Sweet Serendipity By Mi'chal Naidoo: Africa Aerospace & Defence (ADD Expo 2014) || Event Coming Soon

Want to experience history in the making? Want to see air crafts, army helicopters and fighter jets all in real life? Do you want the chance of a lifetime to follow your dream to become a pilot, air marshal, aeronautical engineer or even an aircraft mechanic? Want the opportunity to get to see the kind of army tankers that you only see in movies? Then the ADD Expo is for YOU!

Held at one of the most significant airspaces, the Africa Aerospace & Defence Expo (ADD Expo) will take place at AFB Waterkloof airport, Centurion, City of Tshwane, South Africa. Running from the 17th to the 21st of September the City of Tshwane will be the premier exhibition of air, sea and land technologies on the African continent and the biggest aviation event in the Southern hemisphere.

I got the privilege to chat to Mr Kholisile Khumalo, Chairperson ADD YDP (Youth Development Programme) and these are some of the questions he answered:

1. What would be the process of applying for a bursary with the ADD?

"On the day, learners who are interested in the programmes can visit one of the exhibition stands, the companies will be giving out forms with information on how they can go about applying."

2. What are the main academic requirements for the YDP?

"We are looking at maths and science learners. For you to get into the industry, maths and science is very important. There will be programmes what we will introduce to help learners who are battling with maths and science, to ensure we improve their academic performance to help them to be able to enter into this programme."

3. What are the different levels in the programme?

"There are a number of levels. You start as a PPL, then you become a commercial pilot and becoming a commercial pilot you still need a number of hours before you can actually fly on your own. Around 3000 hours flying, you need to book a plane and you need to have a person who is training you on a consistent basis."

4. What careers can come out of studying in the aviation industry?

"Not only pilot training, but also aeronautical engineers, aircraft mechanics and even traffic navigation controllers. In the defence there is SA airforce pilots and still a whole lot of other careers offered."

And if that isn't enough, we will be experiencing a world record attempt where a team of 40 individuals will attempt to build an aircraft withing the 4 days of the ADD Exhibition. The aircraft will be built by a South African company and will be flown on the last day of the airshow.