AFRICA’S LEADING GENERAL AVIATION COMPANY

1900

National Airways Corporation (NAC) is the largest general aviation company in Africa and one of the largest of its kind in the world.

NAC offers a comprehensive range of aviation products and services to the aircraft and helicopter markets.

This includes:

  • New and pre-owned sales
  • Maintenance
  • Parts
  • Charter
  • International operations
  • Air ambulance services
  • Aircraft leasing
  • Helicopter pilot and technical training

NAC is based at Lanseria International Airport in Johannesburg and operates a South African network of offices at Rand Airport and the Ultimate Heliport in Johannesburg, the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town and Virginia Airport in Durban.

NAC’s head office at Lanseria International Airport (ICAO:FALA) offers clients a comprehensive suite of services, inclusive of aircraft management on a 24/7 basis.

The world’s first Flight Safety Foundation BARS Gold Standard Operator.

Established in 1946, NAC’s strength lies in the relationships it has built over more than seven decades with clients and suppliers. These robust partnerships enable NAC’s experienced and professional staff to provide market-leading, cost-effective solutions, customised to our clients’ requirements.

Our international operations business has offices in Johannesburg and Malta. Our aircraft leasing business, NAC Flight Logistics, is based in Johannesburg, South Africa, with Discovery Jets situated in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA.

NAC’s businesses and divisions work in close cooperation and are all supported by central finance, human capital and IT services.

On a combined basis, the NAC group operates almost 100 aircraft.

AIRCRAFT DIVISION

Aircraft Sales

New & pre-owned aircraft

NAC is recognised as one of the most professional and experienced aircraft sales organisations in the world.

Our pre-owned aircraft sales business focuses on stocking and finding the best pre-owned aircraft to meet our clients' precise and exacting needs.

Our highly competent aircraft sales team collaborates with clients across the globe, offering the best new and pre-owned products in the industry. This team has over 200 years of experience, bearing testimony to their commitment, passion and integrity.

  • We are authorised representatives and distributors for Piper Aircraft and Dassault Falcon. Our relationship with Dassault allows us to sell its technologically superior Falcon jets to selected prospects across the African continent.

  • We have resale agreements with several sales organisations around the world, giving us a continuous source of the finest aircraft available.

  • NAC is the leading global specialist in Beechcraft 1900 sales, having sold over 270 of these exceptional aircraft

NAC Finance and Insurance

NAC has extensive experience working with the world’s top finance and insurance houses, structuring bespoke aircraft finance, value-added insurance and assurance solutions.

Our specialist team ensures that our clients receive the best advice and service when purchasing their aircraft.

Parts Division

The NAC Parts Division offers a wide spectrum of products and services to the general aviation community from outlets at Lanseria International Airport and Rand Airports in Johannesburg. Our extensive inventories are distributed from various warehouses and through Specialised Aircraft Services in the USA.

This division distributes parts for many leading OEMs and manufacturers, including:

  • Goodyear
  • Lycoming
  • Rapco
  • David Clark
  • Rocol/LPS
  • Champion

Professional Aviation Associates, a Greenwich AeroGroup company, has signed NAC as a distributor for the company.

Inventory from Professional Aviation Associates is on-hand at NAC. The new inventory, combined with NAC’s existing, will optimise AOG and non-routine parts support in the region and reduce shipping expenses for customers.

NAC will continue distributing all types of parts and consumable supplies but with a specific focus on the

HELICOPTER DIVISION

Helicopter Sales

New & pre-owned aircraft

NAC’s Helicopter Sales division is the independent representative for Bell Helicopters in six African countries and a dealer for Robinson Helicopters.

We also offer a wide range of pre-owned helicopters and have been the leading helicopter sales company on the African continent for decades.

Helicopter Operations and Charter

Charter

The helicopter operations division is based at the state-of-the-art Ultimate Heliport in Midrand and the V&A Waterfront. NAC operates an extensive fleet of executive helicopters for corporate, VIP charters and helicopter tours.

