Expresso January 2014

c o r p o r a t e n e w s c o m pa n y e v e n t s l i f e s k i l l s

sa express employee magazine january 2014

@flysaexpress facebook.com/saexpress

my sax storyamanda kandawire

2 expresso | january 2014

contents03 Goodbye Madiba

04 Customer Feedback

05 My SAX Story

06 Insurance Zone

07 Staff Briefing

08 Bayer Training

09 Board of Directors

10 Wellness Days

11 Inkosi Christmas Programme

12 ICAD 2013

13 Women in Aviation

14 Travel

15 Grooming

16 Recipes

talk to expressoExpresso is all about you. We want to know what you think, what you’re doing and what you’d like to share with the rest of SAX. Send your input to [email protected], Please send us your favourite recipes, holiday pictures and any interesting company news. We would love to share them with everybody.

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3expresso | january 2014

We hoped the day would never come, but it did on 5th

December 2013 when we had to say goodbye to our beloved Madiba. We were blessed to have him in our lives for so long and we will forever remember him as a statesman, a philanthropist, a politician, a fighter, a humanitarian, and a forgiving and accepting human being unlike any other, before, or since.

As we say “hamba kahle” we must remember the lessons he taught us.He was always the epitome of a leader-by-example in his own quiet, inimitable way. He led from the

front but never forgot those at the rear. He led from behind by empowering those in front of him, and he never lost sight of the people who meant the world to him.

He recognised that all South Africans are fundamentally the same. We share a land, a history and, more importantly, emotions, spirit and patriotism, and he brought us together as no man has ever managed to achieve previously. He viewed adversities as opportunities to fight for a new life for all of us.

He saw the world as finely nuanced, intricate and complex and his solutions for reconciliation were pragmatic. His guiding credo was always: “What is the end I seek and what is the most practical way to get there?”

The key to understanding him is to see his change from the headstrong and emotional youngster who walked on to Robben Island in 1964 and the balanced, disciplined and mature man who emerged after 27 years in prison. He described it thus: “I came out mature; there is nothing so valuable – or rare – as a mature man”.

Tata, you have done your work. Now it is time to rest. You walked to freedom with us but now we let you walk on to eternal peace with our love and prayers enveloping you.

Goodbye Madiba


Dear Patience

I would like to personally thank you for everything

you did to help me recently. You worked until late to

arrange everything for me, including writing a letter

for my boss’ attention and arranging all my new flight details.

Your contact with my company’s travel office was also

excellent. As a result, everything went 150% well!

You were absolutely in control and did a great job – and not

just for me, but even for the passengers who were rude to you.

You are an absolute asset to your company!

Thank you very much.

Kind regardsAJ van Heerden

Dear Customer Care

After an early morning flight,

followed by Johannesburg traffic, a

day-long meeting, and more traffic, I

eventually found myself waiting for my flight back to

East London in the afternoon.

Our boarding was delayed because a shuttle was not available

to take us to the airplane. Hot, exhausted and hungry, I grumpily

boarded the plane, but still smiled back at the SA Express staff when

they welcomed me aboard. The captain and his crew were extremely

efficient and they were able to get us in the air in no time. The delay

was soon forgotten.

When the stewardess came to offer a snack, I asked her what it

was and she replied that it contained beef. I had forgotten to indicate

my meal requirements and politely declined by explaining that I don’t

eat beef.I dozed off for a minute or two with my head resting on my hand,

thinking that it was going to be a long and hungry hour and ten

minutes. Then I was woken unexpectedly by the stewardess, who

had returned with a vegetarian meal. It felt like she had pulled a rabbit

out of a hat!This is not the first time the SA Express staff has come to my

rescue with regards to meals and I must say that they have never

failed to deliver in terms of customer satisfaction. It is things like

these that help to make a person’s day that much better. To top it off,

we also landed on time.

Regards Shamir

Dear SA Express

What a delight my flight was. As I come from a test flight development environment, a prop aircraft is still the ultimate in flying and the De Havilland Dash 8 Series Q400 Turboprop stretches beyond expectations. Having being privileged to “swing a prop” in my days in order to start the engine, it was always a scary experience and looking at the Pratt & Whitney engines, I am glad I am rather short and mature in age, so that nature fortunately didn’t allow me to reach these props.

