Tips for travel planning

Publicity-Happy Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary has caused outrage in the UK by suggesting commercial aircraft need only one pilot.

In an interview with Bloomberg BusinessWeek magazine, O'Leary said: "Why does every plane have two pilots?"

O'Leary, famous for his controversial cost-saving ideas such as standing-only space for passengers and charging to use the toilets, continued: "Let the bloody computer fly the aircraft."

He added that cabin crew could be trained to land the aircraft should the pilot become incapacitated.

Pilots and flight crew unions have said the idea is preposterous, The Telegraph reports.

2. Bosman festival coming up

THE 16th annual Herman Charles Bosman festival will take place in the North West town of Groot Marico from October 15 to 17.

The festival includes one-man performances, Bosman story-telling by Oom Schalk Lourens (played by Eric Nobbs), live bands, a mampoer-distilling demo, outdoor bread-making, art workshops and tree spotting.

See www.marico.co.za, mail info@marico.co.za or phone 0832722958 for details.

3. Bus company to expand

WESTERN Cape tour bus company Hylton Ross Tours plans to begin operating throughout the country on the back of an expected increase in tourism.

The company, which currently operates only in the Western and Eastern Cape provinces, is to start running its coaches from its Sandton depot in Johannesburg next month.

The 30-year-old company will have 70 vehicles in its fleet by the time national operations begin.

4. Hard rocking at the Parys Dome festival

PARYS is holding its annual Domefest from November 6 to 7 - part adventure sport, part open-air concert and part town fête with street parades, camel-riding, potjiekos competitions and a bit of white-water rafting. See www.parys.co.za, mail domefest@parys.co.za or phone 0568114000.