netstrider
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Also, if a Taxi drives into you tomorrow, you might die.
IF IF IF IF IF.
Fun police everywhere.
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Airlink ultra-low-altitude stadium flyover stunt under official review
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IF IF IF IF IF.
Fun police everywhere.
Kosmik
Honorary Master
Hmmm its not always precipitation, there are many other things to take into account. I don't know about Jozi but the local weather for Durbs this weekend is terrible in many ways so I would not be surprised if the similar weather systems are impacting Jozi.
Gordon_R
Honorary Master
The point is that nobody can predict the weather 3 days in advance, unless you need an excuse.
itareanlnotani
Executive Member
02 September 2026, Johannesburg –
Airlink acknowledges the South African Civil Aviation Authority’s (SACAA) update on the support it is providing in reviewing the flight data and all relevant information relating to the planning, preparation and production of last Saturday’s formation flyby over the Cape Town DHL Stadium.
Similarly, Airlink is grateful for the enthusiastic appreciation that many people have expressed regarding last Saturday’s Cape Town Stadium flyby as well as the valid questions and concerns raised. However, we never intended to become the news or upstage Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry.
Be assured that safety was the first consideration at every stage of the process. As with all flybys we have conducted, it demanded careful planning, rehearsal and the authorisation, support and guidance of the (SACAA) and Air Traffic Navigation Services to ensure it was performed safely.
Both aircraft were flown by crews comprising three senior captains (representing over 75,000 combined flight hours of experience) operating in the roles of commander, co-pilot and safety/technical officer. Each pilot holds an Airline Transport Pilot Licence, the highest level of commercial pilot qualification.
The flyby was performed safely and due to the unprecedented public interest it created, Airlink, on its own initiative, volunteered to provide the “black box” digital flight data recordings to the SACAA to support its compliance review.
Unlike public flight tracking mobile apps that rely on rudimentary satellite positioning information, the DFDRs on modern commercial jetliners are sophisticated devices able to trace over a thousand parameters and data points to present a precise and complex picture – measured in milliseconds - of every control input, power settings, altitude, horizontal and vertical speed, pitch attitude, acceleration and the visual flight patch along with numerous other readings.
Due to the complexity, the number of parameters and other factors to be examined, it is unrealistic to expect immediate feedback and recommendations from the SACAA. Airlink is, and will continue to support the SACAA with its review process.
Although we have also heard the widespread enthusiasm for a flyby at FNB Stadium this weekend, the forecast weather points to unfavourable conditions for a safe formation flyby. It is on this basis that we withdrew the application for a flyby this Saturday. As a sponsor, it was not Airlink’s intention to detract from the rugby test matches between South Africa and New Zealand. We’re sorry to disappoint fans and supporters but safety comes first and we’re also certain the players will provide more than enough on-field excitement.
de Villiers Engelbrecht
CEO
Airlink
Airlink acknowledges the South African Civil Aviation Authority’s (SACAA) update on the support it is providing in reviewing the flight data and all relevant information relating to the planning, preparation and production of last Saturday’s formation flyby over the Cape Town DHL Stadium.
Similarly, Airlink is grateful for the enthusiastic appreciation that many people have expressed regarding last Saturday’s Cape Town Stadium flyby as well as the valid questions and concerns raised. However, we never intended to become the news or upstage Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry.
Be assured that safety was the first consideration at every stage of the process. As with all flybys we have conducted, it demanded careful planning, rehearsal and the authorisation, support and guidance of the (SACAA) and Air Traffic Navigation Services to ensure it was performed safely.
Both aircraft were flown by crews comprising three senior captains (representing over 75,000 combined flight hours of experience) operating in the roles of commander, co-pilot and safety/technical officer. Each pilot holds an Airline Transport Pilot Licence, the highest level of commercial pilot qualification.
The flyby was performed safely and due to the unprecedented public interest it created, Airlink, on its own initiative, volunteered to provide the “black box” digital flight data recordings to the SACAA to support its compliance review.
Unlike public flight tracking mobile apps that rely on rudimentary satellite positioning information, the DFDRs on modern commercial jetliners are sophisticated devices able to trace over a thousand parameters and data points to present a precise and complex picture – measured in milliseconds - of every control input, power settings, altitude, horizontal and vertical speed, pitch attitude, acceleration and the visual flight patch along with numerous other readings.
Due to the complexity, the number of parameters and other factors to be examined, it is unrealistic to expect immediate feedback and recommendations from the SACAA. Airlink is, and will continue to support the SACAA with its review process.
Although we have also heard the widespread enthusiasm for a flyby at FNB Stadium this weekend, the forecast weather points to unfavourable conditions for a safe formation flyby. It is on this basis that we withdrew the application for a flyby this Saturday. As a sponsor, it was not Airlink’s intention to detract from the rugby test matches between South Africa and New Zealand. We’re sorry to disappoint fans and supporters but safety comes first and we’re also certain the players will provide more than enough on-field excitement.
de Villiers Engelbrecht
CEO
Airlink
Gordon_R
Honorary Master
It is almost impossible to predict the weather in Gauteng 3 days in advance. In the case of Cape Town the weather was unfavourable until 4:30pm, so they can squeeze it in if they really want to. IMO the weather excuse is bogus, a pretext for some other reasons which they will not disclose.
Nerfherder
Honorary Master
Ok but then it sounds like the game is doomed as well ?
RedViking
Nord of the South
They not getting sponsored by Red Bull which gives you wings, they are sponsored by Airlink, which gives you wet panties.
There is a difference.
itareanlnotani
Executive Member
100%
The claim that they volunteered the info to SACAA also differs from SACAA's announcement saying they requested it.
quovadis
Honorary Master
Usually it moves from us to you but a forecast is a forecast.
quovadis
Honorary Master
Imho and if I were to bet on this - withdrawing an application is far more preferable than the application being denied and basis for its denial being made public. Also, they could've applied, and if granted, the ultimate decision on weather conditions at the time would've been left to them in any event. Its unusual.
Gordon_R
Honorary Master
Cutoff-lows move in random semi-unpredictable ways, and this is a very large and disorganised system. That doesn't mean you can't have a forecast, but the medium-range accuracy is significantly less than normal. The general circulation of this COL will move in a large clockwise loop, circling over the interior at least once, before exiting the country via the E-Cape on Mon 7th. Whether it will have any significant effects on the weather in Gauteng is still highly uncertain at this stage.