The onboard service – from the first mike call, to the in-flight updates – was exactly what a passenger needs. The saying “a fish stinks from the head” proved the opposite as Captain Paul Prinsloo and his crew – Samantha Pereira Da Ribeira, Tiffany Prince and Rowan Botha – showed just what the collective effort of tremendous and excellent team work can achieve by making one want to come back and fly SA Express again and again.I really need to commend everyone (even the back stage support), for bringing us wonderful flying memories to live and relive what flying is all about.

Thank you and best regards,Albert Roodt

customer feedback

Good day,

I recently flew on a 06h00 flight from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth. I was woken up at 05:07 by a call from our airport transfer company. I was scheduled to be collected at 05:00 but due to an alarm malfunction I hadn’t woken up as planned at 04:00! I arrived at the airport at 05:40 and was thrown into a whirlwind of excellence. A check-in employee at Platinum allowed me to jump the queue so that I could get my ticket. Next thing, a porter was called in to rush me past the waiting queues, through the security checkpoint and then to the boarding gate. Next a bus was commissioned to get me to the plane. The sky check compartment – already closed – was then opened to allow me to drop off my luggage. I was then ushered to my seat by a polite air hostess. Not once did anyone complain that I was late or make me feel that I was holding up the plane, which, of course, I was!It is a pity that I didn’t get any names. I was too frazzled for that. But I am totally taken aback by the service I experienced today. Please find the employees who assisted me and pass on my heartfelt thanks.Today I have been made to feel like a valued customer.Thank you.

Marlin Goss


my SAX story

my sax storyI am originally from Soweto, and am the only child of

a Malawian father and a Xhosa mother. My love for fly-ing was sparked at a very young age. It all started with the first flight I took as a little girl to the Eastern Cape to visit my grandparents. After that I was hooked. I knew what I wanted to do when I grew up and I knew flying would be my ultimate dream.

amanda kandawire

I joined SA Express in January 2013 as a Mach 2 cadet and what an awesome first year it’s been!

I started flying straight out of high school and enrolled for my training at the South African flight training academy at Rand Airport. Thanks to a student loan I was able to obtain my private pilot’s license (PPL).

My parents could not afford to pay for any of my stud-ies, so I got a job working as a flight operations cadet to help pay for my training. With that, a little money from loved ones and a big scholarship I was able to obtain my commercial pilot’s license.

It took me a few years to get a flying job, so while I was waiting for my flying time to come I got a job at

Comair working as a flight operations controller and also started volunteering for a non-profit organisation called

the Southern African Women in Aviation and Aerospace Industry (SAWIA).

The organisation is all about the empower-ment of women in the aviation sector. We run programmes through-out the year, particularly aimed at girl children, in order to give girls expo-sure to different careers within the industry.

Some of the girls I have met through our programmes are similar to me when I was in school. They all have a keen interest in and passion for flying but sadly don’t have the financial means to pursue it. They are the reason behind me starting the Ladybird Fund. It is a scholarship fund for girls who want to become pilots.

The fund aims to assist them to kick start their careers by sponsoring them with a PPL. As a fundrais-ing initiative towards this cause I have produced a 2014 calendar and all the proceeds from calendar sales will go towards the fund.

The calendar features female pilots from across the country, two of whom are first officers at SA Express.

I do photography part time, so naturally I did all the calendar shoots myself. I love flying and this fund is my way of giving back and trying to help those who have the same dreams as I do.


Our pension and provident funds reside with Liberty Life under the aegis of Insurance Zone, however, we have our own board of trustees that oversees the entire exercise from the selection of contribution categories to the selection of risk profile categories.

The trustees are drawn from both the employer and employee groups within SA Express. Employer trustees are all EXCO members and employee trustees are elected by the staff. Both groups have equal representation on the board and one person is the principal member. In our case, this person is Captain Dave Allanby. The other employer trustees are Kgatile Nkala (this year’s Chair), Zanele Ngwenya and Brian van Wyk, while the employee trustees are Captain Jan Henning, Precious Mazibuko and Dayle Littlefield. We are short of an employee trustee following the departure of Richard Manthe, however HC will shortly begin the process of selecting somebody.

Trustees are required to meet every quarter and a quorum must be present at each meeting because we play a vital role in helping fund members make sound financial decisions and, in turn, accept responsibility – jointly and severally – for any mismanagement of funds. Although we are insured for such eventualities, we must remain vigilant and exercise due diligence

with all decisions made for and on behalf of our members. We are assisted with this by the very able and competent people at Insurance Zone and Liberty Life.