Charters can be arranged to VIP and corporate venues, game lodges or out-of-reach destinations. If you are not sure where to go, NAC’s expert Helicopter Operations team can make some excellent recommendations

Ultimate Heliport in Midrand

NAC has partnered with Ultimate Helicopters in a state-of-the-art, owned heliport in Johannesburg. The heliport is centrally located on the N1 Freeway in Midrand, opposite the Mall of Africa, with convenient and easy access from multiple directions. Being developed in two phases, the completed first phase on 32 hectares of land comprises 3,100 square meters of hangars, 2,800 square meters of office space, including a terminal building, VIP lounge facilities, a restaurant, fuel farm, EASA standard FATO (final approach and take-off area) and parking pads for up to 16 helicopters.

NAC Helicopters Cape Town

Sit back and relax as you take in the spectacular wonders of the fairest Cape in a safe and professional environment.

Based at the V&A Waterfront, NAC Helicopters Cape Town is the market leader in coastal sightseeing tours.

Our team offers personal, tailor-made helicopter charters for tourists, aviation enthusiasts and business executives, departing from the iconic V&A Waterfront, Cape Town International Airport or other bespoke areas.

Accreditations

Our Helicopter Tour operations are accredited by the African Travel & Tourism Association.

Helicopter Operations

Firefighting

NAC provides specialist assistance in applications such as firefighting, utilising the UH-1H Huey and Bell 407 helicopters, making use of the Bambi Bucket and Cloudburst water dispensing systems to battle fires in any geographical location, construction hoisting and cargo slinging. Our pilots have significant slinging and lifting experience in both the military and civilian sectors, and our Helicopter Operations division has the equipment needed for a variety of slinging operations.

Game Ranch Assistance

Our crews also offer extensive expertise in game capture and counting, high-value cargo delivery, geological surveys and mine and powerline inspections.

Photography and Film

The photographic and film production sector needs to look no further than NAC. We have worked with the industry’s top professionals for many years and can assist with the hiring of equipment designed for specific use on helicopters.

Security

On the security front, NAC works exclusively for Netstar, the premier vehicle tracking specialist that uses helicopters to track and recover stolen vehicles.

Emergency Medical Services

Aero-medical emergency services can mean the difference between life and death.

NAC Helicopters is an emergency and mission-critical helicopter provider. With over 34 years of experience in the field and an impeccable safety and delivery record, we have become one of the most trusted and dependable operators in the Southern African industry.

Our commitment to working seamlessly with our customers has earned us the reputation of a partner, not a supplier. We operate within a reinforced culture of safety, competency and commitment to offer superior service delivery to our customers.

NAC operates several helicopters equipped with state-of-the-art EMS equipment that can be hired for patient transport or as standby for sporting and other events.



Helicopter Pilot Training

NAC’s helicopter pilot training is conducted at the Ultimate Heliport and Rand Airport.

The school has extensive experience in training from ab-initio to advanced commercial qualifications, and our graduates have gone on to become captains with helicopter operators across Africa and the world.

Our programmes include:

  • Instrument Rating,
  • nstructors Rating,
  • Conversion Training,
  • Game Capture and Cull Ratings,
  • External Load Rating,
  • and all types of advanced pilot training.

Helicopter Maintenance

NAC’s helicopter maintenance facility at Rand Airport undertakes complete factory-authorised maintenance and overhaul services for Bell and Robinson helicopters. We are the only Bell Helicopter Customer Service Facility in Southern Africa and Rolls Royce Model 250 engine Authorised Maintenance Centre in Africa, positioning NAC to provide a full range of world-class overhaul, repair and maintenance services with parts support, at competitive prices. NAC also represents Able Engineering with regard to parts repair and approved alternate parts supply.

NAC has an exclusive supply agreement for Lord Corporation’s range of helicopter Elastomeric products and distributes the Aeronautical Accessories range of products.

Technical Training

NAC’s technical training facility at Rand Airport offers a first-year theoretical and practical syllabus for the Aircraft Maintenance Mechanic trade, demonstrating the group’s dedication to the aviation industry and the development of essential skills in South Africa.

On successful completion of the first year’s basic training, students must complete a further 18 months to two years of on-the-job training in line with requirements from both TETA and the SACAA.

FLIGHT OPERATIONS

International Operations

NAC’s International Operations business is a highly versatile aviation services company providing tailored solutions to our clients.

We specialise in global special mission contracts, operating and managing numerous air support assignments throughout Africa, the Middle East, Europe, Australasia and the Far East.

