Zimbabwe flying instructors at Langebaanweg
Date: 24 July 2006
By Col Graham Barr
OC CFS Langebaanweg he long awaited arrival of Air Force of Zimbabwe (AFZ) flying instructors and technical staff finally occurred on 18 February 2006. In all, twelve members joined up with their new-found colleagues at Central Flying School (CFS) under the leadership of Group Captain (Colonel) Anthony Viyano, a Cessna 337 pilot and instructor. With him were pilot instructors Wing Commander (Lt Col) George Ngundu and Squadron Leaders (Maj) Gilbert Sibanda, Ezwini Masuku, Maxwell Sakupwana and Vuyo Ncube. The technical staff are headed up by Squadron Leader Simba Mhuru supported by WO1s Lawrence Mlopo and Elvis Kumadiro, and MT (Master Technician, who is also a WO1, but a technical specialist by trade) Peter Mhlanga, Marshell Masanga and Antony Takawira.
These members were invited to join the staff at the CFS as part of a wider plan to incorporate SADC member countries' aircrew into our Air Force. In this manner we hope to be able to benchmark and learn from each other in flying instructional matters, as well as general aviation.
Presently the flying instructors are doing their Astra conversion which should be completed by the end of May, whereafter they will give ab initio instruction and instructor training to qualified pilots on the Instructors Course. There were smiles in abundance after they had completed their first solo flight on the Astra. They were impressed with the aircraft, especially the available power.
Since then, and having completed the technical phase, the AFZ instructors have settled in well and are enjoying the flying and are making new friends easily, the bonds of aviation allowing for easy and relaxed conversation in crew rooms and professional respect in briefing cubicles. No doubt greater bonds still will be formed once our AFZ friends are fully integrated into the various flights. The instructors also welcomed the opportunity to sound each other out about the methodology of instruction used in both air forces, as well as approaches to life in general. In both cases many commonalities were found.
While the flying instructors were flying, their technical staff were converting onto the Astra by completing the technical course. They too were impressed with the Astra's reliability and advanced technical attributes. Their conversion was considerably quicker than that of the pilots and they soon found themselves "mending" what the "benders" had "bent". Pilots are light-heartedly referred to as "benders", while technicians are referred to as "menders".
The AFZ crew came alone, but hopefully it will not be too long before their families join them. From all the staff at CFS we give our new friends a hearty welcome and furthermore hope that they enjoy their tour of duty here on the West Coast. They have been warned that if the West Coast bug bites, their three-year tour might not be long enough for them.
Reprinted with the kind permission of SA Soldier (July 2006)
