This week in Midweek Updates
Aero Club Communique # 11 of 2026.
Three months to go to this year's AirVenture Oshkosh.
The Sling experience lands in Friedrichshafen. From South Africa to the world - meet us at Aero.
Vandalism and theft leave historic SAAF base dependent on generator power.
US Air Force extends A-10 Warthog through 2030.
SkyDrive becomes Japan's first eVTOL developer to earn “Approved Design Organization” certification.
Air Canada unveils next generation Glowing Hearted Cabins.
Airbus and partners sign NH90 Block 2 architecture study contract.
This day in history - Carl Benjamin (“Ben”) Eielson and George Hubert Wilkins, M.C. and Bar, flew from Point Barrow on the northern coast of Alaska across the Arctic Ocean to Spitsbergen, Svalbard, Norway
Worldwide Incidents and Accidents
Bonus video - Douglas DC 3 75th Annivesary 2010
Aero Club Communique # 11 of 2026
Good day to all our Aero Club members and the GA Industry. This Communique contains news about the 12-year engine issue. 12-Year Engine Rule. The SACAA CARCom meeting was held yesterday. The proposal to amend Part 43 with its Annexure 3 which includes the Condition Monitoring Program was approved for promulgation.
The regulatory process must now be followed. This includes, among other requirements, that the text is translated into Afrikaans and a review of the amendment is done by the Department of Transport before the Minister of Transport can sign the amendment.
It was mentioned that the SACAA may request a quicker promulgation process to ensure that promulgation of the approved Part 43 amendment is done sooner. It seems that this process will be implemented. However, at this stage, it is not possible to commit to any timeline or date when the promulgation will be finalised.
I enclose below the 19th Media Statement of the AIC 18.19 Task Team which also gives information about the Part 43 promulgation.
CARCOM APPROVED PART 43 FOR RECOMMENDATION TO THE MINISTER FOR PROMULGATION NOTICE TO ALL PARTICIPANTS AND AFFECTED PARTIES
Following the standard CARCom process, Part 43 was approved by CARCom yesterday. The outcome was supported by the voting members representing the Aero Club of South Africa (AeCSA) and the Commercial Aviation Association of Southern Africa (CAASA), ensuring that the interests of this sector were fully addressed.
The next phase of the process involves the legal teams of the Department of Transport and the South African Civil Aviation Authority CARCom reviewing the regulation to ensure legal accuracy and compliance. This includes standard translation into both English and Afrikaans.
Thereafter, the Minister and her office will consider the recommendation. If accepted in its current form, the regulation will proceed to promulgation.
The Regulator has previously indicated that promulgation may be requested on an urgent basis, rather than being included in a future amendment cycle. It is anticipated that this approach will be followed.
In the interim, industry continues to engage in good faith. While early interim relief has been anticipated, no approvals for Alternative Means of Compliance (AMOCs) or exemptions have been granted to date. All such requests have been declined, and there is currently no indication of appeals being pursued, given the advanced stage of the regulatory process and the shared objective of avoiding any disruption to its finalisation.
For further information or media enquiries or interviews, please contact:
• Kevin Storie, CEO of CAASA, kev@caasa.co.za
• Walter Doubell, Acting Chairman AeCSA, walter@aeroclub.org.za
• Morne Kleinhans AWAC, morne@awac.org.za
The Sling Experience Lands in Friedrichshafen From South Africa to the World - Meet Us at Aero
Germany-based Slingers, friends, and aviation family,We're packing our bags, polishing the aircraft, and heading off to one of the biggest events in general aviation-AERO Friedrichshafen, happening 22nd to 25th April at Messe Friedrichshafen, Germany! If you love aircraft, innovation, and all things adventure as much as we do… this is where you want to be! This year, Sling is showing up in a big way with a strong team from South Africa and across Europe ready to talk all things flying, building, and exploration.
What you can expect.
Our official Sling distributor, Aircraft Builders Europe, will be front and centre with the Sling High Wing on display at Hall B3 Stand B3-405-so you'll be able to get up close and personal with our latest aircraft. James Pitman, Andrew Pitman, and Greg Blyth from Sling HQ in South Africa will also be joining forces with Johan Koekkoek, Paul Versteeg, and Wilmer Koonstra-so whether you're deep into technical questions, dreaming about your first build, or just want to talk flying adventures, the Sling crew will be there for it all.