We are also responsible for ensuring that death and disability benefits are paid fairly and as rapidly as possible. This is not a simple exercise because many of our members have large extended families and also because we have employees both in and out of South Africa.

insurance zone and sa express trustees

company news


Our latest quarterly staff briefing took place on 29th October during which we were brought up to date on current affairs in our company. We always enjoy these gatherings because it is essential that we be included for us to feel a sense of belonging and ownership in the company.

staff briefing

company news


company news

Bayer is situated at 27 Wrench Road, Isando, which is only a ten minute drive from OR Tambo, yet a world away from the old training establishment at In-flight Services!

The building is clean, green and absolutely beautiful. As one pulls into the office park, one is met by tinkling fountains, pristine surroundings and immaculate service. On entering the annex, wherein our offices lie, a restful yet modern and utterly efficient reception welcomes guests and staff alike.

Our wing is beautifully appointed, has natural light and every office has windows that open! This is such an exciting and unusual phenomenon for us and is a godsend for the people working there.

The building houses a wonderful canteen which should rightly be called a restaurant. It has both an inside and outside seating area and the verdant garden contributes to restful and revitalising coffee and lunch breaks.

Bayer’s corporate culture is an important factor in the company’s success and also the functioning of tenants. Central to this culture are their values: Leadership, Integrity, Flexibility and Efficiency, summarised by the term LIFE.

The values provide guidance for daily work as the company seeks solutions to the major challenges of our time, in line with their mission statement: “Bayer: Science for a Better Life.”

The Bayer Spirit is the umbrella for all people initiatives and there are three main categories:

• Creating a great place to work• Achieving your personal best• Refining people systemsIt is exceedingly easy to live by these values

in such an impressive environment. We wish our colleagues many happy working years. We are officially jealous!

bayer training and planning department


In terms of the Companies Act we must have at least three directors. In addition to the minimum number of directors that the company must have to satisfy any requirement – whether in terms of the Act or its Memorandum of Incorporation – it must have enough directors to appoint an audit committee and a social and ethics committee.

A company’s Memorandum of Incorporation may specify a higher number in substitution for the minimum number of directors. Our Memorandum of Incorporation calls for a minimum of three directors and a maximum of 12, the majority of which must be non-executive and at least two to be executive (CEO and CFO). We currently have ten directors.

The Board should hold sufficient meetings to discharge all its duties, but is required to hold a minimum of four meetings per year.

The shareholder appoints the directors on the grounds of their knowledge and experience which, when considered collectively, should enable the board to attain the objects of the company. The non-executive directors are appointed for a term of three years which is reviewable annually, providing that no person is appointed as a director for more than three consecutive terms.

They have the authority to exercise all of the powers and perform any of the functions of the company, except to the extent that the Company’s Act and the Company’s Memorandum of Incorporation states otherwise.

the board of directors events, people & places


On 3rd and 4th December, we held our annual Discovery wellness days at head office. The philosophy behind wellness is that prevention is better than cure and is not just the absence of pathology. Screening for common conditions such as high blood sugar, high blood pressure and general health can bring attention to conditions before they become serious. It is usually easier to treat diseases in their infancy. HIV/AIDS screening, with pre- and post-counselling was also available.

An important concept in wellness is BMI, or body mass index, which is a measure of body fat, based on height and weight, and applies to adult men and women. Although useful it is not 100% accurate because it does not consider your muscle mass or your body shape, such as apple or pear. It must therefore be used only as a guideline. Waist measurement is also a sound indicator of a healthy body mass and should be below 88 cm in both men and women.

BMI Categories: • Underweight = less than 18.5• Normal weight = 18.5 – 24.9 • Overweight = 25 – 29.9 • Obesity = 30 or greater Maintain your weight by doing moderate intensity exercises like brisk walking, swimming, gardening or jogging for 30

to 45 minutes every day. Muscle and bone strengthening activities, such as lifting weights, prevent loss of bone density related to aging.

The online assessment from Discovery presents a general pattern of mental and physical wellbeing and takes into account the number of hours spent sitting and working, daily portions of fruit, vegetables, alcohol and caffeine, stress levels and amount of exercise done.

Our executives are required to undergo medical examinations annually and, because of their workload, these can be done by a nurse on our own premises.

We should all take care of our health even if we are not required to be tested formally and regularly. Both flight deck and cabin crew undergo aviation medicals ranging from once every six months to every two years depending on their age and whether they are cabin or flight deck crew.

By attending the wellness days at our offices, we not only receive Vitality points but, more importantly, we are made aware of areas of concern that we can then address appropriately.

