Cockpit Psychology


Advances in technology requires society to adapt to changes beyond the increased pace and efficiency, to increased safety and social accountability. 
To that end the pilot takes responsibility for human life both on board and on terra firma, while trying to protect his/her own livelihood by not being unnecessarily grounded. 

To assist in managing this process the aviation bodies of the world rely ever heavier on the psychologist. Johan Erasmus is such a psychologist, and commercial pilot advancing the quest in South Africa.
Johan Erasmus of Erasmustherapy.com

About Johan Erasmus

Johan is a registered Clinical Psychologist in private practice. He has a keen interest in Medical psychology and consults in various hospitals apart from his practice in Lynnwood Manor. He also has a keen interest in Aviation Psychology and sits on a National Advisory Panel on complex medical matters for the Director of Civil Aviation. He holds a Commercial Pilots Licence and Flight Instructors rating. During the time in private practice, he participated in various national, international workshops and conferences. He also co-­published various articles in popular magazines and also appear as a regular guest in a medical journal program on a community radio station, covering topics relating to psychology. 

Johan has a specific interest in the field of Aviation Psychology and Medical Psychology and apart from sessions done at the rooms in Lynnwood Manor, conduct hospital visits on request from medical specialists and personnel, or patients themselves. His keen interest in Aviation Psychology also stems from the fact that he is the holder of a Commercial Pilots Licence and Flight Instructors Rating. He is a member of the Civil Aviation Authority`s (CAA) Aviation Medical Committee where the purpose is to advise the Director of the CAA regarding complex medical problems that may place limitations on licence holders. 

He is part of the Pretoria Head and Neck Forum specialist group, associate member of the European Association for Aviation Psychology and a lifelong Honorary Rotary Foundation member.
    








Quiz-Night with Tony!


Ushering in the festive season like - well - a boss. Friendly competition, fun and banter reigned supreme as Tony: quiz-master extraordinaire coaxed every bit of general knowledge from our 2015-tired brains.

Pretoria Chapter - The Social One
Winning Team

4 teams battled it out but for once we really were all winners !

 Forging friendships and creating fond memories to last us until we meet again at the 2016 year kick-off bash - spoiler alert...beer will flow, 
humans will slide !






Team: 'Not Sure'
Team 'Big Bang'

Team: 'Army Ants'

Quiz-Master Tony - really a Master! 














  

The Largest Fossil Homonin find in Africa

Rick Hunter



Stargazing at a campfire, admiring sweeping vistas from a mountaintop or simply catching the first glimpse of the ocean enroute to you favorite vacation, we have all pondered the origins and vast greatness of creation and us the created.

Little wonder then we had a full-house as we readied ourselves to learn of the adventures of Rick Hunter a caver cum budding anthropologist who helped uncover historic clues to these age old questions.







The historical and scientific value of the treasure chest Rick Hunter stumbled upon is literally priceless and will remain long after the considerable media awareness and trending have subsided.










We were entertained not only by a jam packed array of photo's and diagrams but also actual video footage of Rick squeezing his frame through a space normally reserved for std soccer ball - it left us gasping for breath, much like our contortionist host !



More info on Rick and Homo Naledi?  National Geographic  Wikipedia





Excitement builds at Mensa Pretoria !



On 7 October 2015 Mensa Pretoria celebrated the 2015 Annual General by electing the 2016 committee. Anticipation rose with the promise of challenges headed, in no uncertain terms, by the 
2016 MENSA SA ANNUAL GATHERING.



Gratitude to Tim Knights who conveyed absolute charisma in facilitating the committee selection process and as such it is clear why he is a favourite among all Mensa chapters, turning a potentially tedious process into an all-together enjoyable one.
Check back soon for a a brief(enough) biography of the committee members and their portfolios.









 Botanical Gardens Day Out

 This year, on Saturday 24 January, Mensa Pretoria decided to try out a more informal setting with a wonderful venue inside of the Pretoria Botanical Gardens. It was a really lovely event where a jumping castle and child minder was provided for kids and informative and interesting past-times were presented by well-versed speakers.

The Speaker-topics were both linked to our out-and-about nature theme. We had a presentation on Bonsai crafting, a topic which even had the kids sit right up front at the tables. It was immensely interesting to see all of the different styles of crafting these trees as well as seeing what different types of trees turn into after several years of miniature pruning.

 The presentation was also wrapped up by a live demonstration, where our speaker took a young tree and demonstrated how he was shaping it with special gauge wire, and cutting at the right nodules on the branches.

 After the Bonsai session, we were fortunate enough to enjoy a presentation by the Ikebana society of Pretoria, lead by their chairperson who has received a special honour from the Emperor of Japan for her contributions and promotion of the Ikebana discipline in South Africa.