Our expertise encompasses away-from-base flight operations, aircraft maintenance, management and support services for the following fields:

  • NGO
  • Oil and gas
  • Defence
  • Mining and resources
  • Telecoms
  • Power
  • Regional airline and government sectors, specialising in hot and hostile regions

We can satisfy the operational and safety standards required in relation to clients’ needs, and we have the required expertise and experience to provide efficient, cost-effective operations in an ever-changing and challenging environment.

Air Ambulance

Universal Air Evac is a EURAMI accredited provider based at Lanseria International Airport in Johannesburg, South Africa. Universal Air Evac’s highly experienced team specialises in medically escorted repatriation of patients on commercial airlines internationally. It assists with all facets of repatriations, including pre-flight assessments, flight arrangements, ground transport, airport clinics and airline medical clearances.

As the largest general aviation company in Africa and one of the largest of its kind in the world, NAC enables Universal Air Evac to operate throughout Africa and its surrounding islands, into Europe and the Middle East. Evacuations further afield are accomplished through wing-to-wing transfers with industry partners.

Thanks to its two dedicated long-range Lear 35 jet air ambulances, Universal Air Evac can fly a wide range of patients and is able to achieve an average dispatch time of two hours. Each flight employs a mission-specific combination of a Flight Doctor and Flight Nurse or Flight Paramedic, ensuring the highest levels of safety, care and professionalism during every air ambulance flight. The global operations are coordinated from its Lanseria-based 24/7 call centre.

With more than 30 000 flight hours of combined air ambulance experience, the team at Universal Air Evac provides doctor-based, ICU, aircraft air ambulance services to the highest quality standards, including BARS Gold and ISO 9001:2015.

Aircraft Charter

We pride ourselves on offering our guests one-stop VIP travel solutions tailored to their requirements with the utmost diligence.

From its base at Lanseria International Airport, the executive Aircraft Charter business delivers bespoke air travel solutions in a private, discreet, personalised and safe environment.

NAC’s extensive modern aircraft fleet includes turboprop, light, mid-size, super-midsize and long-range corporate jets, and various airliners. Aircraft flight efficiency, flexibility and comfort are maximised, whether you charter for private or business travel.

Charters are provided for every eventuality from presidential, diplomatic and corporate jet charter flights, incentive travel, lodge transfers and scenic flights.

In May 2021, NAC acquired a 25% stake in Discovery Jets, the fast-growing and highly professional Jet Management Company based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Discovery Jets has grown from strength to strength since its inception in 2016 and it now operates an expanding fleet of VIP corporate jets across North America, Central America and the Caribbean with an imminent expansion into the long-range market.

NAC offers clients a comprehensive suite of services on a 24/7 basis. We ensure that clients and crews enjoy the ultimate in service and attention, with experienced staff on hand to deal with special requests and individually tailored solutions. From hangarage, aircraft care and management to arrival, departure and beyond, all private or business travel needs are met with dedication and personalised care in our world-class facilities. Enthusiasm, commitment and scrupulous attention to detail are assured at our fixed-wing charter division.

Aircraft Maintenance

Aircraft Maintenance provides domestic and away-from-base maintenance for the company’s operational aircraft wherever they are deployed around the world. Our capabilities encompass full airframe, engine, electrical and avionics support including managing overhaul of engines, propellers, landing gear and auxiliary power units.

NAC also provides maintenance planning services such as aircraft inspection scheduling, monthly maintenance status reporting and aircraft configuration management.

Accreditations

Our flight operations businesses are accredited by the South African CAA, the United Nations, the World Food Programme and BARS, among others.

AIRCRAFT LEASING

NAC Flight Logistics is a wholly owned company that deals exclusively with aircraft leasing utilising NAC’s fleet of Beechcraft 1900D and Embraer 120ER aircraft. Leasing is a popular preference, enabling the operation of aircraft without the financial burden of ownership and providing a profitable increase in capacity.

The value derived from leasing includes freeing up capital, flexibility as requirements change and mitigation of risk, all of which frequently result in the development of long-term partnerships with leasing clients. Our aircraft undergo comprehensive pre-delivery checks and are delivered fully compliant and ready to work.

Monthly lease payments commence upon delivery, with engine HSI and engine, propeller and landing gear overhauls covered via hourly provisions to avoid costly interventions for the operator. Our operators are placed in direct contact with our network of suppliers, OEM and factory support, ensuring cost-effective "at source" parts procurement.