But the highlight of the week?
Let's just say you'll want to keep Friday, 24 April at 11h00 open. Something special is happening at our stand involving ROTAX Aircraft Engines-and it's not one you'll want to hear about second-hand. It also marks a very important milestone in the Sling High Wing story, including a first for Europe that we're incredibly proud of. We're not going to say too much more… but if you're at AERO Friedrichshafen, make sure you find us. Slingers, builders, pilots, press, and curious minds alike-you'll want to be there for this one. Bring your coffee, bring your camera, bring your connection, bring your excitement.
And we're not done yet…
Dirk and Diana Drees from Apfelkuchen Flugzeugbau will be at Hall B3 Stand 510, and their stand is basically aviation storytelling in real time. You'll see Sling TSi, PH-DTI on display, the fuselage of their latest kit build, and even witness the RH wing being assembled live on the stand. It's part workshop, part video diary, part “how is this even happening in a trade show hall???”-and 100% real, raw aircraft building. Apfelkuchen Flugzeugbau isn't just about building aircraft-it's about showing the journey, the setbacks, the wins, and everything in between.
Then, looking ahead to the future of flight...
The team from Cellsius Aero will be at Booth A7-305. These are the young innovators behind the e-Sling and H2-Sling projects. While they won't have a full aircraft on display, they will be showcasing a scale model of the H2-Sling and sharing their exciting work in hydrogen and electric aviation technology. Basically… the future right there on the stand.
So, whether you're there for the aircraft, the innovation, the people, or just the pure love of aviation-come find us, say hello, and be part of the Sling story at AERO Friedrichshafen.
We can't wait to see you there.
Blue skies and big smiles,
Team Sling
Three months to go to this year's AirVenture Oshkosh
The Wright B Flyer - set to make demo flights at Oshkosh
3 months to go to this year's AirVenture Oshkosh and some exciting announcements from EAA as to unique aircraft appearing at this year's show. Amongst them will be the Wright B Flyer from Dayton, Ohio. This design from 1910 honours the development of the Wright brothers' designs in the short period following the successful 1903 inaugural flights at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. The Wright B will also re-create the earliest days of powered aviation with flights during the AirVenture afternoon air shows on Tuesday, July 21, and Thursday, July 23. These flights will take place with weather and operational considerations permitting
The Douglas World Cruiser Replica - Seattle II
A first-time visitor to Oshkosh will be the Seattle II, a replica built a decade ago to commemorate the famed Douglas World Cruiser aircraft that made the first successful global circumnavigation flight in 1924. The reproduction was completed in 2013 and first flown in 2014.
The Douglas World Cruiser was developed to meet a requirement from the United States Army Air Service for an aircraft suitable for an attempt at the first flight around the world
US VISA APPLICATIONS
While US visa applications are starting to run tight for this year's tour, new visa applications are still possible. Advertised dates on their website for an interviews at Johannesburg and Durban are 2.5 months and Cape Town 3.5 months. However, past and present experience has taught us that cancellations do come up. Our advice is complete the visa process and book you appointment, even if the date is too late. Then monitor the site and grab an earlier date when a cancellation comes up.
Those who have had a US visa previously - if it has expired within the last 4 years, a visa interview is not necessary, after completing the on-line D160 form, your application just needs to DHL'd to the consulate.
2026 CATERED CAMPING TOUR
Evenings in the SA Campsite
2026 Camping Tour to Oshkosh
Please note - at his stage places on Alpha and Charlie Tours (Johannesburg and Cape Town) are becoming very limited, if you have not yet secured your space, do it now! BOOK HERE
Alpha Tour (ex Johannesburg), Bravo Tour (ex Durban) & Charlie Tour (ex Cape Town)
Departs South Africa Friday 17 July, return South Africa Tuesday 28 July
Delta Tour (ex O'Hare Airport, Chicago)
Departs Terminal 5 O'Hare Saturday 18 July at 17h00, returns to O'Hare Sunday 26 July at aproximately 15h00
Vandalism and Theft Leave Historic SAAF Base Dependent on Generator Power
By Kim Helfrich www.defenceweb.co.za The SAAF memorial and AFB Swartkop are components of the Air Force Mobile Deployment Wing. Picture: Guy Martin.
