African Pilot Weekly Magazine 49:2025

The first Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) Symposium held on the African continent took place on 26 and 27 November 2025, hosted by the University of Johannesburg’s Department of Emergency Medical Care, in partnership with the Foundation of the French Academy of Medicine (FAM) and the Airbus Foundation. The event brought together around sixty South African and international doctors, nurses, emergency physicians, pilots and healthcare professionals already trained in helicopter rescue techniques for two days of knowledge sharing, interactive learning and cross-continental collaboration.

Recorded during Africa’s first Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) Symposium, African Pilot speaks with Prof Nicolas Peschanski, Chief of the French Delegation from the French Academy of Medicine, Professor of Emergency Medicine in Rennes, and Vice President of the FAM HEMS Scientific Committee.

During Africa’s first Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) Symposium, African Pilot spoke with Nam-Binh Hoang, Managing Director of Airbus Southern Africa, about the realities of operating emergency medical helicopters across the continent.

Connor Hartnady, lecturer in the Department of Emergency Medical Care at the University of Johannesburg and acting Rescue Centre Manager, outlined the capabilities and purpose of the university’s newly launched rescue simulation training facility during the first African Helicopter Emergency Medical Services Symposium, hosted by UJ in partnership with the Foundation of the French Academy of Medicine and the Airbus Foundation.

Maureen Kahonge, Senior Manager Business Development & Communications at the African Airlines Association (AFRAA), takes a moment with African Pilot editor Phillippa Dean to reflect on the key takeaways from the 57th AFRAA Annual General Assembly, recently held in Luanda. She highlights airline sustainability, aircraft availability, maintenance capacity and the pace of intra-African connectivity reform, and also confirms AFRAA’s Executive Committee structure for 2026, the association’s strategic focus for the 2026–2030 period, and the upcoming African MRO event to be hosted in Addis Ababa in March 2026.

Filmed on the sidelines of the 57th Annual General Assembly of the African Airlines Association (AFRAA) in Luanda, African Pilot speaks with Aaron Munetsi, Chief Executive Officer of the Airlines Association of Southern Africa (AASA).

In this interview, Munetsi explains why AASA was established, how it works alongside #AFRAA, #AFCAC, #IATA as a regional partner, and what African airlines are now prioritising beyond discussion.

He outlines four key takeaways from the AGA, including growing pressure for the implementation of the Single African Air Transport Market. The need for increased engagement from development banks, and the role of OEMs and financiers in supporting sustainable aviation growth in Africa.