#288 ACSA's R1.2 Billion Year, The Approach We Should Have Gone Around From, And Emirates To Berlin At Last

DESCRIPTION: Airports Company South Africa has posted a R1.2 billion profit on R8.81 billion of revenue, and Johannesburg airport still cannot keep its toilets open. Bryan and Ryan get to that, but first they own up to something every pilot has done at least once: carrying on with an approach that should have ended in a go-around. It starts with the rugby. Ryan was at FNB Stadium with the kids for the Springboks win, no flypast needed. Then the Miami 767 overrun gets the guys talking about their own bad approaches. Ryan remembers arriving into Durban horrendously high in his early CRJ days and orbiting on final to lose the height. Bryan remembers the opposite mistake, descending far too early into East London and sitting at 3,000 feet with the thrust levers up, while a training captain said nothing and let the lesson teach itself. Ryan explains why descent planning in the Beech 1900 is done the old-fashioned way, with maths, and why that keeps him honest. Then a listener question the guys have been saving for a show together: who was the worst captain you ever flew with? No names, no airline. What emerges is that the bad ones were rarely dangerous, just slow, and a slow captain on a six-sector day is a tax you pay in patience. From there it is night stops, the "slam lock" crews who never left the hotel room, why a good crew on a string of days could make or break a week, and how minimum rest and thin allowances are quietly killing the social side of the job. Bryan and Ryan's own friendship was built on night stops, so they want your stories, especially from the SAA crews who used to stop at Sal Island on the way to the States. Also this week: an app that lets you listen to live air traffic control at American airports, including the Miami ATC recording. Emirates has finally been approved to fly Dubai to Berlin, daily, after more than 20 years of asking. Air Astana is back in Dubai. Turkish Airlines will be on the Liverpool shirt. The United States has announced new visa restrictions aimed at South African officials. Sydney Airport has put 50 electric buses into service. And AAD is on in Pretoria, with the guys wondering what there is left to see. IN THIS EPISODE The Springboks at FNB, and why the rugby made up for the missing flypast. The approach you should have gone around from: Ryan high into Durban, Bryan low into East London. Why the best training captains sometimes say nothing. Descent planning in the Beech 1900 with no fancy screens to help. The worst captain you ever flew with: slow, not dangerous, and why that still costs you. Night stops, slam locks and the crew culture that minimum rest is killing. The Miami 767 overrun, and an app for listening to live air traffic control. Emirates cleared for Dubai to Berlin after 22 years. Air Astana back in Dubai, and Turkish Airlines on the Liverpool shirt. ACSA's R1.2 billion profit, and why Johannesburg airport still does not look like it. New US visa restrictions aimed at South Africa. Sydney Airport goes electric, AAD 2026, and why the AI conversation is coming back soon. I'm Bryan Roseveare. Fourteen years an airline pilot, now a simulator instructor. I train the pilots flying you around. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE ATC - Live Air Traffic Radio (US airports only, seven-day trial) → https://apps.apple.com/za/app/atc-live-air-traffic-radio/id6755132266 SOURCES Emirates wins approval for Dubai to Berlin after a 22-year push, Simple Flying → https://simpleflying.com/emirates-wins-major-germany-breakthrough-22-year-berlin-push/ ACSA revenue climbs to R8.81 billion, IOL (9 September 2026) → https://iol.co.za/business/2026-09-09-acsas-revenue-climbs-to-r881-billion-as-passenger-numbers-grow/ Announcement of new visa restriction policy, US State Department (15 September 2026) → https://www.state.gov/releases/office-of-the-spokesman/2026/09/announcement-of-new-visa-restriction-policy-targeting-foreign-nationals-involved-in-race-based-discrimination Air Astana resumes Dubai services, TTR Weekly → https://www.ttrweekly.com/site/2026/09/air-astana-resumes-dubai-services-2/ Liverpool announce five-year shirt deal with Turkish Airlines, Al Jazeera (8 September 2026) → https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2026/9/8/liverpool-announce-five-year-shirt-sponsorship-deal-with-turkish-airlines Sydney Airport unveils electric bus fleet, Australian Aviation → https://australianaviation.com.au/2026/09/sydney-airport-unveils-new-electric-bus-fleet/ SUPPORT THE SHOW Every episode, the full back catalogue and everything we talk about on the show lives in one place. If you only click one link today, make it this one. Bryan Air → https://bryanairpodcast.com/ Support on Patreon → https://www.patreon.com/bryanair