SAX Fleet Captains
Walter Bacchialoni and Manie Geldenhuys
A Passion for Flying and Serving

Just five minutes in the company of these two gentlemen is enough to realise that Manie Geldenhuys and Walter Bacchialoni have two things in common: a burning passion for what they do, and the wonderful ability not to take life too seriously. They also make a lot of jokes. But between the wisecracks, teasing, and bursts of laughter, you quickly sense their zest for life. And yet, beneath their light-hearted approach to life, there is no mistaking a sense of utter professionalism, firm control and profound passion for their vocation.

Both Manie and Walter are Fleet Captains for South African Express Airways. Manie is responsible for the Dash 8 fleet, consisting of seven aircraft, while Walter is responsible for the six Canadair Regional Jets in the fleet. Their primary task is to ensure that the pilot pool have adequate resources to optimally perform their respective jobs. Their responsibilities include supplying the pilots with the correct standard manuals, seeing to the safe operation of the aircraft, making sure that pilots adhere to and comply with aviation and airline rules and regulations, and resolving any problems that may arise. Both Manie and Walter follow normal flying programmes, except for Tuesdays and Thursdays when they are in the office to attend to their management objectives.

Both these men have realised from a young age that they wanted to fly, and they have never considered anything else as a career option. After he matriculated, Manie joined the South African Air Force where he completed his officer’s course and flight training. He remained in the Air Force for 26 years before joining South African Express Airways in 1999. Walter started out by flying small charter aircraft, and was with SAFAIR from 1978 until 1994, after which he joined South African Express Airways. These two Fleet Captains both share the vision of a bright future that awaits South African Express Airways. “Although aviation is an expensive industry, one must try to keep ahead of competition,” Walter comments. “But exciting times are ahead of us!”

Like any other job, being a Fleet Captain has its joys and challenges. In Manie’s opinion, the biggest challenge is to do things right because no flight is ever the same, and each flight needs to be perfect – exactly like the previous flight. He adds that the main challenge of his position as Fleet Captain is that you never know what will be coming your way next. Walter also emphasises the mastering of new technology as a challenge for both the Fleet Captains and the Fleet Pilots. “The nature of my job keeps me motivated, simply because you always have to do things correctly, safely, and on time,” he adds.

Walter and Manie are in complete agreement about the joys of their work: to be able to fly! Along with his family, Walter regards his privilege to fly as his greatest achievement in life. With a career that spans several decades, Manie embraces the continuous cycle of achieving one goal or mastering one skill at a time, only to strive toward and achieving the next goal and skill. He also values Walter’s input and flying experience, with both of them using each other as a sounding board.

Both men are dedicated family men, considering their families as their most valuable possessions. Walter and his wife have one daughter and two grandchildren, while Manie has a daughter of eleven and a son of six. In his spare time, Manie is a dashing racing car driver, and the proud owner of his own single seater Formula V car. At home he is quite the handyman, spending most of his energy on home improvement projects. Manie’s perfect day? Sailing with a light breeze in the sails and the warm sun on his back.

Walter enjoys going for walks and being in nature, and is likely to spend most of his money on books. Born in France and fluent in Italian, it would be logical to assume that Walter would do all the cooking at home, but he confesses to only doing “about one-third of the cooking.” And yet, he is not shy to boast about making “really good spaghetti.” Walter’s perfect day? Reading a good book somewhere in the bush.

Looking back over their flying careers, both pilots share a veritable fountain of memorable events. Manie mentions a “change over” in the Antarctic, where he spent two months, as an all time career highlight, and Walter fondly remembers his first overseas trip at the command of an airplane.

The only piece of advice they would give young aspiring pilots is to make sure of having just one thing: a fiery passion for flying. They both agree that if the passion to fly is there, the rest will follow by itself.

When asked to summarise their lives in a few words, Walter answers without hesitation: “Different and challenging!” Manie sums it up as “exciting,” and “achieving more than I ever thought I would.” And their life philosophies say something about how they approach life. “Don’t sweat the small stuff,” is Walter’s advice. “Strive to be fair to the people you work with,” is Manie’s admonition.

Whatever these two men do, two things are for certain: they were born to fly, and they enjoy every part of the journey of life.