Latest news with #SouthAfricanCivilAviationAuthority
IOL News
a day ago
- General
- IOL News
Ongoing search for missing pilot Andrew Blackwood-Murray after tragic Durban aircraft crash
The South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) has confirmed that the investigation into the tragic plane crash that occurred off the Durban coastline is continuing, with 61-year-old pilot Andrew Blackwood-Murray still missing. Blackwood-Murray was part of an airshow linked to the Next Generation of Aviation Professionals Global Summit 2025, hosted at Virginia Airport. The accident occurred just before 2pm, when the ZS-AEC Extra 300 aircraft that was performing its final display crashed into the sea. On Friday, Sisa Majola, spokesperson for the SACAA, expressed sorrow over the incident, revealing that the Accident and Incident Investigations Division (AIID) was promptly on the scene to initiate an investigation. The Director of Civil Aviation, Poppy Khoza, stated that the focus remains on the ongoing mission to find Blackwood-Murray. 'We are saddened by the incident and are keeping the pilot, family and friends in our thoughts as rescue efforts continue," she said. "Our focus now is on the mission currently unfolding, appreciating the efforts of the teams on the ground and wishing them strength as they continue with the mission." Following the crash on Thursday, eThekwini Municipality announced the closure of Battery Beach as the search continues.
IOL News
3 days ago
- General
- IOL News
Update: Battery beach temporarily closed following aircraft crash into ocean in Durban
The eThekwini Municipality has confirmed the closure of Battery Beach after an aircraft crashed into the ocean during the Next Generation of Aviation Professionals Global Summit airshow. The eThekwini Municipality has confirmed the closure of Battery Beach after an aircraft crashed into the ocean during the Next Generation of Aviation Professionals Global Summit airshow. The light aircraft crashed along the Durban North Beach, Sun Coast Casino, KwaZulu-Natal on Thursday. According to the South African Civil Aviation Authority, the accident occurred just after 2pm when the ZS-AEC Extra 300 aircraft crashed into the sea during its final display. The municipality stated it will monitor developments and provide updates regarding the missing pilot. "Emergency services, including search and rescue teams, are currently on site and actively responding to the aircraft involved was participating in an airshow linked to the Next Generation of Aviation Professionals Global Summit 2025, hosted at Virginia Airport," said the municipality. Meanwhile, ALS Paramedics spokesperson Garrith Jamieson said Paramedics are on the beach together with SAPS and Metro Police Search and Rescue as well as NSRI trying to locate the missing pilot. "Police divers are preparing to enter the ocean to search for the missing pilot," he said. *This is a developing story IOL News Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel.
IOL News
27-07-2025
- 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
