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Tag: Pilots

  • Two Ghana Air Force pilots fly solo for the first time

    Two Ghana Air Force pilots fly solo for the first time

    The Ghana Air Force has honored two of its pilots for successfully completing their first solo flights on the K8-P Fighter Wing aircraft, a key milestone in their aviation careers that also contributes to their flying hours.

    The pilots, Flight Lieutenants (Flt Lt) Benjamin Adotey Hermann and Isaac Antieme of the No.4 Strike and Recce Wing, embarked on these solo flights on Friday, August 9, 2024, following months of intense training.

    Flt Lt Isaac Antieme, with around 150 flight hours, received his initial training at the Air Force Aviation University (AFAU) in China, flying the PT6 aircraft. He also flew the Diamond DA 42NG upon his return to Ghana before being assigned to the No. 4 Strike and Recce wing to fly the K8-P.

    Similarly, Flt Lt Benjamin Adotey Hermann, who trained at the AFAU on the PT6 aircraft, later attended the USAF-sponsored Aviation Leadership Program.

    There, he flew the Diamond DA 20 and Texan T6 aircraft, completing solo flights on both. He now has approximately 350 flight hours and has been posted to the No. 4 Strike and Recce wing to fly the K8-P.

    Wing Commander (Cmd) Frank Ato Mills, the Instructor and Commanding Officer of the No.4 Strike and Recce Wing, emphasized the significance of this milestone to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), highlighting that it represents a pilot’s capability to independently manage an aircraft and is a crucial step toward becoming a fully qualified aviator.

    He noted that while this achievement is commendable, it marks only the beginning for these young pilots. Their true operational value will emerge through continued training, experience, and qualification on more advanced aircraft and missions.

    Wing Cmdr Mills also remarked that sharing the experience of first solo flights builds camaraderie and pride among pilots, further strengthening the bonds and understanding within the Ghana Air Force.

    “They shared experience of first solos fosters camaraderie and pride among pilots, strengthening the bonds and understanding within the Ghana Air Force,” he added.

  • Video: Check out poised manner of female pilot as she lands an aircraft in Accra

    Video: Check out poised manner of female pilot as she lands an aircraft in Accra

    Pilots have one of the most rewarding yet challenging professions, requiring them to remain calm in critical situations while expertly guiding an aircraft from takeoff to a safe landing.

    Successfully landing a plane involves several essential steps to ensure a smooth touchdown.

    First, pilots must establish communication with Air Traffic Control (ATC) to receive updates on weather conditions and runway availability. They then follow the designated flight path and altitude as instructed by ATC. The descent begins according to ATC directions, involving a reduction in speed and configuring the aircraft for landing.

    Next, the pilot aligns the aircraft with the runway using visual aids or the instrument landing system (ILS). As the plane nears the runway threshold, the descent rate is gradually reduced. Maintaining directional control with rudder pedals and aerodynamic controls is crucial once the aircraft touches down. Finally, the pilot follows taxiway instructions from ATC to reach the terminal or parking area.

    A video shared on X showcases a female pilot skillfully executing these steps to land an aircraft in Accra. Throughout the process, she remains composed and determined, ensuring a safe and smooth landing.

    Watch video below:

  • Aircraft veers off flight path after both pilots fall asleep in Indonesia

    Aircraft veers off flight path after both pilots fall asleep in Indonesia

    Indonesia’s transportation department to look into a situation where two Batik Air pilots fell asleep during a flight. This information comes from the civil aviation director-general M Kristi Endah Murni, according to the state news agency Antara.

    The pilot and co-pilot fell asleep at the same time for 28 minutes during a flight from Kendari to Jakarta on January 25. This caused the plane to go off course.

    No one on the plane, including 153 passengers and four flight attendants, were hurt during the flight. The plane was not damaged either, according to the KNKT preliminary report.

    The flight BTK6723 flew for two hours and 35 minutes and safely landed in Jakarta, as Antara and the initial report said.

    This news story is still being updated. Come back later for more information.

  • Tanzania plane crash: ‘I tried to save the pilots’- Fisherman

    A fisherman who was one of the first responders at the site of Sunday’s plane crash which killed 19 people in Tanzania’s Lake Victoria, has described how he tried to save the pilots stuck in the cockpit and how he nearly lost his life trying to rescue them.

    Majaliwa Jackson has been officially declared a hero, awarded 1 million Tanzanian shillings ($430; £370), and offered a job in the fire and rescue brigade for his efforts.

    Speaking to the BBC from his hospital bed in the lakeside town of Bukoba before the government announcement, Mr Jackson said he panicked as he saw the passenger plane approach from the wrong direction, before plunging into the lake.

