Gilad Urdang wins the AeSSA Frank Carnell award
1 February 2022
The AeSSA congratulates Gilad Urdang from the School of Mechanical, Industrial and Aeronautical Engineering at the University of the Witwatersrand for receiving the Col. Frank Carnell award.
New Chief Executive for the RAeS
11 August 2021
We’re delighted to announce that David Edwards has been appointed as the Chief Executive of the Royal Aeronautical Society in place of Sir Brian Burridge who is stepping down. David Edwards will take over as Chief Executive on 20 September 2021.
AeSSA sends condolences to Her Majesty
10 April 2021
At this time of profound national sadness, as President of the Royal Aeronautical Society might I ask that you convey to Her Majesty the deepest condolences of the Society’s Trustees, Council and Members on the death of His Royal Highness The Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh.
AeSSA mourns the loss of two stalwart aviators
30 March 2021
On behalf of the AeSSA, it is with great sadness and regret that I announce that the South African aviation industry suffered a tremendous loss on 17 March 2021, due to the untimely death of two stalwart aviators: Maj Gen Des Barker (SAAF, Ret) and Col Rama Iyer (SAAF, Ret) of the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SA CAA). Col Iyer was a former Indian Air Force (AIF) fighter pilot.
21st Century Aircraft Design at Sikorsky Aircraft
29 November 2019
Dr Andreas Bernhard, Director of Aircraft Design at Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin Corporation Company, delivered an engaging talk on 27 November 2019 to a good turn-out of approximately 90 in the Senate Room, University of the Witwatersrand (Wits).Bernhard is a South African-educated engineer who has risen to the top of his field of helicopter design.
Thomas Ochabski wins best student presentation prize at AeSSA 2019 Annual Conference
28 October 2019
Stellenbosch University Master’s student Thomas Ochabski walked off with the laurels for his presentation titled A Large Design Space Multidisciplinary Optimisation of a Mixed Flow Micro Gas Turbine Compressor Stage, on 17 October 2018 on day 2 of the AeSSA 2019 Annual Conference. His presentation was evaluated as follows by Session Chair Kevin Jamison: “Thomas had a very well-structured and engaging presentation that also showed real technical merit, presenting a viable approach to the very difficult challenge of optimising the compressor of a mix flow jet engine.”
South Africa could have its own satellite constellation – if it has the will
22 October 2019, Engineering News
South Africa has the technological capability to create its own constellation of nano- or micro-satellites to supply the country, the Southern African region, or even the whole African continent, to enable the implementation of the Internet of Things (IoT) or the Internet of People (IoP) across the country, region or continent, regardless of fibre or wireless network coverage. This was highlighted at the recent 2019 Aeronautical Society of South Africa Conference in Pretoria by Space Commercial Services (SCS) chairman Sias Mostert.
Innovation and passion under the spotlight at Aeronautical Society Conference
18 October 2019, defenceWeb
The theme of this year’s Aeronautical Society of South Africa Annual Conference was African Aerospace: Innovation and Passion and it examined local and international developments, from additive layer manufacturing, test flying the F-35 to local advances in satellite components manufacture.
The revolutionary fighter changing air warfare
17 October 2019, Engineering News
Fifth generation (5th Gen) combat aircraft are totally transforming the nature of air combat, Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II test pilot Billie Flynn has told the 2019 Aeronautical Society of South Africa conference, in Pretoria. The F-35 multirole fighter is the second 5th Gen combat aircraft to enter service, following the F-22 Raptor air dominance fighter (which is also a Lockheed Martin product).
CSIR proposes study into robotic wingman for SAAF
17 October 2019, defenceWeb
A robotic wingman, a type of unmanned aerial vehicle, could be well suited to South African Air Force (SAAF) requirements, says a senior a senior engineer from the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), the South African government’s technology think tank.
Kevin Jamison, a Principal Aeronautical and Systems Engineer at the CSIR outlined what he said was, at this stage, “a sketch of a proposal” on the opening day of the 2019 Aeronautical Society Annual Conference in Pretoria on Wednesday.
Evolution is not just for the birds
17 October 2019, Engineering News
Evolution has played almost as important a role in the development air aircraft as it has in the development of birds, although the timescales are very different, argued Boeing 787 Dreamliner chief test pilot Ricardo Traven at the 2019 Aeronautical Society of South Africa conference, in Pretoria, on Wednesday. (Traven had previously been chief test pilot for the Boeing F/A-18 Hornet fighter.)
