Force for a Vetting Number. If you fly in the morning and go home and you fly again later in the day, you have to ask for a Vetting Number each time. Have your SSC ready for this. You must ask for a Vetting Number for each leg if you are making landings = from A to B; B to C; C to D etc. If you go from A to B, or just depart and return to your airfield without landing in between, you ask for one Vetting Number only. The Vetting Number(s) has/have to be entered into the Flight Plan in field 18.

Tel. (012) 312 2625, Fax (012) 312 2626 (same as under 1)
Email : vetting11@gmail.com
Easiest and fastest way: You will get the Vetting Number by phone.
(Office manned 24 hours)

Flight Plan
One has to file a Flight Plan. If you fly in the morning and go home and you fly again later in the day, you have to file a Flight Plan each time. Have the Vetting(s) number ready, it/they must go into field 18. Flight Plan can be filed by phone or fax with ATC of a controlled Airport (for Gautengers, for instance, Lanseria, Rand). There is no requirement to file your Flight Plan with O.R. Tambo International. Flight Plan can be filed on the day of your flight, just before your flight. There was a requirement that it must be filed 24 hours before your flight, but this was dropped.

Let us know how things went.

Happy landings!

You are welcome to forward the above information to your pilot friends, who may not have had the time to occupy themselves with the procedures.

Kindest regards

Barbara and Rainer