South African Airways (SAA) and the South African Air Force (SAAF) will, execute an aerial fly-past to celebrate President Cyril Ramaphosa’s inauguration, over the Union Buildings in Pretoria.
An SAA A330-300 and several military aircraft will execute the fly-past in what will be a demonstration of SAA’s tradition at the presidential inauguration as the proud carrier of the national flag.
A fly-past is a deeply emotional experience, both for the airline and for the people who witness it. It is an act of every South African flying the flag with pride both physically and emotionally. It is SAA’s opportunity to demonstrate the best of what the airline does, showcasing the skill of our crew and the capability of our aircraft at moments when the nation comes together to mark important milestones.
The historic fly-past will be operated by a team of five captains, under the leadership of SAA’s Captain Thomas Williamson, a certified flight instructor and head of training at the airline. He will be joined in the cockpit by Captains Gavin Durr, Koketso Rakokolo, Lee Peters and First Officer Nandi Moloko.
SAA is grateful to its partners – PetroSA, Engen and the Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) as part of honouring our vibrant nation, the pride of the airline, and the people of South Africa.
Fly-past preparations and the fly-past itself may be tracked on social media by following the hashtag #SpotSAA on social media platforms.