    He rushed to the scene with three fellow fishermen and helped to open the rear door by smashing it with a rowing oar which helped passengers seated towards the rear of the plane to be rescued.

    Mr Jackson said he then moved to the front and dived into the water. He and one of the pilots then communicated with each other by making signs through the cockpit window.

    pilots

    “He directed me to break the window screen. I emerged from the water and asked airport security, who had arrived, if they have any tools that we can use to smash the screen.

    “They gave me an axe, but I was stopped by a man with a public announcement speaker from going down and smashing the screen. He said they were already in communication with the pilots and there was no water leakage in the cockpit,” Mr Jackson said.

    He added that after being stopped he “dived back and waved goodbye to the pilot”.

    But the pilot then indicated that he still wanted to be rescued.

    “He pointed out the cockpit emergency door to me. I swam back up and took a rope and tied it to the door and we tried to pull it with other boats, but the rope broke and hit me in the face and knocked me unconscious. The next thing I know I was here at the hospital,” Mr Jackson said.

    Both pilots are among the 19 confirmed fatalities after the plane – operated by Precision Air, Tanzania’s largest private airline – crashed near the shore of the lake.

    PlaneCharles Mwebeya TBC
    Ropes were used to pull the plane closer to the shore of Lake Victoria

    Of the 43 people on board there were 24 survivors, according to Precision Air.

    Mourners on Monday paid tribute to the 19 victims at a service held at the local football stadium in Bukoba.

    Speaking at the service, Tanzania’s Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa said the government would cover the cost of the funerals.

    Earlier, he said an extensive investigation would be carried to establish the cause of the crash.

    The plane left the commercial capital Dar es Salaam on Sunday and made a scheduled stop at Mwanza before it crashed at around 08.50 local time (05:50 GMT) as it was approaching Bukoba airport.

    The airport has been closed until further notice.

  • Kenya Airline pilots go on strike grounding thousands of passengers

    A strike by Kenya Airways pilots led to dozens of flights being cancelled, affecting thousands of passengers.

    The airline has faced years of losses and pilots are striking over retirement funds and the payment of all salaries stopped during the Covid-19 pandemic.

    The pilots announced the strike in defiance of a court order against industrial action and gave no indication of how long it will last.

    General Secretary of the Kenya Alliance Pilots Association (KALPA), Murithi Nyagah, they had tried to negotiate with the airline.

    “We worked tirelessly throughout last night and shared our revised proposals with Kenya Airways management,” he said. “Until now, we are yet to hear back from them. This once again demonstrates that it is Kenya Airways management’s failure that has gotten us to this point.”

    Kenya Airways is jointly owned by the Kenyan government and Air France-KLM and earlier warned the strike would jeopardise its recovery, estimating losses at $2.5 million per day if the action took place.

    Transport Minister, Kipchumba Murkomen, suggested the strikers were being unreasonable.

    “We respect the views and the concerns of the pilots,” he said.  “We believe they went about it the wrong way and the company and the government of Kenya is willing to listen to the issues they are raising.”

    Angry passengers described huge queues at airports, with many only learning their flights were cancelled when they arrived to check in.

    Among them was Chief Operating Officer, Mobex Africa, Alain Gbeasor, who complained about the lack of communication.

     

    “I think that the least respectful thing KQ [Kenya Airlines] could have done to its passengers was to at least send us an email to notify us of this,” he said.

    “I checked out of my hotel room, I get to the airport and all they do is brandish this paper in front of me, I call back to the hotel and there is no accommodation and I have been standing here for 3 hours. Is that how you work in this country?”

    The Kenya Airline Pilots Association said no Kenya Airways flight flown by its members had departed Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport from early on Saturday.

     

    Source: African News

  • Kenya Airways warns pilots as strike continues

    Kenya’s national carrier, Kenya Airways, has threatened to start disciplinary action against its pilots whose strike has entered its third day.

    The airline has maintained that the strike is unlawful, a position that has been backed by government officials who say the actions of the 400 pilots amount to economic sabotage.

    The national carrier says it cancelled 56 flights over the weekend, affecting some 12,000 passengers.

    Export and importation of cargo such as fresh produce and pharmaceutical products has also been affected.

    The airline now warns that the window for negotiation is closing, and the pilots involved in the strike could face dismissal or legal proceedings.

    The labour ministry on Sunday said the airline was at liberty to take necessary lawful measures against its pilots.

    The government, which is the biggest shareholder at Kenya Airways, said it had invested nearly $500m (£442m) to keep the carrier afloat in the last three years.

    The pilots say the strike is still in full force until their demands are met.

    The want the airline to reinstate contributions to their retirement fund, as well as top managers including the CEO to be fired with immediate effect among other grievances.

    The parties are due to appear in court on Tuesday after the airline acquired an injunction days to the strike.

    Source: BBC