Polity
Article by: Hilary Klopper
Published: 26 Nov 2006
Source: Department of Transport
Title: Radebe: Welcomes Airbus A380 and crew
Words of Welcome to the Airbus A380 and crew at OR Tambo International Airport (ORTA) by Mr Jeff Radebe, MP, Minister of Transport
There is something really special about witnessing another chapter in South Africa's illustrious aviation history being written before our very eyes.
The world's largest civil passenger airline the A380 is a spectacular visitor, even though she is only here for such a short time. This is the first time the A380 has cruised through sub-Saharan skies to land on African soil; and we in South Africa are extremely proud that Airbus Industrie has chosen to add OR Tambo International Airport as another international destination to the 25 cities already visited by the A380 for the new plane's technical route proving programme.
This is the largest aircraft ever to fly in our skies and I am sure that the thousands of Johannesburg citizens who have turned out to wave and gawk at the sight have had a thoroughly enjoyable time sharing this momentous event with family and friends - a real aviation carnival for all!
Interestingly, Johannesburg was the venue for the hot and high airfield performance trials of one of the smallest passenger jets, the famous Concorde, which performed successfully for a month here in January/February 1973.
These tests are extremely important for the manufacturers in the long course towards technical certification, but they also have huge positive spin-offs for our Airport construction industry, Airport Company of South Africa (ACSA), the Airports management, and agencies such as the Air Traffic and Navigation Service (ATNS) and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), who will gain valuable experience monitoring progress. The South African Airways (SAA) technical staff, likewise, working closely with the Airbus technical staff also get a welcome bite at the cherry of exposure to this magnificent aircraft.
The significant investment of R512 million, from the R3,5 billion earmarked for the expansion of ORTA, will be used specifically for the A380-related upgrades. We have already invested R100 million in widening the runways and taxiways. For instance, OR Tambo runway has been expanded to 60 metre-wide and taxiways widened to 30 metres respectively.
We have also constructed nine aircraft stands, four of which have been built specifically to accommodate the A380 with dual air bridges to load and offload passengers from the double-decker aircraft. The new central terminal under construction will also accommodate four 90 metre carousels that will take more baggage and reduce passengers' waiting time.
These preparations are in anticipation to accommodating future arrivals of A380s at ORTA as well as Cape Town International and will be put to test during this 24 hour visit. We are therefore grateful to all our agencies and entities for facilitating this event.
Ladies and Gentlemen, the A380 is an aircraft that boasts new applications of new avionics systems, composite materials, and new propulsion technologies and so on. I have watched the development of A380 from an early stage when it was on the drawing boards, through its evolution from millions upon millions of odd-looking components in the assembly plant in Toulouse, and even being able to tour the aircraft that flew at the most recent Paris Airshow. So, I do feel I am justified in saying how happy I am to welcome what has become a very familiar aircraft to me; almost a member of the family.
Congratulations to the flight crew, and the technical staff in the air and on the ground, and to Airbus Company itself, for the successful completion of this leg of your technical route proving programme.
The frontiers of time, air and space are reducing rapidly, and this aircraft has come closest to rivalling the amazing ocean-liners of a different age, and becoming instead a legendary passenger liner of the air.
This is very exciting for us here in South Africa. May I also take this opportunity to wish you a very safe onward journey to Sydney via the South Pole tomorrow, but in the meantime, enjoy our special African hospitality and let us all join in this wonderful celebration of technical innovation, grace and sheer beauty represented by the splendid A380!.
I thank you! Issued by: Department of Transport
26 November 2006