Wellness days

events, people & places


inkosi christmas programme

The CSI (corporate social responsibility) unit was asked by the Richards Bay team to be part of the Inkosi Project Eighth Annual Children’s Christmas party by donating gifts and participating in the planned activities for this very worthy event which was held on 30th November. The event attracted over 3,000 disabled, orphaned and underprivileged children between 3 and 13 years old from Richards Bay and greater Zululand.

Organised events included a street procession from Umhlathuze Municipality to create HIV/AIDS awareness, an address by the Mayoral office and speeches by various motivational speakers.

Each child received a hamper, Christmas gift, breakfast and lunch. There was also entertainment, games, waterslides and a jumping castle. Busses and private vehicles were used to transport the children from various communities.

Because the Inkosi Organisation works with disabled children, we inquired if there were any children in need of wheelchairs because we saw this as a practical gift with long term benefits. We were told that 16 children with cerebral palsy did not have wheelchairs. We naturally jumped at the opportunity of “paying it forward” and personally experiencing the utter joy of seeing immobile children get “legs”!

CSI focuses on health as well as disability and we secured the 16 wheelchairs (branded with our logo and colours) and donated them as a way of enabling the children to move about more freely.

The event took place during 16 Days of Activism and allowed us to participate in something that will change these children’s lives forever as well as allow them to have faith in people and in their own future.



SA Express was invited to participate in ICAD at Tempe Airport in Bloemfontein from 4th to 7th December. ICAD’s intention is to expose youngsters and their teachers to aviation and the opportunities available for careers in the industry. Mango, SAA, SACAA, ACSA and SA Express, among others, exhibited. We were very well represented by Kathreen and Ratolo and the entire event ran smoothly.

The marquee in which the luncheon was to be served was beautifully decked out in pinks and greens with an abundance of exquisite flowers adorning every table. The weather was beautiful and boded well for the air show on Saturday. Entertainment was provided in the form of some traditional dancing, and music was supplied by a well equipped DJ. Prior to arriving in the marquee the dignitaries toured the exhibits hall.

The main event, which took place on 6th December at 1130, was scheduled to be a wonderful party but given the devastatingly sad circumstances of Tata’s passing, it became a somber and retrospective memorial to him. As the dignitaries’ entered, the crowd stood and we all sang our national anthem and observed a minute of silence to reflect on Tata’s passing.

The programme director, Boitumelo, led the gathering in song and the voices rose in unison with a plaintiff and very moving farewell to him. Thereafter, we had a brief inter-denominational service to say a formal goodbye to allow him to go “home”, as the pastor explained. Although Madiba’s life called for celebration, nobody felt up to being joyous that day. The shock was far too great.

icad 2013



I belong to organisation called Southern African Women in Aviation and Aerospace Industry (SAWIA). It is a registered non-profit organisation (Reg # NPO 089-579) dedicated to the empowerment of women in aviation and aerospace in the Southern African Development Community Region.

A key objective of SAWIA is to increase the meaningful contribution to a more equitable representation of women at all levels in the Southern African aviation industry.

In order to achieve this, SAWIA aims to show young women from all walks of life that aviation is an exciting and viable career choice for women.

As part of a fundraising initiative we produce an aviation calendar annually. I shot the 2014 calendar which features a different South African aviatrix each month. Two of our first officers are being featured in the 2014 calendar: Nandi Mbele and Riette Strydom.

The calendars cost R200 each and order forms are available at [email protected]. The proceeds from the calendar sales will go towards the Ladybird Fund, a scholarship that I have started to be able to empower girl children.

Women in aviation calendar By amanda kandawire



At Raptor Retreat Game Lodge the warm scents of wild lavender and sunshine empower your senses and raise awareness of the wild bush breathing around you. It is an escape from turbulent city life to a place where time stands still and untamed nature looks you in the eye, making you feel the true majesty of being alive and acknowledging that the wilderness shares a heartbeat with you.

Raptor Retreat is an owner-managed game lodge, offering luxurious accommodation and unequalled service. The lodge is in the Parsons Nature Reserve in the Mopani region, approximately 40 km north of Hoedspruit.

Parsons Nature Reserve forms part of the Greater Kruger National Park, and this unspoilt corner of South Africa is renowned for its abundant wildlife, mountainous scenery, indigenous forests,

cascading waterfalls and diverse cultures.

