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Kenyan Ab Initio Pilots Arrive
Durban, South Africa - Aug 6, 2009 (PRN):
Once again the Starlite Aviation Group has been recognized as having one of the best training schools and instructors in the world, with the awarding of a new helicopter-training contract from the Kenyan Air Force valued at more than R20million. Thirteen of their fixed wing pilots (11 Lieutenants and 2 Second Lieutenants) who were selected from a special programme have arrived at Starlite Aviation Group Training School in Durban to undertake helicopter-training conversion. All have between 40 - 100 flying hours. Their fixed wing status and ranks include some of their highest-ranking Officers, sure evidence of their country’s Air Force faith and trust in Starlite.
Starlite Aviation Training Schools have trained over 1,500 ab initio students, 120 Commercial Helicopter Pilots and 45 Instructor Helicopter Pilots since its inception - nearly 100 000 hours of instruction.
The Swaziland Air force was trained in collaboration with another training school from 1997-1999. Since this achievement, the training accolades have been numerous. Starlite is contracted to helicopter train the Botswana Police Air Wing (2008 - 2009), as well as the Namibian Police Air Wing (2008 – 2009) and is in the second period of contractual training for the South African Air Force until 2010, having also trained the South African Police Force since 2005. Other training contracts have been the collaborative training of the United Arab Emirates Armed Forces comprising Special Forces pilots and Instructors, UAE Air Force Instructors and the Dubai Police Air Wing Instructors for the period 2001-2004.
PETER ‘MONSTER’ WILKINS JOINS THE STARLITE TEAM
The new Starlite Head Pilot and Aviation Head of Flight Operations is retired South African Air Force Brigadier General, Peter ‘Monster’ Wilkins, who comes with a reputation of unsurpassed achievement and aviation experience which will not be easily duplicated in this millennium.
After matriculating at Maritzburg College he entered the South African Air Force and by 1974 had already been a Pilot in 16 and 17 Squadrons and had graduated to Flying Instructor at Dunnottar. Soon thereafter he obtained an international degree in Aeronautical Science and became the Officer Commanding 16 and 22 Squadrons in Cape Town. His CV reads like a diplomatic novel, covering posts in operations, battlefield command, Search & rescue, task Force operations and Air Defence Attaché for the SA Government in USA, covering a career spanning 45 active years, before joining the Starlite Aviation Group in April 2009.
Monster has more than 9500 hours flying under his wings, with over 500 in fixed wing Harvard and almost 9000 in helicopters across a dozen licenses including Sikorsky S76 and S61. He has completed nearly 150 hours instructing fixed wing and over 1500 hours on helicopter training instruction. This is topped by 3 years of active border duty and 6 months at sea, exceeding an incredible 3244 deck ocean landings.
Monster is highly decorated with over 12 medals for valour and flying or aviation duties of distinction and bravery.
He has joined Starlite as part of the mission to rule the African Sky and expand mission contracts on a global scale, offering one of the fastest mobilisation times, whilst still maintaining only the highest standard of flying, service and support under the most harrowing of aviation conditions.
Monster has also assisted in the writing of the journal Helicopter Training Manual and had written his own book titled Chopper Pilot: the adventure and experiences of Monster Wilkins.
FLIGHT COMMANDER STEVEN LODGE
Flight Commander Steven Lodge is another aviator of acclaim who brings with him to the Starlite Aviation Group, a pedigree of international qualifications, experience and unique skills. He commenced his military career in the British Army as an Air Trooper before graduating at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.
He then went on to Command a troop of Royal Dragoon Guard tanks in Germany before earning his wings and Best Pilot awards for both fixed and rotary.
By 1996 he was Flight Commander over Northern Ireland terrorism operations before becoming Flight Commander of 671 Squadron School of Army as a helicopter instructor.
The next four years were spent in Tactics, Weapons and Warfare training and development of policy and doctrine, before converting to the Rooivalk and joining the SAAF. Steven joined Starlite Aviation Group in January 2009 as Special Operations Instructor with nearly 3000 hours over 12 licenses in the air to enhance the specialised training programme put in place by Starlite Training.
Steve also assists in Grade II R22 Instruction as well as in the preparation of students for night flying and instrument flying ratings. Additionally he has been tasked to develop the tactical training capability of Starlite Aviation to be able to provide training in specific specialised fields of interest such as NVG and Urban Operations.
Steve is rated as an instructor on the AS350B (Squirrel). Together with Mike Bates and Kate Esterhuize he was involved in the training of the Botswana Police on the AS350B in Botswana in the earlier part of the year. 7 students were successfully converted onto the machine and are presently employed in the Botswana Police as Helicopter Pilots.
LIEUTENANT COLONEL MIKE BATES
With no less than 15 flying qualifications and 14 Military achievement Mike joins the crème de la crème of South Africa’s aviation experts at Starlite Aviation Group.
His special expertise comes with extensive Search & rescue, which complements the strategic international and African operations flown successfully by the Group.
His chest too, is covered by decorations for exemplary flying achievements following the high standards he set at school level. Mike is both a flying and a navigation expert and has flown many active combat missions, before entering a career of aviation instruction. He flew Impala sorties as well as Alouette Gun Ships, plus Puma.
Mike has flown and instructed on the famed Rooivalk. Interestingly enough he is one of the many Starlite, skilled instructors and pilots to have come out of the Dunnottar School.
