Executive Committee

Brian O'Donovan: AVPA-SA Vice President

Tel: 083-415-6043

Brian is a Captain at South African Airways.

Franchua Howard: Elected Member (Helicopters)

Tel: 082 868 7365

Cobus Toerien: Elected Member

Tel: 083-415-6043

Cobus was born in Pretoria on 20 February 1956, and joined the South African Air Force in 1974. After completing the SAAF pilots course on Harvards and Impalas, he obtained a B.Mil degree from the Military Academy, followed by operational flying tours and operational experience on the Impala Mk2 and the Mirage F1CZ.

He has been involved in Aviation Safety and Accident Investigation since 1981, when he completed a Diploma course with the University of Southern California, and after a 5-year flying tour on Cheetah aircraft types as the Officer Commanding 2 Squadron, he joined South African Airways in 1999, as an Accident Investigator, Flight Safety Manager and a Human Factor/CRM facilitator.

Cobus obtained an ATP license in 2004 and commenced flying at SAA on the Boeing 738 and the Airbus 330 & 340 types, domestic, regional and mostly international routes, until retirement in February 2019, with a total of 12,000 flying hours, of which 2,000 on Supersonic types.

Since 2008, he has been the Airline Pilots' Association of South Africa Chairman Accident Analysis and Prevention Committee (AAP), and since about 2013, an IFALPA-accredited Aircraft Accident Investigator. Since 2014, he has sat on the AVPA-SA Executive Committee.

Since 2017 Cobus has been the aviation safety specialist for the Human Factor Hub (HFH), and after retiring from SAA in February 2019, he worked as an independent Aviation Safety Advisor and Human Factor Training Facilitator.

Other contract work includes the following:

• Since 2020, HFH CRM facilitator for CemAir Crews, and Trident Mines in Zambia since 2025.
• The Air Safety Manager for Incomar Aeronautics since 2021.
• Three years at Henley Business School as the Manager of Safety and Security from 2020 to 2023.
• Human Factor training for Aircraft Accident Investigating courses with Enterprises, Tuks University.
• CRM training for AIFA flying instructors.
• Guest speaker on aviation safety matters, as and when required.

Cobus is married to Yolande and has 2 sons, Carlo aged 26, and Vian aged 23.

He says, "Aviation remains a passion, and I am trying to give back from my experience gained in aviation for the past 50 years".

He joined the Friends of the SAAF Museum at SWKP in early 2024, to look after our heritage, and his duties include cleaning aircraft and hangars, and showing visitors around!

Carl Bollweg: Elected Member/IFALPA Director

Tel: 083-260-7521

Carl qualified for his SAAF wings in July 1983. His tours included 42 Squadron (Bosbok), CFS Dunottar (Harvard), 84 LAFS (C172 and BE58) and 41 Squadron (C208). After spending 12 years in the SAAF, he joined Comair in November 1993 (F27, ATR42 and B732). In September 2000, he joined SAA (B747 Classic and -400, B732, B733 and B738, A330 and A340). He left SAA in August 2020, and rejoined in January 2025 as a simulator instructor.

Carl joined the ALPA-SA Exco in 1994 and served as Chairman of the HUPER Committee, Technical Director, Vice-President and President. He has been the IFALPA Regional Vice-President for the AFI South Region since 2007.

"My passion for AVPA-SA and IFALPA is firmly based on the mission of IFALPA which is to promote the highest level of aviation safety worldwide and be a global advocate of the piloting profession, providing representation, services and support to both our members and the aviation industry."

Lee Peters: Elected Member

082-507-7804

Lee is currently an SAA pilot.

Yougan Govender: Elected Member

Tel: 083-444-7401

Yougan flies for South African Airways.

Prashanth Naidu

Tel: 083-376-2281

Pras Naidu is currently an SAA pilot.

Joanne Rainier-Pope: Elected Member/GM

Tel: 082-926-2793

Joanne's flying journey began in 1988 while she was working full-time as an accountant for a property company. What started as a hobby soon became a deeply rewarding 30-year airline career, during which she flew for both Airlink and South African Airways. Over the years, she has operated a range of aircraft, including the ATR42, Boeing 737-200, Boeing 737-800, Airbus A320, and Airbus A340.

At AVPA, her focus is on advancing and addressing issues affecting female pilots. She encourages you to bring any challenges to her attention—she will ensure they are raised and represented at the IFALPA Female Pilots Committee on your behalf.

Graham Botes: SAAPA Chairman

Tel: 082-859-1415

Neville Potgieter: CPA Chairman

Tel: 082 326 7260

Duncan Githiri: Secretary/Treasurer

Tel: 083-515-1911

Duncan is a pilot for South African Airways.

Wendy Santilhano: Mayday-SA

Tel: +49 170 625 4171

I believe that life is a journey and presents us with the most amazing opportunities for discovery and growth.

In high school I decided that I wanted to learn to fly. I did not manage to do so for many years. After school I studied psychology and statistics at UCT. Over many years I have pondered how to integrate two of my passions: working with people, and, flying.
After my undergraduate degree I worked at UCT doing student advising with the students in university bridging programmes. From there I moved to the University of the Western Cape where I implemented a campus-wide student financial aid project.

In 1994, I left to study a Master’s in Intercultural Management in the USA. Aside from South Africa in general, this became a time of personal transition. I realized that it was important for me to ‘live without regret’…this paradigm became the catalyst to following my dream. I found a flight school in San Diego and began to learn to fly. Completing my degree led me to do an internship in the CRM section of North West Airline’s Flight Operations, and 2 wonderful years in Minneapolis.

In 1998 I returned to South Africa with my FAA Commercial license. In 2000 I got a job as a charter pilot at Rossair. Currently I fly as a first officer on A319s for SAA.
While flying charter, I study various counseling and psychology courses.

In 2009 I studied Personal Life Coaching. Currently am practicing as a coach and working towards my accreditation. My field of focus and interest is Coaching Pilots, to explore the role and relevancy of coaching for flight crews. I hope to pursue this avenue in further graduate studies.

Presently, I am spearheading the implementation of AVPA’s Wellbeing portfolio to establish structures to address the mental and emotional issues that confront pilots.

In my spare time - I dance.

Cobus Toerien: Technical Director (Temp) and AAP Chairman

Tel: 083-381-3084

Carl Bollweg: Technical Director

Tel: 083-260-7521

Carl qualified for his SAAF wings in July 1983. His tours included 42 Squadron (Bosbok), CFS Dunottar (Harvard), 84 LAFS (C172 and BE58) and 41 Squadron (C208). After spending 12 years in the SAAF, he joined Comair in November 1993 (F27, ATR42 and B732). In September 2000, he joined SAA (B747 Classic and -400, B732, B733 and B738, A330 and A340). He left SAA in August 2020.

Carl joined the ALPA-SA Exco in 1994 and served as Chairman of the HUPER Committee, Technical Director, Vice-President and President. He has been the IFALPA Regional Vice-President for the AFI South Region since 2007.

"My passion for AVPA-SA and IFALPA is firmly based on the mission of IFALPA which is to promote the highest level of aviation safety worldwide and be a global advocate of the piloting profession, providing representation, services and support to both our members and the aviation industry."