Arusha - Tanzania is expected to use the vintage air rally, which involves experienced pilots from across the world, to market its tourism destinations.
The global event, scheduled to start on November 28, is expected to involve more than 40 experienced pilots from six countries including Germany, South Africa, United Kingdom, the Untied States, Belgium and Russia.
Phillipe Corsaletti, one of the local coordinators of the global event, said that during the five-day air fly, pilots will be flying over the Tanzania's national parks and other tourist attractions.
He said that the air rally involves old aircraft of as old as 1920's which will be operated by pilots from various parts of the world. “The first-ever vintage air rally is being followed by thousands of people around the globe...it will help to promote national tourism on a global level,” said Corsaletti.
Corsaletti, who is the general manager of Puma Energy Tanzania, said that as the main host of the amazing adventure they have also been supported by the government through the Tanzania Tourists Board (TTB) and other relevant bodies to ensure that available tourists' attractions are known worldwide.
He said the rally is also meant to raise funds for various community-related issues globally through Unicef, Bird Life International and Seed Bombing.
The institutions he said are involved in activities which have direct impact to nature conservation since it affects human life prosperity. “Tanzania is one of the few countries in the world where the rally will take place. We welcome the public to be part of this historic event when the vintage planes pass their areas as well as use the event to promote the country's tourism,” he noted.
He said that Puma is prepared to host the team of pilots and provide all necessary required services in order to ensure reliable flights.
He said the company has knowledgeable technicians who can re-fill fuel in the vintage aircraft since it also provides the same services in eight airports in the country including Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA) and Julius Nyerere International Airport (JNIA).
He said that in Tanzania the vintage aircraft will refuel at Kilimanjaro, Arusha, Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar, Dodoma and Songwe. Raymond Tungaraza, Puma aviation operations manager, said the rally commenced on November 12, 2016 at Crete in Greece, and that the entire trip will take 35 days covering 10 countries including Greece, Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana and South Africa.
Tungaraza said the rally aims at testing pilot's skills and the old aircraft. Puma Energy is the official fuel sponsor for the 2016 vintage air rally.
Xinhua