SAA beats rain and snow to meet computer deadline

CARGO TOOK front stage at Frankfurt Airport recently when in-and out-bound flights were being cancelled because of the driving rain, snow and generally appalling weather conditions.
South African Airways was faced with the dilemma. Its flight faced being grounded, but it had to convey one of the most precious items of freight consigned to it, and it had a deadline to meet.
In their possession was the third largest computer in terms of power in the world. Persetel wanted it delivered to First National Bank of Southern Africa - and the contract called for it to be delivered, installed and up and running within a month of arrival at SAA in Frankfurt.
Our office in Frankfurt, and particularly our ground crew, were magnificent, says SAA Cargo executive manager Charles Fairweather.
Among the chaos, as passengers and forwarders scrambled around check-in counters trying to confirm departure times, our people proved winners.
The clear thinking of the SAA Cargo staff managed to arrange a flight out of Frankfurt with minimal inconvenience.
A strong party of banking officials and security men were on hand at Johannesburg International Airport the following morning to greet the arrival.
At midnight on D-day, all connections to the brain of FNB's ATMs countrywide were cut for the new computer to be installed and linked up to the new machine. Persetel had three hours to complete the job and have all ATMs back on line and operational.
And they made it.
By Leonard Neill