LET ME START OFF with the good stuff. It really is commendable that the SACAA scored 92% in its latest ICAO audit.
Under the leadership of Ms Poppy Khoza (yes really), this ICAO rating has been the prime objective, even if it is sometimes at the expense of the industry’s growth and development.
The importance of achieving this high rating must not be understated. Imagine what would happen if South Africa’s rating was going steadily backwards, like so much else in our beloved country. The industry would heap opprobrium on the government and regulator and say that the decline in aviation regulation standards is just another typical African governance failure.
Instead, we have a world-class aviation regulator. This is great comfort to those who rely on South African aviation standards. This includes international businessmen and tourists who fly into South Africa and use local airlines. It also includes all the flight schools who must have their standards internationally accepted. And it applies to every pilot who needs to have his licence recognised in another country.
I must also record that, despite my carping that the CAA all too often regulates the industry into the ground, it is also trying to develop general aviation. I specifically note the relaunch of its
Civil Aviation Industry Awards (CAIA) initiative. While many may like to think that this is a smug opportunity for overpaid civil servants to flaunt their conspicuous consumption of brands, it cannot be argued that it is good to recognise and reward excellence in the industry.
That’s enough of being nice to the regulator.
Esta historia es de la edición May 2023 de SA Flyer Magazine.
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Esta historia es de la edición May 2023 de SA Flyer Magazine.
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SACRIFICE
John continues his anecdotes about the sacrifices he has had to make in the course of his helicopter bush flying career.
KENYA - SAA PARTNERSHIP DELAY
KENYA AIRWAYS AND South African Airways announced the establishment of a highly anticipated Pan-African Airline Group three years ago.
TO PARIS FOR LUNCH
One morning I arrived back at Lanseria from a two day charter to a dreary Northern Cape iron mine. Entering the terminal, I removed my wings and epaulets, thrust them into my flight bag, and headed for the restaurant.
ASCA'S MPUMI MPOFU: READY FOR TAKE-OFF
Ms Mpumi Mpofu has occupied the hot seat as Chief Executive of ACSA, the Airports Company of South Africa for a tumultuous past four years.
HYDROGEN POWERED PLANE TESTED
WORLD’S LARGEST liquid hydrogen-powered aircraft, using a 1 MW fuel cell engine, has been tested.
CAMEROON - BLAMES BOEING
BOEING JUST CANNOT STAY out of trouble. It has become the whipping boy for endless absurd claims.
IRIS GOES TO SOMALIA
Having spent the last couple of years flying to a rota, I was thoroughly enjoying the freedom and randomness of flying charters at Sunbird Aviation.
TELEPORTATION
One of the best clients for whom I ever flew was BP, the British oil giant. I was with them in Algeria for about seven years, from the very start of their large gas projects, right in the heart of the Sahara Desert, near the small towns of In Amenas and In Salah.
FEBRUARY 2023
February has shown steady growth in the number of aircraft registered. Four fixed wing and one helicopter were added while the non-type certified (NTCA) register grew by seven.
RIGHT SEAT RULES NO. 16 FUEL SYSTEMS WHY SO COMPLICATED?
You know those aggranoying people who say, “Oh I wouldn't fly in one of those little things - you can't just pull over and fix it if something goes wrong\"? What makes this particularly irritating is that the bastards are right.