A noteworthy achievement and recognition of his skills is evidenced in the fact that he attended the 83 Jet Flying School and became Flight Commander B – Flight and a permanent member of the Silver falcons Aerobatic Team, renown worldwide.
Presently Mike assists with the training of Grade II instructors on R44’s. He is also actively involved in the preparation of students for night flying and instrument flying ratings, and presents the Aero-D lectures to the Kenyan students. He was also recently involved in the transfer flight of a Puma Helicopter from the Ivory Coast to Sudan via the west coast of Africa into Namibia, then into Botswana, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Kenya and eventually Sudan.
SLADE THOMAS APPOINTED GROUP CHAIRMAN
Following several months of restructuring and strategy development, Slade Thomas, CEO of Starlite Aviation Group has been appointed Chairman and will hand over the management reigns to another aviation stalwart, Charles Bell, the current Director Business Development.
Slade will be concentrating on international relations and remain responsible for the growth of the Group’s Operational Contracts, new initiatives and fleet renewals as well as the challenging task of being Chairman of this ever-expanding aviation Group.
Slade has a pedigree distinction, having won the Air Force Cross for perilous rescue work off the ill-fated Oceanos passenger liner. With over 6300 hours spanning some 24 years, Slade is rated to fly no less than twelve helicopter types in addition to all the requisite ratings to cover most helicopter aviation skills. Born and bred in Durban in 1965, and educated at Glenwood High School, Slade went on to become a Major in the South African Air Force where his last post was at 15 Squadron in Durban. He was the Puma Fleet Flight Commander for three years where he managed 11 Puma helicopters, 22 Pilots and 11 flight Engineers. He was responsible for the Operational readiness of all of the aircraft and personnel, the serviceability of the aircraft and the well being of all of the crews. One of his main aims was to ensure that the force preparation goals met the needs of the Squadron Unit policy. The Squadron Unit policy dictated amongst other things that the Squadron provided Sea Rescue support along the Eastern Sea Board to SASAR, support of the SA Navy, mountain rescues and support of land battle as dictated from time to time by Air Force HQ. He carried out 400 hours of operational flying during the Angolan conflict flying both the Alouette III and Puma helicopters.
In 1994 Slade partnered with a local aviation company to take over the Durban Helicopter Operations. As the General Manager Slade grew the company to a fleet of 36 helicopters, all carrying out a large variety of tasks from offshore ship servicing, training, charter and fire fighting, plus sales and maintenance.
In 2000, after Slade met Karl Kebert, the fledgling Starlite brand was born. Over the last decade this has grown into the world renowned Starlite Aviation Group of companies.
In May 2006, following a number of restructuring processes and Group expansion under Slade’s direction, he took over as CEO of Starlite Aviation Group where today he looks forward to overseeing the continued growth in his new role as Group Chairman
CHARLES BELL – APPOINTED GROUP CEO
Born in Harare September 1962, and married with two children, Charles Bell, newly appointed CEO of Starlite Aviation Group has an illustriuous career in the world of finance and aviation.
He completed an exemplary school career at Peterhouse in Zimbabwe earning 5 A level passes and Honours distinction and surprisingly enough, a number of various other accolades. Charles progressed to the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom where he graduated in 1984 with a Bachelor of Science degree with Second Class Honours (First Division) in Economics & Accounting. Charles began his flying career flying for the Bristol University Air Squadron. In 1981 he obtained a Zimbabwe Private Pilots License. At the end of his degree, Charles moved into the world of finance when he joined Ernst & Young as an Articled Clerk and in 1985 earned a Bachelor of Accounting Honours Degree before passing the Institute of Chartered Accountant’s Final Qualifying exam. Charles was admitted to the Institute of Chartered Acountants Zimbabwe in 1989.
Charles experienced a number of years in key management and financial positions across the wholesale, construction and Information technology industry sectors, being responsible for major and highly successful restructing in both financial operations and IT systems. Charles was significantly involved in the launching of the Makro and Woolworths franchises in Zimbabwe
At the same time Charles was busy securing a host of aviation qualifications including:
Commercial Instrument Rated Pilot (Fixed Wing) Zimbabwe & South Africa
Commercial Instrument Rated Pilot (Fixed Wing & Helicopter) South Africa
Commercial Instrument Rated Pilot ( Helicopter) South Africa Instructor (Helicopter) South Africa
He started his association with Starlite Aviation in 2003 when he relocated his family to South Africa and formed East Wind Aviation where he initially started off as an aircraft owner with 2 Robinson R22 and 1 Robinson R44. This followed fairly rapidly by the setting up of a Ground School operation to support the Starlite Training School. Charles initially provided all of the lectures from PPL through to CPL before becoming involved in providing helicopter flight instruction.
In April 2006 Charles assumed the post of Head of Flight Operations and through East Wing Aviation assisted in the transformation of a number of the business divisions, accounting procedures, branding, web development, marketing, financial restructuring and reporting and HR functions for Starlite Aviation, including developing new business operations and re-engineering the current operations. Charles joined the Satrlite Group as Director Business Development in May 2008 and now takes over as CEO of the Starlite Group during a major expansion phase and a mission to Rule the African Sky.
For more information, contact:
Prepared by Flagship PR for Starlite Aviation Group
Contact: Beverley Theron/ Alan McGregor
031 202 8401
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