The South African aviation industry has been dealt a major blow with the death of Durban flight director Kevin Woolacott.
This was the sentiment of air show enthusiasts who attended Woolacott’s memorial service at Durban’s Virginia Airport on Tuesday evening. Woolacott’s wife, Bev and her children, Richard and Tamryn were also present.
“Kevin was a flight director and he was responsible for controlling flight sequences during air shows. There are very few people who do that in the country,” said Durban Wings Club spokesman Ray de Vries.
Woolacott criss-crossed the country to attend air shows, de Vries said.
He was among 13 people killed when two Albatross aircraft crashed into Mamotswiri Peak, north-east of Tzaneen, Limpopo on Sunday. The aircraft took off from Tzaneen Airport on Sunday at 10.30am. Both planes were bound for Rand Airport in Johannesburg, after participating in the Tzaneen air show.
Bev said of her husband: “He was a loving family man who loved his job. He gave his best to aviation. He will be missed not only by us, but the whole aviation industry.”
Richard, 13, said he would like to be involved in the aviation industry when he grows up.
“I would like to join the industry one day,” he told reporters.
Durban Wings Club chairman Peter Graham said thousands of aviation enthusiasts would miss the 13.
Those on board the aircraft, registration ZU MMI, were pilot Brian Gruar and passengers Marrion Anderson, Maddison and Alexandra Doak, Tess Spence, Louise Warden and Woolacott.
On board the other plane, registration ZS NJX, were pilot Peter Gildenhuys, and passengers Stuart and Peter van Oldenburg, Frans Dely, Marietjie de Witt, and Linda Pierce. Dely was a well-known Johannesburg aviation photographer. - Sapa