SA Airways would celebrate Jacob Zuma's official inauguration as president by performing a flyover above the Union Buildings in Pretoria, the airline said on Friday.

"At 12.02pm on the inauguration day, three SAA aircraft will be visible over the official residence of the presidency," it said in a statement.

The aircraft that would be performing the flyover were an Airbus A340-300 and two A340-600s.

They would then return to OR Tambo International Airport.

Each aircraft would be operated by several of SAA's most accomplished and senior pilots. They are head of flight operations and chief pilot captain Johnny Woods; chief training captain Scully Levin; senior first officer Richard Smit Flight; operations quality manager captain Stewart Lithgow; A340 senior training captain Les Wahl; fleet captain A340 William Rooken-Smith; flight operations business manager captain Flippie Vermeulen and A340 senior training captain and senior first officer Neil Trollip.

While two pilots were required to operate the aircraft, an additional pilot would accompany each aircraft as a safety measure.

A Civil Aviation Authority inspector would also be onboard.

All of the operating pilots had flight display ratings and extensive experience in heavy jetliner formation flying, the airline said.

A dry-run of the display would be done on Friday using two Harvard aircraft and SAA's A340 flight simulator.

The performing aircraft would also be airborne early on Saturday morning for the operating pilots to carry out a practice run before the official display.

"SAA is internationally renowned for its world-class formation flying as well as memorable flyovers performed at a number of high profile events within the country."

These included the inauguration of former president Thabo Mbeki in 1995 and 2004 as well the flyover exercise during the opening of the 1995 Rugby World Cup over Ellis Park Stadium.

The SA National Defence Force (SANDF) would also be participating in the event as instructed by its current commander-in-chief President Kgalema Motlanthe.

At the start of proceedings, the chief of the SANDF General Godfrey Ngwenya, the chief of joint operations, Lieutenant General Themba Matanzima, the chief of the SA Army, Lieutenant General Solly Shoke, the chief of the SA Air Force, Lieutenant General Carlo Gagiano, the chief of the SA Navy, Vice Admiral Refiloe Mudimu and the Surgeon General, Lieutenant General Vijay Ramlakan, would lead Motlanthe to the podium.

In a statement, the SANDF said following the swearing in ceremony of Zuma a national salute would be sounded.

This would comprise a guard of honour by the national ceremonial guard, a 21-gun salute by the 88mm gun troop from the artillery mobilisation regiment from Potchefstroom, a salute flight by four helicopters of the SA Air Force, a massed fly past by aircraft of the SA Air Force and an air display by the Silver Falcons

Following the air display there would be a final national salute and the national anthem would be played by the guard band.

Sapa

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