Last week I spent time in Botswana for a hearing. It also gave me an opportunity to pilot my first international flight. It’s a wonderful thing when two passions align in a way that is also sustainable, thanks to local innovation.
My daughter taught me about the fun of “Insta Reels” and this one I share with you now. I hope you enjoy it as much as we did capturing it!
Gaborone, the commercial capital, is open for
business. Its skyline illuminates at night with brands of well-known eateries,
banks, fashion houses and other commerce. Any exchange control is light, and the
benefits of foreign direct investment are clear with an apparently, thriving
middle class. Hotels are busy and their rates comparable, if not higher, than
those in Johannesburg 300kms away, suggesting a healthy level of demand and investment.
The courts are stately and proudly bear “minimum standards of service” in
their opening halls. Litigating in Botswana on intellectual property cases is somewhat
familiar because their laws and procedures are largely based on the English
system. That said, it is embryonic when it comes to the number of published decisions
on this area of law and as a result, lean on advocacy and common law from South
Africa. This is why we were present.
Getting there by road from South Africa is
relatively painless except for border control which can lead to unpredictable, if
not significant, delays. It is also not entirely stress free as road safety
issues and hijackings (on the SA side) have been reported and naturally scare those
who must travel between the countries. As a result, the country’s policing
system has a no-tolerance approach which acts in stark contrast to their
otherwise amiable demeanor. Necessary, it would seem, to protect what the country
has nurtured.
Flying commercially is the preferred way of travel
but it’s not inexpensive, and although it is a short hop, it can take as long
as road travel once airport waiting times and clearance delays are considered.
Although it is safer than road travel, it is significantly less sustainable for
such a short trip. This is where a private plane becomes an option as it can be
the most affordable, safe (compared to road travel), and sustainable option, especially
if the plane is made by a company like Sling Aircraft, itself a wonderful
example of South African innovation.
Sling Aircraft are based just south of
Johannesburg and over the last two decades have made private plane ownership
and flight relatively affordable for businesspeople with long commutes or
requirements for local travel to tricky to reach places. A secondhand Sling 2
or 4 seat aircraft, for example, is no less affordable than an executive
vehicle and has significantly less environmental impact. It runs on ordinary unleaded petrol
and uses less fuel than an equivalent road trip. It also does not depreciate as
fast a car and is simply a joy to travel in. It took just 1hr 20mins to travel
the distance between the cities.
Of course, flying in small planes is not for
everyone and although it is convenient, it is vulnerable to vagaries of the weather
so careful planning is required. There is no perfect option when it comes to travel
across our continent, but general aviation or small plane travel, marginalised in recent times, can make a
comeback thanks to local innovators, like Sling Aircraft and others.
Flying oneself is an experience quite unlike any other and this aspect is not represented in a comparison of facts and figures between the different forms of transport. It is a privilege, a challenge, a responsibility, and a freedom, none of which can be measured. I am just grateful that my own journey to learn to fly, which started a few years ago, has culminated in this example of practical integration into my professional career, not only as a commuter option which I have been doing now for some time, but also to connect people, skills and highlight innovation, in a sustainable way.
