SA aviation under the spotlight

ÜGEN VOS

JOHANNESBURG – The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) cannot guarantee
there will be no further aviation mishaps during this festive season,
but believes it has taken all proper precautionary measures to ensure
smooth flights for commuters.

November has proven to be a turbulent period for the aviation industry
in SA, with many of the nation’s top airlines lambasted by both
politicians and the media following recurring reports of technical
difficulties on flights.
Repeated assurances by the Civil Aviation Authority and the various
airlines that all is business as usual, and that recent problems have
been overexposed in the media, seem to have done little to dampen the
debate.
“I cannot say there will be no incidents in December,” said CAA
spokesman Phindiwe Gwebu recently, when quizzed about the country’s
recent aviation safety track record.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) also entered the fray, expressing doubts
about South African Airways Technical’s (SAAT) ability to fulfil its
maintenance contracts.

DA spokesman on Public Enterprises Manie van Dyk said cursory
investigations had revealed the majority of the country’s domestic
airlines made use of SAAT, and a number of foreign airlines were
serviced by SAAT.
This meant a staggering 71% of all technical incidents in SA airspace
occurred on airlines that had fixed servicing and maintenance contracts
with SAAT.

Van Dyk stressed that air traffic – and the accompanying technical
burden on the South African aviation industry, was likely to swell
during the run-up to the 2010 Fifa World Cup.

“The popularity of air travel is on the increase, and it will be of
great importance that SAAT’s service facilities and service levels are
beyond reproach,” he argued.

A timeline of scares in the skies

* NOVEMBER 2: Plane goes off the runway at Cape Town International
airport. Flights delayed.

* NOVEMBER 7: Nationwide Boeing 737 makes emergency landing at Cape
Town International after losing an engine during takeoff.

* NOVEMBER 8: Aircraft makes emergency landing on a farm road in
Zonkizizwe (Heidelberg).

* NOVEMBER 10: CAA grounds Nationwide 737-200s pending inspections. CAA
also receives reports from SAA, Comair, Interair, Star Air Cargo.

* NOVEMBER 12: Kulula aircraft turns back to Jhb due to low air
pressure warning; lands with only one engine.

* NOVEMBER 13 : CAA will not extend directive to inspect Boeing 737-200
class to other aircraft.

* NOVEMBER 15: Trade Union Solidarity sounds warning on aviation
safety, effect of planned retrenchments at SAA Technical on skills
levels.

* NOVEMBER 16: Mango aircraft forced to turn back to Durban
International due to problem with satellite communication device.

* NOVEMBER 20: SAA Express flight to Namibia turns back; Kulula
aircraft loses power in auxiliary unit used to start up plane’s engine.


* NOVEMBER 21: Two incidents (delay- technical difficulties; plane
diverted) not reported to CAA.

* NOVEMBER 23: Kulula flight MN913 cancelled due to technical
difficulties ; SAA flight to East London turned back after bird blown
into engine. CAA says media is giving too much attention to technical
issues.

* NOVEMBER 26: Passengers on SAA plane moved to another flight due to
problem with navigation system.


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