 Ikebana is all about building floral arrangements which are seasonal and adhere to certain strict guidelines. I will now shamelessly paste a Wikipedia entry on the approach as I could not possibly explain the approach to this art better myself:
More than simply putting flowers in a container, ikebana is a disciplined art form in which nature and humanity are brought together. Contrary to the idea of floral arrangement as a collection of particolored or multicolored arrangement of blooms, ikebana often emphasizes other areas of the plant, such as its stems and leaves, and draws emphasis toward shape, line, form. Though ikebana is a creative expression, it has certain rules governing its form. The artist's intention behind each arrangement is shown through a piece's color combinations, natural shapes, graceful lines, and the usually implied meaning of the arrangement.
Another aspect present in ikebana is its employment of minimalism. That is, an arrangement may consist of only a minimal number of blooms interspersed among stalks and leaves. The structure of a Japanese flower arrangement is based on a scalene triangle delineated by three main points, usually twigs, considered in some schools to symbolizeheaven, earth, and man and in others sun, moon, and earth. The container is a key element of the composition, and various styles of pottery may be used in their construction.


After these great sessions, BraaiBoy was on hand to serve up a tasty braai and everyone started settling down with friends new and old, to enjoy the rest of the afternoon.


Now enough with the talking, have a look at some photos taken on the day.
 
Compliments of the Season!  May 2015 hold only pleasant surprises for you and your loved ones.
 
To properly get into the swing of things, we would like to invite you to Mensa Pretoria’s Annual Year Kick-Off Function.  What better way than to ease into the New Year with good food, good company and a lekker kuier?
 
The details of our Year Kick-Off Function are as follows:
 
 
  • DATE:  Saturday, 24 January 2015
 
  • TIME:  09:00 – 15:00
 
  • CONCEPT:  Picnic-styled lunch in the form of a braai.  Mensa Pretoria will contribute towards your access fee to the Gardens, as well as the braaied meat and salads.  Our very own BraaiBoy will take care of the braai and salads, so you only need to bring your own drinks/refreshments, snacks and whatever else you would like to munch on during the day.
 
  • ENTERTAINMENT:  We will have two speakers addressing us and giving a demonstration on Ikebana and Bonsai.  For the little ones we have organized a jumping castle, as well as a child minder to help keep an eye on them.
 
  • COSTS:  For paid-up Mensa-members, as well as their spouses/partners/significant others and children, the costs will be R50.00 per adult and R20.00 per child under 12 years.  Mensa Pretoria will sponsor the remainder of the costs, which will include access to the gardens, food and entertainment.  If you would like to bring along more friends, they are welcome to join, but would have to book at the full price of R120.00 per adult and R80.00 per child under 12 years of age.  Please note that booking is essential – you will not be able to gain access to the event without your booking having been confirmed.
 
  • WHAT YOU NEED TO BRING ALONG:  As this event will take the form of a picnic, you must please bring your own blankets and chairs.  We are hoping for nice and sunny weather, so bring along your umbrellas and gazebos, if you have them.  Remember to bring your own plates and cutlery, drinks and snacks.
 
  • HOW TO BOOK:  Please forward your name and membership number, as well as the name(s) of your +1 and additional guests (if applicable), to events.pta@mensa.org.za .  You will receive a confirmation e-mail along with the payment details. Forward proof of payment to the same address once done.  Please make sure that your full booking particulars and payment reach us by no later than Wednesday, 21 January 2015, to enable us to confirm the numbers to our suppliers and hosts.
 
Should you have any queries, you are welcome to contact me, or any one of your trusty committee members.
 
We are hoping to see all of you there!
 
Kind regards

Beverley and the Mensa Pretoria Committee
 
Mensans,
 
Our Pretoria SiG coordinator will soon be sending out this notice to our membership. You are welcome to engage via the detail on this post as well.
 
Dear Members,
 
Please indicate if you are interested in any of the underneath ideas for SIG’s (Special Interest Group).
There are three options.
1.       Member – if you are interested but do not have the time to contact other SIG members and a venue.
2.       Organizer – depending of the size of the SIG, this position will also be the Chair. To organize SIG members and Venue.
3.       Chair - depending of the size of the SIG, this position will also be the Chair. To run the meeting (if needed) and keep SIG members within the rules of Mensa.
 
Please feel free to include any SIG’s you think might also be viable in the blank space under “Charity SIG” and I will update in the next newsletter.
 
Name
Description
Member
Organizer
Chair
Comment
Hiking
Hiking and mountain climbing
 
 
 
 
Fly-fishing
When fishing becomes an art form
 
 
 
 
Invention
Formal SIG where the best ideas will be made a reality
 
 
 
 
Social
different events, lots fun
 
 
 
 
LAN
Computer Gaming and Freeware exchange
 
 
 
 
Wine tasting
For the refined alcoholic with an intellectual problem
 
 
 
 
Philosophy
Anything goes - not for the easily offended
 
 
 
 
Board games
From Zombies to Risk, Chess to Coinage
 
 
 
 
Public speaking
Based on the toastmasters club
 
 
 
 
Vampire SIG
Play the victim! Donate your blood to the blood bank
 
 
 
 
007 SIG
Build up to the new 007 movie
 
 
 
 
Charity SIG
Use your time to help those in need
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Best regards
Kolver Kruger 
Nokia Ops Co - Southern Africa+27 79 490 6219
Please note that I will be on leave from the 12th of December 2014 until the 7th of January 2015
 
 

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