Wonderboom National Airport
Over the past few weeks, I have learned that Wonderboom National Airport is undergoing a makeover and is now ready to address the many operational challenges that have plagued the airport since 2017, through 2018 until the end of January this year.
This well-loved airport has recently shown how quickly things can change for the better if the right ‘pilot’ is in control.
Before the disastrous appointments of private companies to manage the airport in 2017, Wonderboom National Airport had a stable environment with a bright future. It steadily grew into one of South Africa’s most important and busiest General Aviation hubs and was known as a model airport. At the time the airport also served the wider public with scheduled flights between the Capital City (Tshwane) and Cape Town operated by Airlink. Unfortunately, from 2017 onwards, the airport suffered from disastrous political interference and seemingly questionable management practices. At the time, the tender for the running of the airport was awarded to an external management company that claimed to be leaders in the aviation industry. From then onwards there was such noticeable deterioration to the airport facilities that the Wonderboom Airport Interest Group (WAIG) had to take the Tshwane Municipality, the licence holder of the
airport, to seek an urgent application from the High Court to discontinue the appointment of further outside contractors. Based on the court ruling, the City of Tshwane did not have any option, but to return the management function of running the airport to people who had previously provided excellent service to it. The present management team is now focusing on normalising the functions of the airport, whilst urgently addressing many non-compliant issues which the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) identified under the watch of the private contractors. The airport was also downgraded by the regulator due to many non-compliance issues, which the current team is now addressing. The team is working very hard to achieve a status upgrade to return the airport to its former category, in preparation to re-instate scheduled flights as well as obtain international status.
In the interim, the responsibility for the airport has been returned to Pheko Letlonkane, who is the City of Tshwane group head for roads and transport. This seemed liked the right thing to do, because Letlonkane is clear about his commitment to restore, upgrade and develop the airport. He also encourages interaction with tenants because his focus is for the restoration of a working relationship with them.
African Pilot is pleased that the City of Tshwane acted quickly and in the best interest of its stakeholders and tenants as soon as it realised that the companies that had been appointed to manage the airport and ensure compliance in terms of the regulations were unsuccessful. When the City took back its once-proud asset, it appointed Hendrik Kleynhans as acting airport manager in February 2020. This is a position to which Kleynhans is well accustomed because he was acting airport manager during the years when the airport operated
as a Category 5 when scheduled flights were introduced. At that time, Kleynhans had already started with preparations to upgrade Wonderboom to a CAT 6 airport.
The airport also is undergoing a major clean-up in the critical areas to ensure that it is a safe facility. History was made in the first week of February 2020 when a large team of dedicated people ensured that the airfield grass was cut in record time. It was important to minimise the disruption to normal flight operations run by the many aviation schools at the airport. Therefore, a total of 22 tractors and 80 grass cutters were deployed to cut the grass in the manoeuvring area. The current management team has identified a number of other operational issues that will now be addressed to normalise the airport again, ensuring ongoing sustainability into the future. The non-compliance issues are a high priority and a turnaround strategy is in place to address them, as well us to upgrade the airport back to a Category 5 airport. Plans are also afoot to further develop the use of the airport as a real legacy project beyond 2020, because Wonderboom National Airport is a focus area for strategic, high-impact public investment. It is located close to a variety of resources and amenities, whilst bulk freight and transport infrastructure is already in place, meaning that the region has high potential for business growth. The immediate potential development area stretches from the industrial hub of Rosslyn and Akasia in the west, to the N1 in the east. It is separated from the historical Pretoria Central Business District (CBD) only by the natural boundary formed by the Magaliesburg mountain range.
Wonderboom National Airport has a rich history of more than 81 years and it plays a central role in the goal to increase the flow of business and travel to the region. As part of this growth target, the City of Tshwane plans to reintroduce an airline passenger service to and from Cape Town as well as other destinations. The City recognises the airport’s vast potential towards ensuring that the capital city is recognised as a major international tourist destination, amongst others. For example, the terminal building is capable of handling 450 passengers inbound or outbound per hour. In the past, when Wonderboom National Airport primarily serviced general aviation and helicopter movements, passenger numbers amounted to between 6 800 and 12 000 per year. The target is at least 80 000 passengers for the first year after scheduled flight operations are introduced again: then 120 000 for the second year and 150 000 for the third year. Thereafter, the intention is to gradually increase the total number to 1 million passengers per year. The year 2020 started on a good note for the airport as it is now more than ready to meet the challenges of the past and the expectations of the future.
The fall and rise of Wonderboom Airport
Before 2017: The airport enjoyed steady growth over the years and was regarded as one of the busiest airports in the country. It operated as a Category 5 airport; had introduced scheduled flights and was well on track to obtain international status. The airport was managed by employees of the City of Tshwane.
2017 - 2019: An outside contractor was appointed to address security and safety matters, as well as to manage the airport. This contract was renewed twice whilst costs continued to escalate. However, the management of the airport ended in disaster with a long list of non-compliant issues, identified by the SACAA in November 2019, which was part of the reason why this company tendered its resignation from managing the airport.
Jan - Feb 2020: Whilst a court date is awaiting, a new service provider started at the airport to manage it. This company was also removed from this role after the High Court suspended the appointment on 11 February. In the interim, the Wonderboom Airport Interest Group (WAIG,) in the interest of the airport’s tenants and stakeholders, requested the High Court to discontinue the appointment of service providers at the airport and to appoint a correctly qualified airport manager.
12 February 2020: Hendrik Kleynhans, a City of Tshwane official who previously managed the airport in the halcyon days, was re-instated as acting airport manager.
“Aviation runs through the Hustler blood”- Alan Hustler
Established at Wonderboom Airport in 1988 by Alan Hustler and his son Marc Hustler, Aero Maintenance Centre (AMC) has comprehensive Aircraft Maintenance Organisation (AMO) SACAA approved licences. This means AMC is in a position to provide all types of maintenance from a Piper J3 Cub through to a King Air 300 and most aircraft types between the two.
With a combined experience of 86 years spanning 32 years of continuous maintenance of light aircraft, AMC strives to deliver competitive pricing and excellent service levels. AMC is a proud family business that spans three generations of the Hustler family.