South Africa 2012: HLA+QRA+JNB+CPT
South Africa 2012
This trip were planned as my little brother went to Capetown in South Africa for 6 months in 2012, so my dad and I decided to visit him for a few days. The main part of this trip was not aviation related but I decided to spent 2 days in Johannesburg in ordert o visit Rand, Lanseria and OR Tambo Airport.
We choosed KLM fort he inbound flight because it was a daylight flight which offers breathtaking views of Africa all the way down to Capetown.
07NOV2012
HAJ-AMS KLM Cityhopper F-70 PH-KZK 0:41h
We departed early on a cold and grey morning in Hannover. Flight was smooth and quick. Our connection was a little more than 2 hours so we just took a coffee and went to the departure gate.
AMS-CPT KLM B777-200(ER) PH-BQA 10:56h
This trip were planned as my little brother went to Capetown in South Africa for 6 months in 2012, so my dad and I decided to visit him for a few days. The main part of this trip was not aviation related but I decided to spent 2 days in Johannesburg in ordert o visit Rand, Lanseria and OR Tambo Airport.
We choosed KLM fort he inbound flight because it was a daylight flight which offers breathtaking views of Africa all the way down to Capetown.
07NOV2012
HAJ-AMS KLM Cityhopper F-70 PH-KZK 0:41h
We departed early on a cold and grey morning in Hannover. Flight was smooth and quick. Our connection was a little more than 2 hours so we just took a coffee and went to the departure gate.
AMS-CPT KLM B777-200(ER) PH-BQA 10:56h
Our aircraft was PH-BQA which were already at the gate. The flight was really full but weh ad some luck because the seat between my dad and me was not occupied.
As expected the view down to africa with all their colofull landscape was breathtaking. I can highly recommend it compared to a red eye flight of most all european airlines.
As expected the view down to africa with all their colofull landscape was breathtaking. I can highly recommend it compared to a red eye flight of most all european airlines.
We landed in dark and were picked up by my brother.
The next days were spent with sightseeing etc.
The next days were spent with sightseeing etc.
12NOV2012
CPT-HLA Mango B737-800 ZS-SJK 1:37h
On this day I flew with Mango to the famous airport of Lanseria. Famous due to the fact that you can book a guided ramptour to take some fotos of parked aircrafts. You have to organize it a few weeks in advance.
CPT-HLA Mango B737-800 ZS-SJK 1:37h
On this day I flew with Mango to the famous airport of Lanseria. Famous due to the fact that you can book a guided ramptour to take some fotos of parked aircrafts. You have to organize it a few weeks in advance.
After arrival I went tot he Admin office and got I guide who brought me tot he appron.
After aprox 2 hours it was time to leave for Johannesburg-Rand Airport in style!
I never drove a car on the right side so I didn’t want to rent a car. There were a train connection between both citys but as I checked weeks in advance several user of a south african aviation forum can’t recommend it. So I was not sure how I could come to Rand until someone of this forum offered to pick me up by helicopter and fly me to Rand Airport. To be honest, first I was disbelieving him, I mean seriously a pick up by helicopter by a guy who didn’t know much about me.
He pleased me to get in touch with him a few days in advnace and so I did.
End of it was that he picked me up on time in Lanseria and we flew for half an hour above Johannesburg. It was amazing!
I never drove a car on the right side so I didn’t want to rent a car. There were a train connection between both citys but as I checked weeks in advance several user of a south african aviation forum can’t recommend it. So I was not sure how I could come to Rand until someone of this forum offered to pick me up by helicopter and fly me to Rand Airport. To be honest, first I was disbelieving him, I mean seriously a pick up by helicopter by a guy who didn’t know much about me.
He pleased me to get in touch with him a few days in advnace and so I did.
End of it was that he picked me up on time in Lanseria and we flew for half an hour above Johannesburg. It was amazing!
After arrival in Rand I stayed at the appron and walked from one hangar to another.
After taking some pictures of a few smaller aircrafts I guy approached me and after a few words he asked me from where I am. He was a german too, who were in Rand for some training flights on a Cessna 210. He asked if I like to come with him on a short flight to Tedderfield and I immediatly said yes.
QRA - FATA private Cessna 210 ZS-AVB 0:22h
QRA - FATA private Cessna 210 ZS-AVB 0:22h
We flew to Tedderfield, a very small airfield south of Johannesburg, did some touch and go’s and went fo a final landing. After Landing Guido (the german pilot) met there a friend and we were offered a beer (for me) and coke or water (for the pilots).
After one hour we flew back to Rand and I went to my hotel.
I choosed the Dakota Lodge which ist he place to be for an aviation geek! Wonderfull hotel for a good Price.
I choosed the Dakota Lodge which ist he place to be for an aviation geek! Wonderfull hotel for a good Price.
http://dakotalodge.co.za/
13NOV2012
After some sleep I woke up ad had breakfast in front of some aircrafts, what a great view! After breakfast I went back tot he airport because I managed another guided ramptour in Rand. The firefighter who guided me was great, he open up every hangar I like or even asked ground workers to put an aircraft into a better position for pictures.
After some sleep I woke up ad had breakfast in front of some aircrafts, what a great view! After breakfast I went back tot he airport because I managed another guided ramptour in Rand. The firefighter who guided me was great, he open up every hangar I like or even asked ground workers to put an aircraft into a better position for pictures.
That tour took aprox 2 hours and after that I went to Johannesburg OR Tambo Airport by Taxi.
I went to the terminal fort he domestic viewing deck where I spent aprox 3 hours until my flight back to CPT started.
I went to the terminal fort he domestic viewing deck where I spent aprox 3 hours until my flight back to CPT started.
JNB-CPT Kulula B737-800 ZS-ZWS 1:44h
The flight was very smooth, service is like every other low budget carrier in europe.
The flight was very smooth, service is like every other low budget carrier in europe.
15NOV2012
My dad and I went to the airport and I used the chance for some planespotting from the food court.
My dad and I went to the airport and I used the chance for some planespotting from the food court.
CPT-CDG Air France B777-200(ER) F-GSPA 10:53h
Like the inbound flight, this flight was packed but we had some luck that the seat between us stayed unoccupied. The flight was smooth and we both tried to get some sleep. I woke up east of Barcelona, my dad didn’t slept a minute.
Like the inbound flight, this flight was packed but we had some luck that the seat between us stayed unoccupied. The flight was smooth and we both tried to get some sleep. I woke up east of Barcelona, my dad didn’t slept a minute.
16NOV2012
After arrival weh ad to spend two hours until our last flight back to Hannover departed
CDG-HAJ Regional Airlines ERJ-145 F-GUBE 1:06H
This flight was smooth and I used the chance for a nap.
After arrival weh ad to spend two hours until our last flight back to Hannover departed
CDG-HAJ Regional Airlines ERJ-145 F-GUBE 1:06H
This flight was smooth and I used the chance for a nap.