The oldest base in the SA Air Force (SAAF), now one of three components in the Air Force Mobile Deployment Wing (AF MDW), is dependent on generators for its power needs. The reasons for this, Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Member of Parliament (MP) Thapelo Mogale was told by Defence and Military Veterans Minister Angie Motshekga, are theft and vandalism. His Parliamentary question does not give specific dates when the MDW was in the dark - so to speak - with the written response to his question appearing on the Parliamentary Monitoring Group (PMG) on 9 April so the lack of electricity appears to be an ongoing issue.
This because his question is not the first regarding the lack of power at MDW with Democratic Alliance (DA) defence and military veterans point man Chris Hattingh given much the same answer as Mogale in June last year.
Motshekga's written response to Mogale makes it clear MDW Central, comprising what was Air Force Base (AFB) Swartkop, home to 17 Squadron and the SAAF Museum, is the only part of the broader MDW where generator power is used. The other MDW components are Snake Valley (MDW East) on the eastern side of the base and the former SAAF Gymnasium (MDW West) opposite the base proper on the western side in Valhalla.
On the northern side of the MDW is the SAAF Memorial on Bays Hill which, according to Motshekga, is part of the MDW area of operational responsibilities due to co-location.
Mogale was informed theft and vandalism has escalated to the extent there is no Eskom electricity on the base. It is part of the area supplied by what is said to be the Eskom Lyttelton electricity grid with two sub-stations vandalised and day-to-day operations supported by 11 mobile generators ranging in output from 15 to 250 kVA (kilovolt amperes), a measure of apparent power representing total capacity of an electrical system, different to kW (kilowatt) which measures usable power.
Diesel use for the generators varies between 12 000 and 16 900 litres a month which, the Motshekga reply has it, cost the SAAF between R237 840 and R 334 958 a month for the 2025/26 financial year at a per litre price of R19.82.
In addition to his inquiries about electricity supply to MDW last year, Hattingh was informed of problems caused by ground subsidence - the base and adjacent areas are all on dolomitic ground - affecting base roads as well as water and sewage infrastructure.
Vandalism, in the form of wanton damage to the Bays Hill SAAF Memorial on the MDW northern boundary, was first reported in November 2023 with “security options” under investigation to prevent further incidents.
In response to a DefenceWeb inquiry at that time, the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) Directorate Corporate Communication (DCC) said sensors, alarms as well as permanent guards and sentries were among options under investigation to secure the memorial.
“In the interim,” the response read in part, “the protection squadron will conduct the site in their nightly and early morning rounds”. This presumably refers to 500 Squadron, the security services unit assigned the MDW as its area of responsibility along with 501 and 502 which looks after the nearby TEK base, home to 68 Air School.
“In the medium term, the Acting Officer Commanding AF MDW will erect double fencing around the inner perimeter of the Memorial Site and place K9 units between the two fences at night,” the DCC response said, adding costs and lead time investigations were underway and “will be confirmed once a contractor has been selected”.
Also on security at the facility, bounded by the Johannesburg/Pretoria highway on the east and the Old Johannesburg Road on the west, DCC noted in its 2023 response it was “not adequate”. This was put down to a personnel shortage in the security squadron and implementation of what was termed “safeguarding” as a regimental duty. This would see all personnel based at MDW, irrespective of where and assigned to which unit, do duty at their respective force structure elements and sections guarding “own assets”.
US Air Force extends A-10 Warthog through 2030
The United States Air Force is going to keep the A-10 Warthog in service through 2030, Secretary of the Air Force Troy E. Meink announced reversing a retirement timeline set to conclude in 2029.
The decision comes as A-10s have seen increased involvement during Operation Epic Fury in Iran.
A-10s have provided close air support in maritime operations in the Strait of Hormuz and were involved in the recent search and rescue mission that recovered two downed F-15E airmen.
