FLIGHTS

Cruise news: There are no more 4-berth or balcony cabins left on SI030, the 17 Feb Sinfonia cruise to Portuguese Island.

The Purple shall rule! "Airlink crew and ground staff are truly OUTSTANDING

Chris Ndaliso (Weekend Witness, 12 November) puts a more realistic story forward than that of Jan-Jan Joubert and Ugen Vos (The Witness, November) regarding the emergency landing of Airlink flight 8739 on Thursday evening. The article in the Witness on Friday was a communication of Alec Hogg's views, and certainly did not adequately highlight the outstanding way in which Airlink crew and ground staff managed the emergency, and took care of the passengers. I was a passenger on the aircraft, and have made approximately 190 trips (probably more, but I will be conservative), on Airlink since 2004. I have been a regular flyer on the Pietermaritzburg to Johannesburg flight since 1994. After the way that we were rescued and cared for on Thursday night, I will still proudly state that Airlink is my carrier of choice.

I make reference to the article by Any Pepperell in Timeslive.co.za, and support and add to his sentiments. The pilots, Harm Kallenberg and Chris van Rensburg, and the cabin crew, Nicola Haag and Felicia Mafunge, were absolutely outstanding in the way they managed the emergency. The pilots managed the situation exceptionally well, and the landing was near-perfect. 72 passengers and four crew owe our lives to these pilots. Nicola and Felicia were professional and calm throughout the two-hour experience, despite their own fear. They were truly excellent. The articles in The Witness on Friday and Saturday make inadequate reference to the superb communication that the passengers received from the pilots and the air hostesses. During the two hours that it took to burn off the fuel before the landing, the passengers were professionally and adequately briefed by the pilots and the cabin crew. We were familiarised with the emergency chute procedures, and chute teams at each end of the aircraft were "trained". The cabin was made safe, and the "brace" position was rehearsed. I am sure too, that excellent control-tower staff were guiding and advising the pilots.

I am of the opinion that Alex Hogg has taken some licence in his report to the Witness. Comments that he made are not fair to Airlink in terms of how professionally the situation was handled. Obviously Airlink and Avro must investigate the mechanical failure - but it is important that Airlink's handling of the emergency landing and the aftermath is appropriately recognised and acknowledged. The crew on flight 8739, and the amazing ground crew in OR Thambo, under the leadership of Crystal Baxter and Innes Bester, were truly outstanding.
In addition to the fact that we are all alive and safely home, all the belongings that we had left on the aircraft were quickly recovered from the wreckage and returned to us (wallets full of money, laptops, shoes, spectacles).
It should also be acknowledged by Pietermaritzburg flyers that the OR Thambo emergency services are NOT Airlink's responsibility, nor should Airlink be held inappropriately responsible for any inefficiencies that were experienced. ACSA should be held accountable for these inefficiencies, NOT Airlink.

God truly spared us, was with us, and watched over us, and the regular flyers from Pietermaritzburg would like to thank all these people for saving our lives." Flic

The Bottom Line: According to a report, South Africa's tax system is ranked number 1 amongst emerging market countries for its ease of compliance burden & efficiency. E-filing has reduced the amount of paperwork required. In global rankings, unfortuanately, SA has fallen back 12 places.