The skies above Cape Town will come alive with some of the world's most advanced aircraft on 20 and 21 September, when the Africa Aerospace & Defence air show takes place at Air Force Base Ysterplaat.

At least 50 000 people are expected to attend the air show each day, which will feature daily flying displays by the latest Air Force aircraft, including Gripen, Hawk, Agusta A109, and the Super Lynx, Rooivalk and Oryx helicopters.

The City of Cape Town has a traffic management plan in place for the event, and additional traffic officers will be deployed to assist in regulating traffic.

Traffic Services has called on the public to co-operate to ensure a smooth flow of traffic to and from the event, and be patient, as congestion is expected on the N1, Koeberg Road and the Interchange.

The AAD expo kicked off on 17 September with a trade show featuring over 400 exhibitors from 30 countries, all housed in 11 main halls. It is the biggest aerospace, defence and security exhibition in Africa.

The previous AAD expo, held in Cape Town in 2006, drew 90 000 spectators and 22 000 professional trade visitors, bringing an estimated R111-million into the Cape Town economy.

A maritime display of the naval fleet will take place at the V&A Waterfront, which is expected to draw a crowd of 15 000 people.

Visitors are reminded that no firearms, pets or alcohol will be allowed into the venue. Refreshments, fast food and alcohol will be available for sale, but picnic baskets are welcome.

More info
More details about the event, parking areas and entrance gates can be found on the AAD website: www.aadexpo.co.za.  Click here to download detailed map. Call the AAD call centre on 021 5086414 or email aad2008@yesterplaat.org.za.

Tickets
Visitors are urged to purchase tickets for the air show in advance. They are available at a discounted rate at Cape Town Tourism and the NSRI offices. There will be no credit card facilities at ticket booths. Gates open from 06:00.

Gate ticket price:
R50 adults
R40 children
R40 pensioners

Prepaid tickets from NSRI and Cape Town Tourism.
Adults: R40
Children under 12: R30
Pensioners: R30

NSRI
The NSRI sells prepaid tickets from their head office, located at 1 Glen Gariff Road, Three Anchor Bay, tel 021 434 4011 (Mondays to Fridays 8:00 - 16:30) or alternatively from their shop situated in the V&A Waterfront (near Quay 4), tel 021 418 8302 (Mondays to Fridays 9:00 - 21:00). E-mail them on nsriship@iafrica.com to reserve your tickets/arrange collection.

Cape Town Tourism
Cape Town Tourism is located at the corner of Castle and Berg Streets, Cape Town (office hours only). Tel 021 487 6800. Alternatively, e-mail them for enquiries/to reserve tickets at info@tourism.co.za. 

Prepaid ticket holders may proceed directly to gate 5 off Koeberg Rd.  

Alternative routes to the air show:
From the Tygerberg area,
N1, N7 (northbound), left into Bosmansdam Rd, left into Koeberg Rd, left into Sable Rd – proceed 1.7km to the gate of Runway Parking Area (P1); OR

from Sable Rd,
left into Max Rd, right into Nahum Rd – gate approximately 400m from the bend to Runway parking Area (P1).

From Helderberg,
N2, Cape Flats area, travel along Vanguard Drive (N7) to Bosmansdam Rd.

From Blaauwberg & Atlantis area,
Marine Drive (R27), left into Boundary Rd, right into Koeberg Rd and enter Albow Rd at the library to gate P1.

From CBD area,
Table Bay Blvd, Marine Drive to Boundary Rd.

From Southern Suburbs area,
Black River Parkway (M5) will be heavily congested.

Limited parking is available at P3 – South end of the Air Force Base at the main entrance in Piet Grobler Street. Once this parking area is full, motorists are urged to travel 700m further to enter at the William Mason Rd gate to Runway P1.

A "stop & drop" area for public transport is allocated at the William Mason Rd gate. To ensure emergency vehicular access, no parking will be allowed within 50m of the main entrance gate in Piet Grobler Street.

An additional parking area and shuttle from Ratanga Junction to the Air Force base is also available on the two days.

Unreserved parking is also available at schools in the surrounding area, such as Ysterplaat Primary off Koeberg Rd, Buren High School, Poole Street, and Brooklyn Chest Hospital.