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StartStartA � ying

Golden Wings is a young company that provides a wide range of aviation services, including VVIP

corporate fl ight options, scheduled and unscheduled passenger fl ights and cargo fl ights. In addition, the fi rm also runs an aircraft handling and management service operating from OR Tambo International Airport.

Despite Golden Wings being a new company it has emerged from a rich history of aviation and business success. “Golden Wings South Africa specifi cally is only a few months old,” says Dirk Tromp, Acting CEO of Golden Wings South Africa. “It was a previous

company operating in South Africa known as SKA SA Aircraft Leasing, which was part of the SKA international group based out of Dubai.”

The holding company of Golden Wings as it is today is Asteri Capital, a global multi-activity company off ering a wide range of services that span from crude oil and mining to meat export and ration packs.

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Aviation

South Africa’sGolden Wings Aviation may be newly formed, but they

come from a long history of success and have exciting plans for their future within Africa’s

aviation industry.

We’re currently exploring opportunities in Ghana, Nigeria and Uganda amongst various other African countries

may be newly formed, but they come from a long history of

success and have exciting plans for their future within Africa’s

aviation industry.

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In conjunction with Asteri, Golden Wings has 200 years of experience in the aviation industry, and a track record of success in ventures that other companies have been hesitant to take on.

Gaining groundGolden Wings Aviation’s fleet has grown rapidly and now consists of 12 aircraft, including a Fokker F70, a 75-seater regional jet liner powered by two Rolls-Royce TAY 620-15 engines, two Beechcraft 1900Ds, regional turboprop airliners powered by two Pratt & Whitney PT6A67Ds and two de Havilland Dash 8 Q300s. A C208 Caravan was recently added to their fleet, and Golden Wings also manage a Boeing 727 Freighter

for SKA International and will soon add a 100-seater VVIP aircraft, due to become online within the next month or two.

Golden Wings continues connecting destinations that can’t be reached on commercial scheduled routes, with the company stating its ability to fly “to any major international airport, into the wild grasslands, to remote mountain villages and across the seas to exotic islands”.

This attitude, combined with the range of services offered by Golden Wings hints at the depth of knowledge they have when it comes to the sometimes challenging nature of aviation services in Africa.

The company states its ability to fly “to any major international airport, into the wild grasslands, to remote mountain villages and across the seas to exotic islands

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Aviation

Adapting to challengesGolden Wings’ dynamic approach comes across when discussing the recent challenges of operating in South Sudan. Tromp explains that despite recent changes they are continuing to take on the opportunity to operate in and be part of the change in the newest country of the world, but some of their focus has shifted:

“Essentially we’re expanding our operations, and while we originally focussed on South Sudan we’ve started to rethink our scope and we’re currently exploring opportunities in Ghana, Nigeria and Uganda amongst various other African countries.”

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So while things are perhaps more difficult since the recent economic downturn there are certainly still opportunities in South Sudan for Golden Wings to capitalise on, and they will be maintaining their presence there while looking to expand into other areas of Africa. Tromp explains Golden Wings’ enthusiasm for expanding into Ghana and Nigeria. “Ghana is one of the developing countries that are doing well” and Nigeria is “forever growing and exploring, and many others are also showing an upward trend.” Tromp also explained that Ghana does not currently have a national carrier, which means there are unique opportunities there when it comes to developments in its aviation infrastructure.

Tromp also says that Golden Wings are looking at the charter market in South Africa, and the Congo is another country that they intend to look into. Tromp is enthusiastic about Golden Wings’ potential to grow across Africa. “We’ve got a wide open field we can play with”, he says.

Continuing growthThe company has also made significant strides elsewhere. In July, Golden Wings announced that it has been named as the official franchise holder for Million Air, an award-winning fixed base organisation in the United States. Talks are now underway that could see the firm utilise the Million Air name and brand for various projects at various airports in South Africa and across the continent as a whole.

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Aviation

Another exciting addition to Golden Wings will be the opening of their own fully operational AMO unit based in their hanger at OR Tambo International Airport. This will result in a fully certified technical team able to perform full services to Boeing 727 series, Fokker 70 series, and in the near future Boeing 737 (300/400 & 500) series, adding yet more strings to their bow of aviation services. Tromp tells EBA that certification for this will be completed within the next two weeks and he hopes for it to be fully launched by February 1st.

It looks like 2016 is set to be an impressive year for Golden Wings, despite its relative youth.

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Clearwater Off ice Estate, Block J, Cnr Atlas and Park Roads, Bonaero Park, Kempton Park, 1619, South Africa

T: +27 (0) 11 068 0000/9 F: +27 (0) 11 068 0010 M: +27 (0) 73 254 3894E: hfl eischmann@goldenwings.co.za

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©Essential Business Magazine 2016