One of our small airlines had a bit of a disaster in December. On take off from Cape Town International Airport they experienced "an engine separation". Hmmm... what's that about?! Well due to poor maintenance the engine fell off. Pilot friends of ours say it is incredible that the captain kept that machine in the air. On takeoff, at full power, you lost all power on one side and are at full ball on the other. Well by some small miracle he kept it in the air, circled to dump fuel, and landed safely. They were grounded by the CAA and checked. All maintenance issues were resolved and they were back in the air in January.
My mum and dad were due to fly from Cape Town to Nelspruit on Wednesday 7th, as they are going to the Kruger Park - to a fabulous private game reserve called Timbavati. On Nationwide. And on Thursday 1st of May it was announced they were to cease flight operations immediately and were placed into provisional liquidation.
Oops... no flight to Nelspruit for Granny and Grandpa. And no refund.
It would've cost them so much to cancel the trip because all the accommodation and transfers had been paid. So we went on a mission to get them there. After hours and hours of trying and nothing going their way, we've done it!!!
They are having to fly to Johannesburg and get a shuttle the 350km to Nelspruit. But there was no shuttle suitable to get back to Johannesburg so we eventually managed to find a flight from Hoedspruit back to Johannesburg, and another back to Cape Town. What a nightmare, but thank goodness it is sorted now!
Mum and Dad, have a fantastic holiday!
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