The fiscal 2026 NDAA called for 103 A-10s to remain in service through September 2026, with a transition to full retirement by 2029. It remains unclear how many A-10s will remain in service through 2030.
As the Air Force accelerates plans to retire the A-10 Thunderbolt II by fiscal year 2030, the service faces a growing set of unanswered questions about what replaces it in combat search and rescue, one of the military's most specialized mission sets.
SkyDrive becomes Japan's first eVTOL developer to earn “Approved Design Organization” certification
SkyDrive has officially received Approved Design Organization (ADO) certification from the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau, under the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. SkyDrive is the first dedicated eVTOL developer in Japan to achieve this prestigious certification. The ADO status serves as official public proof that SkyDrive possesses rigorous quality control and safety management systems regarding its capabilities for aircraft design and post-design inspection. This achievement marks a definitive step forward in the commercialization of eVTOLs and the establishment of a next-generation mobility ecosystem in Japan.
Arnaud Coville, Chief Technology Officer, SkyDrive Inc. commented: "Earning ADO certification is a testament to the relentless dedication of our entire team. From our engineers to our quality management specialists, we have built a world-class safety culture from the ground up. This is a watershed moment for the social implementation of eVTOLs in Japan. We will continue to collaborate with regulatory authorities and our partners to accelerate the realization of a safe, trusted, and accessible air mobility revolution."
Harald Nagler, Head of Airworthiness and Type Certification, SkyDrive Inc. stated: "The ADO certification grants us the authority to verify and guarantee the integrity of our designs internally, which is a game-changer for the efficiency of our Type Certification process. This allows us to move with greater speed in design iterations and compliance testing. We are now more confident than ever in our ability to meet our 2028 commercialization goals."
This certification is equivalent to the Design Organisation Approval (DOA) issued by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency and the Organization Designation Authorization (ODA) by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration.
The Approved Organization System is a framework in which the MLIT audits and certifies whether an organization's capability to conduct its operations meets specific standards. Within this system, the ADO certification is granted to organizations that possess the systems necessary to properly execute aircraft design and post-design inspections. By obtaining this certification, organizations are authorized to conduct a portion of the inspections typically performed by the government, thereby streamlining the development process.
Air Canada Unveils Next Generation Glowing Hearted Cabins
Air Canada recently detailed its most significant cabin investment, unveiling new long-haul cabin designs at the Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg, Germany. The first major expression of its new Glowing Hearted standard, the design delivers a distinctly Canadian experience, emphasizing comfort, care, and connection for all customers on every flight, while signalling the airline's bold growth ambitions.
The completely reimagined cabins will appear first this summer on the A321XLR, which offers a true lie-flat Air Canada Signature Class experience for the first time on a single-aisle aircraft. The introduction of the new Airbus A321XLR will be a game changer, unlocking new trans-Atlantic routes and allowing Air Canada to offer an upgraded, premium journey across more of its North America transcontinental network. The new cabin design featuring the exclusive Air Canada Signature Plus Suite will launch when the Boeing 787-10 enters service.
Air Canada's new Glowing Hearted design standard will deliver a range of thoughtful upgrades for every customer, including: All-new ergonomic seats designed to maximize personal space with built-in tablet holders, and larger overhead bins. Significantly larger 4K OLED screens and Bluetooth audio available for all customers.Access to high-powered USB-C and AC power outlets at every seat, ensuring laptops and all personal devices stay fully charged.Air Canada Premium Economy cabins will also feature new extended privacy wings for added comfort.
The cabin updates are headlined by distinct premium products that will be available on the airline's newest aircraft.
On the Airbus A321XLR:
For the first time on a single-aisle aircraft, Air Canada will introduce 14 lie-flat Air Canada Signature Class seats, setting a new standard for single-aisle comfort on longer journeys.4K OLED IFE screen (13-inch in Economy, 19-inch Premium Cabins) with Bluetooth audio.
On the Boeing 787-10:
Air Canada Signature Plus, a new and exclusive suite at the front of the aircraft, designed for customers seeking an elevated experience with extra space. The suites in the centre of the aircraft also offer companion seats for use while in cruise.
