Starlite Aviation awarded South African Air Force training programme
Date: 30 July 2007
Starlite, based at Virginia airport, Durban South Africa, have been awarded the renewal of the South African Air Force helicopter training contract.
Originally, given as a contract for one year, this has now been confirmed and extended to run over a two year period ending July 2009.
Starlite's training director and shareholder Koos Myburgh says " this will mean that there will be four intakes per year, consisting of eight students per intake each doing 55 hours on the Robinson R22's and 10 hours on the Eurocopter EC120's ( turbine conversion). In addition we will give the students 20 hours of instrument flying training in the multi crew environment. An added value benefit to the SAAF that will enhance their readiness to proceed to the Oryx helicopter. Also included in the training will be Night Vision Google theory training as well as 3 hours of NVG flight training, a facility that is only available in South Africa through Starlite for all civilian training".
He went on to say Starlite were particularly proud of this renewal and extension as " it shows the confidence that the S.A. Air force has in the high standard of training that Starlite offers to all students wanting to learn to fly helicopters"
This is endorsed by the fact that Starlite is known for its high level of training expertise with all the instructors involved, having achieved distinctive experience in their own right over a considerable number of years in the Air force themselves and therefore are aware of the stringent training expectations that are required.
Koos also commented "it is our training objective to offer our expertise to other African and international countries whether it be armed, air or police forces that require such attention. Our SOP (standard operational procedures) training is considered the very best available".
Col. Chris Stroebel of the S.A Air Force commented " The Air Force needs to out-source the basic training and procedures since we are not able to do it internally for some time. Starlite won the tender and we are confident about their ability to maintain their proven level of training excellence"
Rotorhub
