Airlink has addressed concerns about the altitude of two of its aircraft during a formation flyby over Cape Town’s DHL Stadium on Saturday.
The unusual sight of the two aircraft flying close to the stadium prompted discussion on social media and online forums, with questions raised about how low the planes appeared to be during the manoeuvre.
The flyby formed part of the build-up to the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series between the Springboks and New Zealand’s All Blacks.
Airlink said the operation had been carefully planned and rehearsed because it required the aircraft to fly at low altitude at approximately 150 knots.
Airlink Says Flyby Was Approved And Rehearsed
The airline said the operation was conducted with guidance and support from the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) and Air Traffic Navigation Services.
According to Airlink, the relevant authorities provided the necessary guidance and approval for the flight.
The airline also stressed that the aircraft were operated by experienced crews.
Each aircraft had three senior captains on board, serving as commander, co-pilot and safety/technical officer.
Airlink said flight data collected from both aircraft showed that the flyby remained within the altitude and speed parameters that had been approved and rehearsed with SACAA.
FlightRadar24 Raises Questions Over Stadium Clearance
Despite Airlink’s explanation, flight-tracking data provided a different perspective on just how close the aircraft came to the stadium.
An analysis by FlightRadar24 of the aircraft’s ADS-B altitude data indicated that the planes passed less than 50 feet above the top of DHL Stadium.
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The lowest altitude recorded by the tracking system was 50 feet above mean sea level under standard atmospheric pressure.
After accounting for the local atmospheric pressure, FlightRadar24 estimated the aircraft were flying at approximately 205 to 210 feet above mean sea level.
DHL Stadium is close to sea level, while the structure rises to approximately 164 feet.
Based on those figures, FlightRadar24 calculated that the aircraft had between roughly 41 and 46 feet of clearance above the stadium.
Two Airlink Aircraft Used For Rugby Flyby
The formation involved two Airlink Embraer aircraft specially liveried for the occasion.
The green ZS-YAE E190 and black ZS-YDE E195 were decorated in the colours of the competing teams and featured the official Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry Tour logo.
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The aircraft formed part of the pre-match spectacle ahead of the second Test between the Springboks and All Blacks in Cape Town.
Airlink’s response comes as aviation enthusiasts and members of the public continue to debate the low-level nature of the flyby, while the airline maintains that the operation was conducted within the safety parameters approved by the aviation authorities.
