Solenta Aviation's Head Office is based at Broadacres, Fourways close to the Lanseria International Airport just outside of Johannesburg city centre. Our head office controls and monitors the company's aircraft operations throughout Africa.
Solenta Aviation's Workshop is based at Lanseria International Airport, providing Solenta Aviation and its customers with full maintenance support.
Solenta's integrated software solutions provide field staff with easy access to aircraft and personnel baselines, enabling managers to control the day-to-day running of operations and maintenance.
Johannesburg
Solenta Aviation operates a network of aircraft out of Johannesburg International Airport each day on DHL Worldwide Express operations. These extend into Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Zambia. Aircraft type includes Cessna C208 Grand Caravans and B1900D freighter aircraft.
African and Middle East Operations
The company is prepared to operate anywhere on the continent, having conducted business in and between many African destinations and the Middle East, including:
Satellite operations in Africa are well-supported by Solenta's head office personnel, who have operational control of these bases. Each base of operation in which Solenta operates are equipped to provide aircraft, flight crew and maintenance personnel. The establishment of Solenta companies in African counties (inclusive of AOC and AMO entities) is part of our drive to become fully autonomous in our clients' environments, thereby satisfying the requirement of local aviation authorities.
We currently also operate an ATR42 on scheduled passenger operation into Vilanculos, Mozambique. Maintenance is completed at Johannesburg Oliver Tambo International Airport.
Management Team
Paul Hurst
Managing Director
Paul matriculated in 1991 at St Georges College, Zimbabwe. He joined Deloitte & Touche Tohmatsu International Audit Practice in January 1992, studying for B Compt UNISA. Paul soon realised that aviation was his passion and continued his studies for his Airline Transport Pilot License.
Having already attained his PPL and CPL at Pegasus Flight Training in Zimbabwe, Paul went on to be an Instructor there. Moving on, he flew various contracts on multi-engine aircraft, and having attained his ATPL, he joined Air Zimbabwe on the Boeing 737-200. Paul left Air Zimbabwe in 1997 to join Cathay Pacific Airways on the 747-200 'Classic' initially, and then onto the Boeing 747-400. Now holding 3 ATPL licenses, with a resume including instruction, contract flying, airline short, medium, long and ultra-long haul, Paul decided to engage in a new challenge. Having seen the potential of Solenta Aviation, he decided to leave Cathay Pacific to pursue this new challenge.
In October 2006, he joined Solenta Aviation as Chief Pilot, later becoming Flight Operations Manager, then Director Flight Operations, and now Managing Director.
Paul is married to Lara, and they have 2 young daughters, Jessica Tate and Madison Ray.
Eugene matriculated Monument High School, Krugersdorp in 1995.
He started his Aviation Career with Progress Air Charter at Lanseria Airport in January 1998 as Operations Clerk. Promotion to Operations Manager followed in 2000. He also completed his PPL in 2003.
Seeking new challenges, Eugene joined Solenta Aviation 11th September 2006 as Contracts Operations Controller for the humanitarian contracts (WFP & ICRC) and promotion to DHL Operations Manager 1st February 2008.
Eugene is now the New Contracts Operations Manager.
After School and University, Sharon tried Computer programming, Agricultural Research and Metallurgical Research. Then she found a passion in Aviation. She obtained her PPL and CPL at Pegasus Flight Training in Zimbabwe. She was the Chief Instructor for Mashonaland Flying Club during February 1994 to August 1996 with 8 full time instructors working for her. She was one of the major organisers for the two international airshows held at Charles Prince Airport and also flew demonstration flights during the airshow.
She left Zimbabwe during August 1996 and moved to South Africa. She worked as a Flying Instructor from September 1996 to June 2000 at Rand Airport, Gemiston. She also taught CPL subjects for Aeronav Academy and wrote their Aviation Medicine Manual. From July 2000 to November 2000 she studied for and gained her JAA ATPL with PPSC in Bournemouth in the UK. She joined Rossair Contracts in Johannesburg during November 2000 as Senior Operations Controller until January 2005.
In February 2005 she joined Solenta Aviation as Operations Manager and works with Fanie van Staden, her Operations Controller team mate to deliver an efficient, safe operation across their dedicated contracts.
