KEY PERSONEL
Christo Stroebel (CEO)
Christo joined AIFA as a Senior Ground School Instructor after retiring from the SA Air Force (SAAF), where he was an "A" Category Helicopter/Fixed Wing Flying Instructor.
He commanded the following units in the SAAF, 22 Squadron, Central Flying School at Langebaanweg and Air Force Base Ysterplaat in Cape Town.
He was also appointed Senior Staff Officer Helicopter Operations of the SAAF. He flew the following aircraft in the SAAF, Harvard, Cessna 185, Bosbok, Astra PC7, Kudu, Alouette 111, Puma and Oryx.
He was appointed AIFA Head of Training in 2016 and later in the year as AIFA Acting CEO. He left the company in 2017 but remained a consultant and was appointed CEO during March 2022.
Steven (Shouhua) Dai (CFO)
Steven holds a Master’s Degree of Accounting from the Chinese Academy of Fiscal Sciences.
He joined AVIC-International situated in Beijing as an accountant and joined the AIFA team as CFO in South Africa during 2017.
He is primarily responsible for managing the financial risk of the company. He is also responsible for financial planning and record-keeping as well as financial reporting to higher management.
Vernon Van Niekerk (HR MANAGER)
After matriculating in East London, Vernon completed a Bachelor's Degree in Human Resources at the University of Free State.
He has worked in HR, IR and general finance for more than 15 years. He was previously employed by KFC, Wimpy and Engen.
He joined AIFA as HR manager in 2017.
His motto in life: “We are in the people-business, empowering tomorrow's leaders.”
Theo Erasmus (HEAD OF TRAINING)
Theo started his Aviation career in 2008 after a successful tour in the South African Police for 24 years.
After obtaining his Instructors Rating, he worked at Loutzavia Flying School and then moved on to fly a C500 for a mining Company, Advanced Capital.
Theo is a Grade II Multi-engine instructor.
He joined AIFA in 2016 as CFI of the Beaufort West base, a position he held for 7 years. Theo was appointed as the Head of Training in 2023.
Jaco Nel (SAFETY & QUALITY MANAGER)
Jaco is a former South African Air Force Navigator with over 33-years aviation experience and accumulated over 4000 flying hours as Navigator and Navigator Instructor on C-130 Hercules and Boeing 707 aircraft.
In 2006 he was appointed AIS Manager and PANS-OPS Flight Procedure Designer at the SAAF Directorate Aviation Safety.
He joined AIFA in 2013 as Ground School instructor and later became Chief GroundSchool Instructor and Base Manager at AIFA George Base.
In 2023 Jaco was appointed as Safety and Quality Manager.