Hub's CoachLabers take to the skies!

maxum Business Incubator Manager Jill Sawers and Martin Manmohan (middle left and right) seen with Helibip representatives Frikkie Boltman (left) and Dave Mouton (right). The CoachLabers were all smiles as they wished three of their colleagues well before the helicopter took to the skies. Front row sitting Ltr, Philip Adar, Peter Okunzi, Verusha Aboo, Velile Mnisi. Front row standing Ltr, George James, Lucien Jordaan, Arnhem Bezuidenhout. Back row Ltr, Patience Kgonyane, Nicole Steyn, Gosiame Tshetlanyane, Moshe Masonta. A different angle - an aerial shot of the Hub precinct taken by Johan Bouwer offers a different perspective of the site to the everyday 'ground-level' view.

Thanks to Helibip, a local aircraft and helicopter charter company based at the Wonderboom Airport, three of the Hub's CoachLabers recently had the opportunity to take to the skies in a helicopter for a bird's eyeiew of the Hub precinct and surrounding areas. At the same time, resident photographer, Johan Bouwer of the Naledi3d Factory, used the opportunity to photograph the buildings at the Hub from up high.

The airborne adventure resulted from the brief to the CoachLabers to redesign the CoachLab website. Since visual imagery was identified as an important component of the new website and attempts to photograph two Ferrari's often seen at the Hub, photographer Johan Bouwer helped to secure the helicopter, free of charge, from Helibip.

After the aerial photo shoot, the three lucky students - Arnhem Bezuidenhout, Verusha Aboo and Peter Okunzi - took to the skies for a short but inspiring ride.

According to Arnhem, it was an exhilarating experience. "We flew from the Hub into Hatfield and could survey the area from a truly unique perspective. Seeing Pretoria from the air painted a different picture. Everything is green and what is usually rather chaotic at ground level looked calm and organised from high above the ground."

Verusha's response upon exiting the helicopter - she had never been in the air before - was that her initial trepidation quickly disappeared. "Once we were in the air I felt as if I never wanted to come down again! It was a really amazing experience, especially when the pilot had to turn the helicopter around, which is done at an angle … and you feel as if you are going to fall out the window! I loved every minute of it and would do it again, anytime, hands down!"

And Peter confirmed that they had fun. "Although I've been in a plane before, this was my first time in a helicopter. It was very different and a lot more fun. Especially when we were so high up that we could see The Innovation Hub and University of Pretoria in totality - a far cry from the daily views at ground level."

Thank you Helibip for the generous offer and the opportunity for the CoachLabers to have a truly unique experience. For information about Helibip, contact them at (012) 543 3695 or
083 269 8953 or via email at helibip@iafrica.com.

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