African Aviation Research Articles

Air transport in Africa: toward sustainable business models for African airlines

Although there is a vast amount of literature on airline business models and their evolution in changing global landscapes, there is a general lack of research into the applicability of those models, traditionally defined in European and North American contexts, to the African scene. Implicit in this study is the hypothesis that the African environment is unique enough to warrant its own host of strategies, which may be distinctive enough to form part of a new strategic template, or business model. Initially, a review of existing literature is undertaken to profile the African aviation environment and evaluate existing airline business models and their evolution, both globally and in Africa. The methodology consists firstly of a cluster exercise, whereby 57 African airlines are analysed in terms of their network and size, to yield a number of heterogeneous groups which serve to identify the current business models of airlines on the continent. Following this, eight airlines (representative of the groups outlined in the cluster analysis) were subsequently selected for analysis in terms of the Product and Organisational Architecture framework. While it was evident that the traditional models are followed in Africa, in some instances variations were apparent. Full-service network carriers and regional carriers were concluded as being the most prominent and stable in the African market. The applicability of the low-cost carrier model in Africa was also examined at length, with mixed results. The analysis also raised network density and connectivity as essential components of business models for delivering profits in an African context.

The South African Air Force, 1920–2012: A Review of its History and an Indication of its Cultural Heritage

Although a South African Aviation Corps existed for a few months in 1915, and although several South Africans saw action in World War I as members of Britain’s Royal Flying Corps, the history of the South African Air Force (SAAF) – the world’s second oldest air force – strictly speaking only dates back to 1 February 1920. In this article, a review is provided of the history of the SAAF, with specific reference to its operational deployments in the 1920s; the difficult years of the great depression and its aftermath and impact on the SAAF; the very important role played by the SAAF in the course of World War II (for example in patrolling South Africa’s coastal waters, and in taking part in the campaigns in East Africa and Abyssinia, as well as in North Africa, Madagascar, Italy, over the Mediterranean and in the Balkans); the post-war rationalisation; its small but important role in the Korean War; the acquisition of a large number of modern aircraft and helicopters from the mid-1950s to the mid-1970s; the impact that sanctions had on the SAAF; the SAAF’s role in Northern Namibia and in Angola during the war years, 1966–1989, and the SAAF in post-apartheid South Africa. Throughout the article, historiographical matters are mentioned by means of references – either in the text or in footnotes – to the most important available sources.

The repercussions of the global financial crisis on the tourism industry in Egypt

The Implications of the Global Financial Crisis on the Tourism Industry in Egypt. This study aims at identifying the implications of the global financial crisis on the'Tourisrn sector in Egypt. The study also revealed the negative implications of the financial crisis on the tourism and aviation sector in Egypt, as well as on the foreign investments allocated .to the tourism sector in the destination. Additionally, the negative impact of the global financial crisis has extended to the employment sector in Egypt, particularly the tourism and hotel sector, as well as the services associated with it. The study finally suggests some recommendations that could help the tourism sector in Egypt in lessening the negative impacts of the financial crises. Among these recommendations is; the Ministry of Finance should cooperate with the tourism sector during the financial crisis in terms of offering a partial or total deduction of the sales tax on all the tourism services in the destination. Also the principal tour operating companies in Egypt should merge in order to reduce the cost of its services through the economies of scale, especially after the losses that affected its key operations due to the financial crisis. Similarly, the Egyptian national carrier should merge, with other similar Arab and African aviation companies so as to reduce its operational costs, particularly offering tax exemptions on the fuel in order to reduce the price of its tickets during the financial crisis. Finally, the tourism and hotel sector in Egypt should implement a social programme that aims at encouraging all the tourism establishments to prevent redundancies as an immediate response to the financial losses incurred as a result of the global financial crisis. Instead, it should positively exploit these circumstances through conducting extensive human resources training programmes in order to improve its performance which will reflect on the quality of its services, hence be capable of sustaining the negative implications of the financial crisis.

Challenges of sustaining growth in African aviation: the case of Jomo Kenyatta international airport

The average annual growth in African passenger traffic throughout the 1990s was 7% and in a region where only one in every 20 people have access to air travel, the prospects for further growth are substantial. However, the region faces significant challenges in meeting this growth including infrastructure development, financing, safety, security, public policy and regional liberalisation. This paper explores efforts at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi, Kenya to meet these challenges and position itself as an East African hub.

Neutron radiography and other NDE tests of main rotor helicopter blades

A few nondestructive examination (NDE) techniques are extensively being used worldwide to investigate aircraft structures for all types of defects. The detection of corrosion and delaminations, which are believed to be the major initiators of defects leading to aircraft structural failures, are addressed by various NDE techniques. In a combined investigation by means of visual inspection, X-ray radiography and shearography on helicopter main rotor blades, neutron radiography (NRad) at SAFARI-1 research reactor operated by Necsa, was performed to introduce this form of NDE testing to the South African aviation industry to be evaluated for applicability. The results of the shearography, visual inspection and NRad techniques are compared in this paper. The main features and advantages of neutron radiography, within the framework of these investigations, will be highlighted.

Sustainable development in African civil aviation: problems and policies

This paper explores recent developments in African civil aviation in the context of the movement toward domestic deregulation and international liberalisation of air transport markets. Traffic increases, international funding and support of safety initiatives, airline privatisation, and liberal bilateral agreements have all combined to produce potential new growth and development in African civil aviation which has historically lagged far behind that of the rest of the world. Efforts should now focus on preferential measures to ensure competitive access for developing national carriers, increased efforts to strengthen multilateral cooperation in the region, and national policies to create related and supporting industries.

Implications of the Yamoussoukro Decision on African Aviation

Implications of the Yamoussoukro Decision on African Aviation