All four suites include a larger (2-metre/6'5”) bed, quartzite-topped table and a dedicated guest seat, with more space for personal items and a higher wall for additional privacy. The two centre suites feature a fully retractable sliding privacy panel, maximizing sociability for up to four customers travelling together. 4K OLED IFE screen (13-inch in Economy, 16-inch in Premium Economy, and up to 27-inch in premium cabins) with Bluetooth audio.
Airbus and Partners Sign NH90 Block 2 Architecture Study Contract
The NATO agency in charge of the NH90 programme, NAHEMA, has signed a contract with NHIndustries (a consortium between Airbus, Leonardo and GKN Aerospace) to launch the NH90 Block 2 architecture study. The Block 2 upgrade will include key structural improvements to the aircraft such as modular avionics, greater configuration commonality, improved maintenance and performance, as well as new capabilities in the fields of collaborative combat, connectivity and crewed-uncrewed teaming.
“The NH90 has recently reached 500,000 flight hours, a testimony to its maturity and operational relevance, as well as its continuously upgraded capabilities. The Sea Tiger and the NH90 Standard 2 are establishing themselves as the state-of-the-art benchmark for naval and tactical operations and we are already preparing the midterm evolution of the NH90 with the Block 1 upgrade. The signing of the Block 2 contract now marks a decisive step in ensuring the NH90 remains at the forefront of European defence for decades to come,” said Matthieu Louvot, CEO of Airbus Helicopters. “As NATO and its member nations define the future of vertical lift, Airbus and its partners are committed to evolving this proven platform to meet the most demanding operational challenges of the future battlespace,” he added.
This two-year architecture study will ensure industrial continuity by building upon the achievements of the Block 1 programme while evolving the platform for the 2040+ operational environment. Guided by high-level requirements defined by NAHEMA and the participating nations, the study will run in parallel with the European Next Generation Rotorcraft Technologies (ENGRT) initiatives. The goal of the architecture study is to deliver the critical technical outputs necessary for NAHEMA and the nations to evaluate and select the upgrade design options that best align with their long-term sovereign capability needs.
15-21 April 1928
Carl Benjamin (“Ben”) Eielson and George Hubert Wilkins, M.C. and Bar, flew from Point Barrow on the northern coast of Alaska across the Arctic Ocean to Spitsbergen, Svalbard, Norway. The distance was approximately 2,200 miles (3,540 kilometers). The crossing took about 20 hours, and was the first Arctic crossing by air. Their airplane was a Lockheed Vega, civil registration NX3903, the third aircraft of the type to be built.
Eielson and Wilkins had made a prior attempt about a week earlier, but attempting to take-off with a crosswind, had damaged the skis on the Vega. A spare set made of wood had been brought along and these were installed and after some delay, finally took off on April 15th.
Poland, Kikity (EPKI): Uncontrolled activation of the throttle by the pilot while stationary before the runway threshold. The aircraft surged forward and rolled downhill due to gravity. The pilot was uninjured, but the aircraft sustained significant damage.
Poland, Zborowo Airfield (EPZB), Zborowo, Dopiewo, Poznan: A Socata TB9 Tampico experienced an engine failure after take-off from Zborowo Airfield (EPZB), Zborowo, Dopiewo, Poznan. During an attempt to return the aircraft crashed short of runway 28 in a field and came to rest upside down. Both occupants were not injured and the aircraft was written off.
USA, near Union County Airport (35A), Union, SC: A Mooney M20J 201, N1151H, was destroyed when it impacted trees and terrain while on final approach to runway 5 at Union County Airport/Troy Shelton Field (35A), Union, South Carolina. The pilot and three passengers sustained fatal injuries. Preliminary information indicates the airplane experienced engine issues during cruise flight at 6,000 ft. The pilot was vectored into 35A by ATC. The pilot conducted a high speed low pass over the airport to lose altitude and airspeed. At ~1711:20, the airplane was at 1,800 ft when it entered a base-to-final turn for runway 5. The airplane was unable to reach the airport and impacted trees 0.25 short of the runway threshold. Weather conditions at the time were unremarkable with no winds.
