Latest news with #SouthAfricanCivilAviationAuthority
IOL News
5 days ago
- Business
- IOL News
Reviving air travel: Tshwane's plans for Pretoria-Cape Town flights
Deputy Mayor Eugene Modise has announced City of Tshwane's plans to resume flights between Pretoria's Wonderboom National Airport and Cape Town. Image: File The City of Tshwane is working to resume flights between Pretoria and Cape Town, which were halted in 2018 due to profitability concerns. Deputy Mayor Eugene Modise disclosed the city's plans on Friday at Wonderboom National Airport, which hosted The Children's Flight 2025 programme. He said the airport is among the municipal strategic assets for revitalising the local economy, with plans to put it on the market in September. 'Our primary objective is to ensure that it is fully functional,' he said. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading He said the city will revive talks on resuming flights, aiming to get the South African Civil Aviation Authority to reactivate and renew the license for Pretoria-Cape Town flights, and also introduce a new route to Durban. The announcement follows the news in April that Messe Frankfurt South Africa would not renew its agreement with Tshwane to host AERO South Africa at Wonderboom National Airport after the 2024 edition. The three-day event was relocated to Lanseria International Airport, where it took place last month. Although the city acknowledged the economic benefits of AERO South Africa, it has since signed other initiatives with partners to utilise the airport. The 10th edition of The Children's Flight 2025 programme, which saw over 1,000 underprivileged children taking to the skies, aims to introduce young children to the aviation industry. The programme, supported by 150 pilots and over 100 nationwide sponsors, gave many children their first-ever helicopter experience. Modise said the initiative aims to expose children to various career paths in the industry, including pilots, technicians, engineers, and air controllers. He emphasised that shaping young minds begins with exposure, allowing children to envision greater possibilities, dream bigger, think smarter, and strive for excellence. 'Every opportunity provided to them today lays the foundation for the leaders, innovators, and change-makers of tomorrow,' he said. He highlighted the importance of the airport as a strategic economic engine for the city, driving tourism, trade, investment, and job creation. 'Its growth fuels local development and positions the capital as a key player in regional and international connectivity,' he said. Event organiser Felix Gosher said the event specifically targets underprivileged children from registered care facilities who would unlikely have the chance to fly otherwise. Tshwane's Member of the Mayoral Committee for Roads and Transport, Tlangi Mogale, said the initiative provides a great opportunity for children who might otherwise never experience flying, attracting local business support and bringing joy to children's faces.
The South African
11-06-2025
- Automotive
- The South African
SA aviation sector rocked by new ruling: 1 400 aircraft grounded, 300 000 jobs at risk
South Africa's aviation sector has been shaken by the South African Civil Aviation Authority's (SACAA) sudden enforcement of a controversial rule requiring all aircraft engines older than 12 years to undergo mandatory overhauls – regardless of flight hours or mechanical condition. The decision, which has grounded more than 1 400 fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters across the country, stems from SACAA's belief that a strict time-based overhaul regime is essential to maintaining flight safety. The cost of an overhaul in many cases may exceed the value of the aircraft, effectively rendering them obsolete. An industry with some 300 000 employees could be economically decimated by the ruling. According to SACAA, the enforcement of the 12-year engine overhaul rule is rooted in one key priority: Preventing mechanical failure that could result in fatalities. SACAA says it is aligning local regulations with the manufacturer-recommended 'calendar life' of engines, which typically advise overhauls every 12 years, irrespective of flight time. These timeframes are based on the understanding that materials degrade with age, even when engines are well-maintained or seldom used. The Authority points to international standards, including those of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the United States, which often require scheduled overhauls for commercial operations. A SACAA spokesperson told media this week: 'Aging components – particularly in critical engine assemblies – can experience metal fatigue, corrosion, and rubber degradation that are invisible during external inspections. 