As the Springboks reigned victorious after a highly anticipated clash against the All Blacks at Cape Town’s DHL Stadium on Saturday, FlySafair once again brought excitement to the skies.
Just before kick-off, the airline performed its fourth flyover – a first at the Mother City stadium – uniting South Africans across the country in the spirit of rugby and national pride.
“As the trusted domestic carrier for the Springboks since 2017, FlySafair is a proud supporter of our national rugby team as they have continued to work hard to reach top spot in World Rugby Men’s Rankings.
“The flyover this past Saturday was not only to cheer the Boks on but a show of unity in bringing South Africans together through the power of sport,” said Kirby Gordon, FlySafair’s chief marketing officer.
Although lasting just a few seconds, performing a low-altitude flyover was no easy task. It required months of immense planning, preparation and collaboration to deliver a historic display in the sky.
“We begin preparations well in advance,” shared Captain Steve van der Merwe, who captained the flyby aircraft. “From securing approvals and selecting the crew to running simulator sessions and conducting real-flight rehearsals – every detail is meticulously orchestrated.”
As with any flight, safety remained the highest priority. FlySafair follows the Special Air Events (S.A.E) guidelines issued by the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA), ensuring each flyover is executed with precision and care.
Joining Van der Merwe for the flyover were Captain Pierre Gouws, with safety pilots Captain Peter Ladiellis and First Officer Scott Ternent on board, ensuring a flawless performance.
Just as the Springboks train for months leading up to a match, the FlySafair team goes through rigorous rehearsals before each flyover. “We spent countless hours perfecting the flight path in simulators and practised the real route in the aircraft to ensure nothing was left to chance,” said Van der Merwe.
While Cape Town’s winter weather can be unpredictable, fortunately the forecast proved favourable for the event.
As the airline known as the “world champions of on-time performance”, FlySafair prides itself not just on precision in the skies, but also on offering punctual, seamless experiences for all its passengers.
“The flyover symbolises our commitment to uniting people with who and what they love through our airline offerings. This extends to our support of national sport, which demonstrates the great things we can achieve together in building a better future for South Africa,” added Gordon.