Airshow in the country during the African Pilot Annual Best Airshow
Awards
6 October 2006
The Mafikeng International Airshow � only in its second year- has been voted
South Africa's third (3rd) best Airshow for 2006 by the African Pilot-Aero Club
of South Africa. The African Pilot Annual Best Airshow Awards was held at the
Rand Airport, Germiston, this past Saturday, with the theme 'Bringing Aviation
To The People.' The Mafikeng International Airshow 2006 came behind the Africa
Aero Space and Defence, Cape Town, while the Port Elizabeth Airshow took the
honours.
"This is indeed a remarkable achievement for our province, more so that we
have only been in this business for only two years. I'm impressed that we are
indeed succeeding in bring aviation to the people," said North West MEC for
Transport, Roads and Community Safety, Jerry Thibedi.
"The 2006 Airshow in Mafikeng was undoubtedly bigger and even better with
the presence of international participants. As we continue to grow bigger, one
can look forward to yet another excellent Airshow next year. There is room for
improvement," he said.
During the prize giving ceremony it was mentioned that Mafikeng
International Airshow, which was held on Saturday, 7 October, was short-listed
from 18 Airshows in the country and made it to the top five. Included in a long
list of criteria used by the African Pilot-Aero Club of South Africa to judge
Airshows are:
� social responsibility towards the local/regional population
� youth development programmes including aviation education
� display pilot and participants' hospitality arrangements
� overall airshow safety, including any transgressions by individual
pilots
� suitable aircraft and vehicle parking
� initial planning including Airshow South Africa, Aero Club and media
communication
� crowd control access, security planning and policing.
African Pilot-Aero Club of South Africa said within 24 months Mafikeng
International Airshow has improved more than 200% in terms of:
"Planning, managing and executing the Airshow and of utmost importance in
bring aviation to the people." More than 50 participants took part in the 2006
Mafikeng International Airshow but the draw cards were Zolton Veres from
Hungary, and Yurgis Kairys of Lithuania.
Enquiries:
Matshube Mfoloe
Cell: 082 305 4594
Issued by: Department of Safety, Roads and Transport, North West Provincial
Government
6 October 2006
Source: North West Department of Safety, Roads and Transport http://www.nwpg.gov.za)
