In Profile

Making a Difference - Blue Crane Aeronautical Development Project

The Blue Crane Route Municipal precinct in Somerset East is beleaguered by poverty, serious unemployment, HIV and Aids and general economic decline, a situation found in many rural areas in South Africa. However, in 2004 in a strategic attempt to address the challenge, the Blue Crane Development Agency (BCDA) was appointed by both the Blue Crane Route Municipality (BCRM) and the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) to facilitate economic and social development within the municipal precinct. One of the approved projects undertaken was the construction and establishment of a Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) approved and licensed commercial airport on the existing Somerset East airfield. The BCDA secured a R5 million SMIF (Special Municipal Infrastructure Fund) grant from national government for the construction.

The site of the new airport is situated on the current Somerset East airfield in the heart of the region and is strategically positioned as the gateway to the northern side of the Greater Addo Park. The airport forms a natural air based entry and exit point for the entire region. This project is specifically designed to serve as an economic growth catalyst and a development node that can exploit the growing regional investment and tourism opportunities as a result of the Addo and general regional expansion.

A variety of aviation related projects are also linked to the new airport development including:

• In November 2007, APTRAC - a Port Elizabeth based flying academy -relocated a large portion of their business to the new Somerset East airport and is now fully operational with more than 40 students and five flying instructors.
• The BCDA has designed a light industrial park within the airport precinct to support the main airport activities, translating into a sharing of bulk service provision and enabling businesses to expedite airfreight.
• The BCDA has successfully negotiated with Albasera Aircraft from Johannesburg to relocate their Light Sport Aircraft Manufacturing business to the new airport in the first quarter of 2009. The project is valued at R5 million and will create 6 jobs initially. Albasera import Italian Light Sport Aircraft (LSA) kits from Italy for local manufacture and subsequent resale.
• In May 2008 the BCDA successfully negotiated with Flysynthesis, an Italian Light Sport Aircraft Manufacturer, to invest technology and equipment into Albasera Aircraft at the new airport. This will enable Albasera Aircraft to manufacture Flysynthesis aircraft and aircraft components for export to the international market. The estimated initial investment is R8 million and 25 jobs will be created.
• The BCDA appointed the Aeronautical faculty of Wits University (Wits Enterprise) to design the first South African Light Sports Aircraft. The design was completed in October 2008 and commercial production of this aircraft is planned at the new Somerset East airport in 2009. Wits have deigned this aircraft with many innovative features and in accordance with both South African and international design regulations, enabling the aircraft to be marketed both locally and abroad.
• BCDA Light Sport Aircraft Project
• The BCDA have facilitated a flying club at Gill College, in association with APTRAC, offering pilot training as an extra curriculum subject to their learners.

The long-term sustainable impact on the regional economy is expected to be exponential. This project will most certainly accelerate the achievement of key economic development objectives in the region.