Advanced computer games generation setting new fighter pilot standards
16 October 2019, Engineering News
Young pilots, straight out of flight school, are adapting much more rapidly to the latest, most high-technology, fighter jets, known as Fifth Generation (5th Gen) designs, than veteran fighter pilots with many years’ experience. This was highlighted by Lockheed Martin F-35 test pilot Billie Flynn on the first day of the 2019 Aeronautical Society of South Africa conference, in Pretoria on Wednesday.
Regulator needs more capacity to aid SA’s embattled aerospace sector
11 October 2019, Engineering News
Prominent members of the Aeronautical Society of South Africa have called for the capabilities and capacities of the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) to be strengthened so that it can undertake internationally accepted certification of transport aircraft designed and manufactured in South Africa. In an opinion piece published in the September edition of the Newsletter of the Aeronautical Society of South Africa, Danie Loots, Des Barker, Alcino Cardoso and Marié Botha also expressed alarm at the impending shutdown by State-owned defence and aerospace group Denel of its aerostructures business.
GFPA signs up as AeSSA Corporate Partner
1 October 2019
The Girls Fly programme in Africa (GFPA) foundation has become the AeSSA’s latest Corporate Partner. AeSSA Council member Refilwe Ledwaba is the founder of GFPA.
AeSSA appoints Col. George Muller to Council as FTSSA representative
September 2019
The Aeronautical Society of South Africa has appointed Col. George Muller, SAAF Rtd, to its Council as representative of the Flight Test Society of South Africa.
Wits student scoops prize in oral competition at ISSW 32
9 September 2019
Graduate student and AeSSA member Sean Morrow (‘Bloodhound Education Ambassador’) attended the 32nd International Symposium on Shock Waves (ISSW 32) conference at the National University of Singapore in July 2019, where he won the prize for best paper in the student competition.
Pretoria Boys High Aeronautical Society Visit to Wonderboom Airport
August 2019
Plenty of activity and innovation at Wonderboom was woven into an afternoon excursion with, amongst others, AeSSA Council member David Toma.
UJ’s Maneschijn commences aeronautics research
30 August 2019
Dr Anton Maneschijn, senior lecturer in mechanical engineering design at the University of Johannesburg (UJ), has received funding from UJ for an aeronautics research project. This is the first funding received for the project and will cover essential material and equipment for the initial phase of the project.
Wits student wins AeSSA prize for Best 4th Year Engineering project
20 July 2019
Robert Clark, a student of the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits), is the 2018 winner of the annual AeSSA Award for Best 4th Year Engineering or Honours Degree Project.
Alan Nelson receives Paul Harris Fellow Award
12 July 2019
Dr Alan Nelson of the AeSSA’s Cape Chapter received a Paul Harris Fellow Award from Rotary International on 30 June 2019. Nelson receives this award as acknowledgement of his past and ongoing work in social entrepreneurship.
Honorary RAeS Fellowship for Des Barker
11 June 2019 defenceWeb
Retired SA Air Force (SAAF) major general Des Barker has become only the second South African to be awarded Honorary Fellowship of the prestigious Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS). In the 101 years the Honorary Fellowship title has been awarded since the first in 1917, only 191 Honorary Fellowships have been awarded.
Pilot safety: innovation and passion at work in South Africa
29 May 2019
A clip titled ‘The tech keeping planes in the sky’ which was posted by the BBC, gives an intriguing glimpse into the innovative thinking and collaborative efforts, which characterise African aerospace.
More women needed in strategic positions in aviation industry – SA pilot
27 April 2019, fin24
Despite support at grassroots level from organisations like the Airlines Association of Southern Africa, the environment in the aviation industry is not yet enabling for women, according to Refilwe Ledwaba, founder of the organisation Women & Aviation.
Royal aeronautical honourary fellowship awarded
March 2019, World Airnews
World Airnews correspondent major general Des Barker becomes the second South African recipient ever to receive such an award.
Crowdfunding plan for resurrecting South Africa’s Spitfire
25 January 2019, Engineering News
The South African Air Force (SAAF) Museum Spitfire Restoration Project has launched a crowdfunding project to raise money to pay for the construction of a new combined workshop and hangar at the museum’s main branch, at Air Force Base (AFB) Swartkop, in Centurion (south west of Pretoria), in Tshwane.