At the heart of Raptor Retreat is the Main Lodge, where guests gather to dine or catch up on their adventures while relaxing with a drink on the deck or on one of the voluptuous leather couches. The large lounge area features sumptuous seating, a fireplace, full DStv and a modest library of DVDs and books for those rainy days.

Hearty, old fashioned home cooking is served twice a day in the dining area or on the deck. Meals can also be taken under the sky in the

boma near the large communal pool. With the Big Five on your doorstep and an abundance of

birdlife, we offer early morning or late afternoon informative game drives with an experienced field guide. For the more energetic, we suggest you participate in professionally guided bush walks. As always, safety is of the utmost importance in the bush and we urge all visitors to pay attention to their guides.

We also offer accompanied day trips into the Kruger National Park, or you can explore the Big Five in your own vehicle at your own pace. Overnight trips into the Kruger National Park are available by prior arrangement.

travel

raptor retreat


groomingtext: freddie kritzinger

health & wellness

Freddie Kritzinger teamed up with Amanda Harrod-Johnathan, one of the directors of a leading cosmetic and skincare manufacturer – saloncare – to bring expert advice to SAX staff, both men and women, at affordable prices.

For your nearest stockist in Johannesburg, simply contact saloncare at www.saloncare.co.za. Cape Town staff can order directly by email from their saloncare expert, Freddie Kritzinger at [email protected].

saloncare will be giving away a free product to each main crew base monthly. Simply SMS your three letter base code followed by your name and surname with your employee number. Your SMS should look like this: Sue Smith. JNB. 123. Send your SMS or WhatsApp to 071 354 0030.

The Importance of Removing your Make-upSleeping with makeup on blocks pores by trapping oil and dirt,

and can irritate your skin. Always remove make-up with a gentle remover such as saloncare Eye Makeup Remover and then wash with a non-abrasive facial cleanser. It is the vital first step towards clean and healthy skin.

Stains on your pillow are a breeding ground for bacteria that will cause breakouts and infection. Always remove your make-up

before bed and change your pillowcase at least twice a week.Clogged pores cause skin imperfections. During sleep the skin

repairs itself and it needs all the oxygen it can get. Sleeping with make-up on deprives the skin of oxygen.

Make-up absorbs dirt and residues from the environment (free radicals) especially on board an aircraft. Removing make-up means that you are removing all the pollution that clings to your skin and causes cellular damage and premature aging.

The eye area is very delicate and dehydrates easily. saloncare is gentle vegetable-based make-up remover available in a 200 ml bottle for all skin types. It leaves your skin clearer, cleaner, and healthier with minimal risk of infection and irritation. Apply saloncare remover to dampened cotton pads. Hold pads on the eye lid for a moment and then gently sweep outwards. Repeat if necessary.

Next month we will be giving away saloncare make-up removers to three lucky staff members. The winners will be notified by SMS and can collect their product in

Cape Town (from Freddie) and in Johannesburg (from Dayle), whereas Durban base winners will receive their prizes by company mail.


sour cream cake

Ingredients175 g butter 175 g sugar 3 eggs 230 g self-rising flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 145 ml sour cream 375 g blueberries 200 g smooth cream cheese 100 g icing sugar, sifted

MethodGrease and flour a spring form pan and set aside. Cream sugar and butter together. Beat in the eggs one at a time. Add

the flour, baking powder and vanilla extract and mix well. Add 4 tablespoons sour cream and mix again. Mix in half of the blueberries. Pour batter into the prepared cake tin and bake for 1 hour at 180 °C or until the cake is done.

Leave the cake in the tin to rest for 10 minutes and then transfer it to a cooling rack to cool completely. For the icing, mix together the cream cheese and icing sugar. Ice the cake and sprinkle the remaining blueberries on top.

baguettes

Ingredients700 g white bread flour 500 ml warm water 2 tablespoons brown sugar 1 sachet 10 g instant yeast 1 teaspoon salt 1 egg

MethodIn a large mixing bowl add the hot water, yeast and sugar and

mix using a wooden spoon. Set yeast mixture aside and leave for 10 to 15 minutes to froth. Add the flour and salt to the yeast mixture and knead till dough is smooth and not sticking to your hands anymore. Leave dough in a warm place to double in size. Knock dough back. Divide it into four pieces and shape like a baguette. Place on a prepared baking tray and leave to double in size. Beat the egg and brush over the baguettes. Bake in a pre-heated oven at 180 °C for 30 minutes. Transfer to a cooling rack.

recipestext & images: the Bald chef

Recipes

Expresso January 2014

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Transcript of Expresso January 2014