'Overhaul intervals are designed to identify these failures before they become safety risks.' Until recently, aircraft owners could make use of AIC 18.19, an exemption that allowed continued airworthiness via inspection, rather than calendar age. However, in 2023, SACAA rescinded that circular. The rationale? According to SACAA insiders, reliance on discretionary inspections introduced inconsistencies in compliance. Inspectors may vary in experience or overlook early signs of deterioration. The Authority has stated that the alternate compliance pathway was vulnerable to abuse and opened the door to unsafe flying. 'The blanket inspection exemption created a loophole. Safety cannot depend on subjective interpretations of engine health,' SACAA said in a statement. Although no recent high-profile accidents have been directly linked to old engines in South Africa, SACAA claims that international incident data shows a pattern: Infrequently flown engines tend to fail without warning due to internal corrosion or seal degradation. In 2019, for example, an engine failure in a privately operated aircraft in Botswana – later linked to long-term storage and inadequate internal inspection – raised red flags across the SADC region. SACAA is said to be taking a proactive stance to avoid a similar event within its own jurisdiction. There is also a compliance liability factor. As the aviation regulator, SACAA has obligations to the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and is required to maintain internationally accepted safety oversight standards. Any serious accident involving an ageing engine could lead to reputational damage, and worse, the downgrading of South Africa's aviation safety rating. Such a downgrade would affect international operations, potentially jeopardising South African air carriers' access to international airspace. 'If we wait for a major incident to act, we will have failed in our duty of care,' said one SACAA official, speaking on condition of anonymity. Despite widespread industry backlash, SACAA appears firm in its position that the rule is necessary for long-term aviation safety. Efforts by stakeholders to negotiate a conditional or phased implementation – similar to previous years – have so far been unsuccessful. Still, industry experts argue that the overhaul requirement ignores real-world usage patterns and may sacrifice economic stability without measurable safety gains. While SACAA insists its decision is safety-first, critics say the Authority has prioritised bureaucratic control over collaborative risk management. With no empirical evidence of increased incidents due to old but maintained engines, the aviation community continues to call for a return to a more nuanced, evidence-based approach. For now, unless SACAA reconsiders or provides a transitional path, South Africa's skies will remain quieter – and its aviation economy more uncertain. Are you happy with SACAA's 'safety-first' approach or do you believe there's more to this story? Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The Citizen
10-06-2025
- The Citizen
Flying a drone? Know the law first
When you attend a large public event, you might notice a drone flying over the crowd, however, local drone pilot Dillon Hoffman explains why this is often against regulations. Dillon has over three years of experience in the field of drones, holding a Remote Pilot Certificate (RPC) as well as certifications in both Safety Management Systems and Quality Management Systems. 'I currently serve as the chief pilot at a production company and regularly do freelance work for various other drone operators who are legally registered under the Unmanned Aircraft System Operator Certificate (UASOC) as required by the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA),' he explained. ALSO READ: Drone footage captures a whale of a time! He stated that drone operations in South Africa are governed by Part 101 of the South African Civil Aviation Regulations, with the SACAA enforcing compliance. Given that anyone can simply purchase a drone, it is essential to know how to fly one safely. Dillon provided some tips: • Be aware of your airspace and its limitations • Remain within visual line of sight (VLOS) • Avoid flying near people, roads, or airports without permission • Conduct pre-flight checks • Always use a device that adheres to safety standards • And very importantly, if you are flying for commercial purposes, you must operate under a UASOC. An RPC alone is insufficient ALSO READ: Sector 8 CPF welcomes newest member – Buzzy the drone! 'Some laws and regulations are often disregarded, including individuals who possess only their RPC and mistakenly believe it legally permits them to fly commercially. 'This is untrue. You must also operate under a UASOC. Many fly for payment or client work while claiming 'personal use'. Others operate drones under 250g and assume this is automatically legal, but they confuse it with rules from the USA. 