Memorial service - Posted on Avcom
Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2011 4:02 pm
"Memorial service for our wonderful friends in aviation
A memorial service is has been arranged at Sky Raiders function venue at Rand Airport for Sunday 21 August at 11h00. Although the service will be for family and friends I would like to invite all aviators to line the inner Rand Airport road to Sky Raiders as a ‘guard of honour’ to our dearly departed friends. Please wear your flying suits, airline uniforms, flying jackets and caps or something that represents aviation. My request is that each of you brings a single flower that you can hold to show your respect for our aviation friends.
The actual service will start at 11h30 and I am certain that there will be a ‘missing man’ formation flown, but at this stage I have no confirmation of this. Perhaps after the service everyone can gather on the grass outside Sky Raiders and watch the ‘missing man’ fly-by.
I have an appeal to those who are fuelled with the desire to speculate on AVCOM about this tragedy. Please stop this! This accident was a ‘genuine mistake’ by experienced pilots who were my friends for 20 or more years. There is no answer as to why this happened and nothing you say or do will bring them back again. So out of respect for everyone, please stop fabricating stories and perpetuating rumours that have absolutely no foundation. Thank you.
I will be presenting my personal feelings in an obituary in Monday morning’s African Pilot newsletter for everyone so that you may get to know these special people who tragically lost their lives on Sunday 14 August.
Lots of love to all of you - God bless our fragile aviation family at this time of unbelievable tragedy.
Athol Terence
A memorial service is has been arranged at Sky Raiders function venue at Rand Airport for Sunday 21 August at 11h00. Although the service will be for family and friends I would like to invite all aviators to line the inner Rand Airport road to Sky Raiders as a ‘guard of honour’ to our dearly departed friends. Please wear your flying suits, airline uniforms, flying jackets and caps or something that represents aviation. My request is that each of you brings a single flower that you can hold to show your respect for our aviation friends.
The actual service will start at 11h30 and I am certain that there will be a ‘missing man’ formation flown, but at this stage I have no confirmation of this. Perhaps after the service everyone can gather on the grass outside Sky Raiders and watch the ‘missing man’ fly-by.
I have an appeal to those who are fuelled with the desire to speculate on AVCOM about this tragedy. Please stop this! This accident was a ‘genuine mistake’ by experienced pilots who were my friends for 20 or more years. There is no answer as to why this happened and nothing you say or do will bring them back again. So out of respect for everyone, please stop fabricating stories and perpetuating rumours that have absolutely no foundation. Thank you.
I will be presenting my personal feelings in an obituary in Monday morning’s African Pilot newsletter for everyone so that you may get to know these special people who tragically lost their lives on Sunday 14 August.
Lots of love to all of you - God bless our fragile aviation family at this time of unbelievable tragedy.
Athol Terence