Vicky Payne started in the Aviation world in 2000, working at Wings n Things Pilot Shop based at Lanseria Airport. She caught the aviation bug and moved on to Rossair Contracts in 2002 where she worked for 3 years. After being retrenched from Rossair in 2005, she started with Solenta Aviation as the S&C / East Africa Operations Controller in February 2005. In 2007, in need of change, she moved in to the DHL West Africa / Pelican Ops Controller position and in 2008 was subsequently promoted to Operations Manager. Vicky works with her Operations Controller, Juan Thessner, providing close attention to all their clients and contracts.
Ronald has a degree in Aviation Management, a private pilot's licence, and is presently studying towards a commercial pilot's license.
Ronald has worked in the aviation industry since he left college. He has worked all over Africa as a field-office controller, at headquarters as an operations controller. His dedication, ability and passion earned him a role as Operations Manager for Solenta Aviation, managing several aircraft on a daily basis for key clients.
Ronald and his Operations Controller, Anita Enslin are focussed on ensuring a smooth, safe and efficient operation on their contracts.
Michael has been with Solenta Aviation as a Captain for several years, flying the C208B, the B200, B1900C/D and ATR42/72. Michael left Solenta briefly to study for his JAR ATPL and went on to fly the Boeing 747-200 for a year, until the economic recession hit and he was made redundant. Mike then joined Solenta Aviation again as a Route and Area aircraft performance analyst, before moving into the Chief Pilot role.
Michael is presently also studying for a B.Com in business management.
Johann was raised around aircraft from a very young age. His father, Johann Snr, is also a pilot and aircraft owner since 1980, hence his passion for aviation. Johann Jnr. finished his PPL in 1998 at age 17 and matriculated the year after from Pietersburg High School. He then pursued his CPL and ATPL studies and in 2002 landed his first flying job in Zambia - flying tourists, hunters and businessman for a local domestic carrier. Johann left Zambia in 2005 to join Solenta Aviation as a contract Captain flying for the various aid and freight companies.
Johann’s experience naturally led him into aviation management and was appointed as Chief Pilot, and later Manager Flight Operations.
Mark matriculated in 1991 at St Georges College, Zimbabwe. He joined Deloitte & Touche Tohmatsu International Audit Practice in January 1992 and completed B Compt UNISA.
He joined DHL Aviation Africa in March 1998 as the Finance Director for Africa. He then joined Solenta Aviation (Pty) Ltd in August 2003, as Managing Director. This followed a six-month secondment to Solenta Aviation from DHL Aviation Africa between October 2002 and March 2003, inclusive.
Rudi matriculated Windhoek High School, Namibia in 1990. He obtained his B.A. Degree at the University of the Orange Free State with majors in Political Science and History during 1995.
He completed a SAAF Officers course in March 1996. He obtained his private pilot's license at 43 Air School. He joined Solenta Aviation (Pty) Ltd as Operations Manager during January 2003 and became Operations Director in January 2004. He was promoted to Managing Director for Solenta Aviation in February 2006. Rudi is now the Commercial Director for Solenta.
After Matriculating from Sir Pierre van Ryneveld High School in 1993, Leon studied BCompt degree at UNISA. Having passed his degree (Accounting Cum Laude), he completed BCompt Honours and went on to pass the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants Board Exam in March 1998.
He began his career at PricewaterhouseCoopers as an article clerk and progressed through the ranks to the level of Senior Manager. His client portfolio included 43 Air School, National Airways Corporation and SAFAIR. In July 2004, he decided to continue a life long passion for Aviation by accepting a position at Solenta Aviation as the Financial Manager. On the 1st of January 2005, he was appointed Financial Director of Solenta Aviation and promoted to Group Finance Director in February 2006.
Roland Jones attended Lyttelton Manor High School and matriculated in 1970. He joined the South African Airforce in 1971 and flew the Harvard, Impala, Canberra and the B707. This included 2 years with the Silver Falcon Aerobatic Team. Over and above his flying dutires, he served as Adjudant, Instructor, Operations Co-ordinator, Chief Training Captain B707, and Maintenance Test Pilot, retiring as a Major in 1994.
He joined South African Express Airways in 1994 as part of the start up team and served as Line Pilot, Audit Captain, Training Captain and Manager Flight Operations, leaving in 2001. He then flew the B747 for Hydro Cargo, Air Namibia and Air Atlantic icelandic over the period 2001 until 2005.
Roland worked for Solenta Aviation from January to December 2003 as Chief Pilot and Chief Training Captain. He rejoined Solenta Aviation in September 2005 as Manager Flight Standards (Chief pilot) and was promoted to Operations Director in February 2006 and then Director Training, Standards and Licensing in January 2009.
