Local UAV industry identifies what it needs to remain globally competitive

South Africa’s Unmanned Air Vehicle (UAV) industry, once – and not so long ago – one of the few in the world and a leader in the field, now faces intense competition from many new players, with numerous countries pouring funds into the...

Daily podcast – July 14, 2009

In today's podcast: Trevor Manuel says that the South African Constitution ultimately set the mandate for the South African Reserve Bank to maintain price stability; and contractors are expected to start on the bulk earthworks of the Landside...

Centurion Aerospace Village bulk earthworks to start by early Sept

Contractors were expected to start on the bulk earthworks of the Landside Phase 1 development at the Centurion Aerospace Village (CAV) by early September. Consulting engineers PD Naidoo and Associates (PDNA) have invited joint venture companies...

New aerospace centre to support local manufacturing industry

The Centurion Aerospace Village (CAV) will be opened on Tuesday ushering in a new era in aero-structure engineering and manufacturing for South Africa. "The CAV was formally established in 2006, in response to the urgent need for the creation of...

Biocomposites research a priority for DST

The Department of Science and Technology (DST) has a number of plans and strategies to take the Advanced Manufacturing Technology Strategy (AMTS), from just being a stand-alone mechanism to fund research projects into looking into the entire value...

Serious bid to ready Centurion aviation supplier park for take-off

The Automotive Industry Development Centre (AIDC) should conclude its development work on an aviation supplier park in Centurion within the next 12 months.

Programme aims to help graduates understand and manipulate technology

More severe than the lack of skills is said to be the lack of experienced skilled people, and this is something that the Technology Leadership Programme (TLP) aims to address.

New aviation-focused centre has developmental and training functions

PRIVATE-sector aviation company Aerosud�s new Innovation and Training Centre (ITC) has hit the ground running. �We have already started a string of innovation programmes, mainly focused on manufacturing efficiencies and processing...

New laboratory a public–private initiative

THE Department of Science and Technology (DST) and private-sector aviation company Aerosud are in the process of jointly establishing an Advanced Manufacturing Technology Laboratory for Aviation (AMTL) as part of the DST�s Advanced Manufacturing...

What went wrong with the Rooivalk?

Eagle or turkey? Should it be saved or slaughtered? These are the questions exercising the minds of the South African government, parliamentarians, journalists, interested taxpayers (and they should all be interested, given the amount of money it...

Composites research receives R22m from DST

An independent agency of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), the Advanced Manufacturing Technology Strategy (AMTS) Implementation unit, has allocated about R22-million to a flagship programme that will conduct research and development...

What went wrong with the Rooivalk?

The Rooivalk: over sophisticated, over-delayed, over-expensive, outdated, and lacking economies of scale � how did happen, and what next for the programme?