'Those exceptions do not apply in South Africa. It is also common to fly over people, at night, or without permission on private property,' he explained. He emphasised that individuals should remain aware that they are personally liable for any damage or violations. 'You must understand that 'personal use' does not equate to commercial work. Once compensation or a client is involved, you must fly under a UASOC. The mere fact that a drone is small or under 250g does not grant you the right to operate it anywhere, South African regulations still apply,' he said. ALSO READ: Epic drone save Dillon pointed out that safety issues can arise if someone pilots a drone without adequate knowledge. 'This includes aviation hazards such as collisions with other aircraft and helicopters, injuries to people on the ground, disruption of emergency or police operations, and potential invasion of privacy or accidental violations of laws,' he explained. He noted that when an amateur pilot inadvertently breaks the law, the SACAA investigates complaints and can collaborate with the police or local authorities. Operating without an RPC or outside a UASOC constitutes a legal violation and may result in prosecution. 'You could be fined up to R50 000, face criminal prosecution, or risk losing your equipment and being permanently banned from commercial flights,' he warned. He added that laws are most commonly broken at festivals, beaches, parks, and tourist spots where individuals are unaware of airspace restrictions, including flying over people and property without permission or near airports or helicopter landing zones without permits. ALSO READ: #CITYNEWS – ABSA DRONE SHOW To remain qualified to operate a drone, you should: • Enrol in a SACAA-approved course • Obtain your Remote Pilot Certificate • Work under a company with a UASOC or establish your own with SACAA approval • Complete the necessary Air Law exam, practical assessments, and medical requirements Dillon stated that if you see someone operating a drone illegally, you can report it on to local police, or to municipalities and aviation safety bodies where applicable. 'The future of drones is full of potential, from film and photography to security, agriculture, and disaster management. 'But if we wish to see this technology develop sustainably and safely, we all need to take responsibility. We must collaborate to protect our airspace and ensure operations are conducted according to correct procedures. 'The industry already has a solid framework of rules and standards, and we must hold accountable those operators who violate them. 'Ultimately, it is the legal operators and registered companies who uphold the industry's reputation. We also have an opportunity, along with the SACAA and other stakeholders, to further refine and adapt regulations as technology evolves. 'This is still a young industry, and by working together, we can ensure a safe, professional, and innovative future for drone operations in South Africa,' he concluded. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading! Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App here
TimesLIVE
05-06-2025
- General
- TimesLIVE
Pilot killed, passenger injured as aircraft crashes
A pilot was killed and a passenger injured when a Cessna 210 aircraft crashed in Gauteng on Thursday morning. The accident and incident investigations division (AIID) of the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) said the aircraft departed from Lanseria International Airport at 10am before crashing moments after take-off, within the perimeter of the Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve. 'There were two on board the aircraft (pilot and passenger) with the pilot fatally injured. The passenger was seriously injured and airlifted to hospital,' SACAA said. The AIID dispatched investigators to the site. A preliminary report will be published on the SACAA website in 30 days from the date of this accident. 'The AIID extends its sincere condolences to the family and loved ones of the deceased and injured.' TimesLIVE
Eyewitness News
05-06-2025
- General
- Eyewitness News
Pilot killed after an aircraft crashed at Lanseria International Airport shortly after takeoff
JOHANNESBURG - A pilot has been killed after an aircraft crashed on Thursday, shortly after takeoff at the Lanseria International Airport north-west of Johannesburg. The South African Civil Aviation Authority's (SACCA) accident and incident division confirmed the crash involving a Cessna 210 aircraft. The aircraft went down within the perimeter of the rhino and lion nature reserve. It's unclear at this stage where it was headed. SACCA spokesperson Sisa Majola says one other person was on board. 'The passenger was seriously injured and airlifted to a hospital. AID has dispatched investigators to the site. A preliminary report will be published on the SACAA website in 30 days from the date of this accident. The aid extends its sincere condolences to the family and loved ones of the deceased and injured.'
