Fiat Uno Italian Incentive Group 1988

Contributed by Koenie van der Walt

Due to the Hercules aircraft excellent short take off and landing (STOL) capabilities the Safair fleet featured in some ground-breaking operations to carry civilian passengers. This was at a time where the civil aviation regulations were much more relaxed, compared to what they are today.

Although the Hercs are predominantly freighter aircraft, we successfully marketed and positioned the them as an exceptional African bush experience aircraft, which could safely operate in and out of short, unpaved airstrips to carry passengers to exotic African bush destinations from the mid 1980s to the early 1990s. Passengers loved the experience even though flights had to be limited to a maximum of 2,5 hours duration as a result of the noise levels within the cargo compartment! Cabin attendants, trained ladies in Safair uniforms, did the passenger briefing and announcements using a loudhailer to communicate with the passengers during flight.

We had standard economy class airline seats mounted onto aircraft pallets which would be rolled into the cargo hold of the aircraft on a roller system fitted to the aircraft floor. No other aircraft could carry 88 passengers in and out of short airstrips like the Herc could.

Working closely with a South African Destination Management Company (DMC) we assisted them in being awarded the FIAT Uno Italian incentive group. The group consisted of 320 passengers, split into two back-to-back groups of 160 passengers each. This turned out to be a real challenge for Safair, not because of the Herc operation, but because of South African Airways monopoly and objection to the use of the Safair Boeing 707, ZS-LSF which had to operate the route between Johannesburg and Mauritius.

The first group of 160 passengers arrived at Johannesburg onboard an Alitalia service. Upon completion of their Immigration and Customs formalities they boarded the two Hercs (ZS-JIY and ZS-JIZ) for their flights to Skukuza, for onward transfer to a number of private game lodges in the adjacent Sabi Sand Reserve. Three days later the group was collected at Skukuza by the two Hercs and brought back to Johannesburg. Upon arrival the passengers of the first group of 160 passengers completed their Immigration and Customs formalities, and boarded the Boeing 707 for their three day stay in Mauritius.

The second group of 160 passengers had arrived onboard the Alitalia service at Johannesburg. Upon the second group clearing Immigration and Customs they boarded the two Hercs for their flights to Skukuza where they were to stay at the same private game lodges as the first group. Three days later the second group was collected by the two Hercs at Skukuza and brought back to Johannesburg. Upon completion of the required formalities the second group boarded the Boeing 707 which had just returned to Johannesburg with the first group from Mauritius. The second group departed Johannesburg on board ZS-LSF for Mauritius and returned three days later.

This operation was a huge success with a very satisfied client. Our company ATP International has been doing work for this South African DMC ever since and we make use of Safair aircraft wherever we can to this day.