SA Civil Aviation Authority Suspends SA Express Operating Permits
May 24, 2018, 6:03 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Exile
Posts: 15,654
SA Civil Aviation Authority Suspends SA Express Operating Permits
Major major disruptions foreseen for domestic flying in SA for the near future.
FULL STATEMENT FROM SACAA (PDF)
MEDIA STATEMENT 24 May 2018
The South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) has suspended SA Express‟s Air Operator's Certificate (AoC) as well as the airline‟s Aircraft Maintenance Organisation (AMO) approvals. In addition, the SACAA has also suspended the Certificates of Airworthiness (CoA) of nine (9) of the twenty-one (21) aircraft being operated by the airline.
This effectively means that as of today, i.e. Thursday, 24 May 2018, SA Express PTY (SOC) can no longer continue to operate as an airline. In order to be able to operate, SA Express will have to reapply and be issued with relevant approvals, i.e. an air operating certificate, and an approval for the aircraft maintenance organisation, and certificates of airworthiness for the grounded aircraft.
While the SACAA does not make the details of its audit findings public; it can, however, be revealed that there were seventeen (17) findings, of which five (5) are categorised as Level 1 findings in civil aviation terms. A Level 1 category finding can be described as a ‘severe non-compliance or non-conformance that poses a very serious safety or security risk to the public and will necessitate the immediate exercising of the discretionary enforcement powers vested in the authorised persons, in the interests of safeguarding aviation safety or security’.
The South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) has suspended SA Express‟s Air Operator's Certificate (AoC) as well as the airline‟s Aircraft Maintenance Organisation (AMO) approvals. In addition, the SACAA has also suspended the Certificates of Airworthiness (CoA) of nine (9) of the twenty-one (21) aircraft being operated by the airline.
This effectively means that as of today, i.e. Thursday, 24 May 2018, SA Express PTY (SOC) can no longer continue to operate as an airline. In order to be able to operate, SA Express will have to reapply and be issued with relevant approvals, i.e. an air operating certificate, and an approval for the aircraft maintenance organisation, and certificates of airworthiness for the grounded aircraft.
While the SACAA does not make the details of its audit findings public; it can, however, be revealed that there were seventeen (17) findings, of which five (5) are categorised as Level 1 findings in civil aviation terms. A Level 1 category finding can be described as a ‘severe non-compliance or non-conformance that poses a very serious safety or security risk to the public and will necessitate the immediate exercising of the discretionary enforcement powers vested in the authorised persons, in the interests of safeguarding aviation safety or security’.
May 24, 2018, 6:55 am
#2
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Slightly to the left of center
Posts: 3,475
Thanks for sharing this.
I'm glad to see this happening. Sent an email regarding operational concerns...a week has passed, no one bothers replying. Probably same service standards as SAA. None.
Small note: SA Express also serves regional/international cities as well on their regional aircraft.
I'm glad to see this happening. Sent an email regarding operational concerns...a week has passed, no one bothers replying. Probably same service standards as SAA. None.
Small note: SA Express also serves regional/international cities as well on their regional aircraft.
May 24, 2018, 7:41 am
#4
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: N/A
Programs: UA 1K, BA Gold, LH/SN/LX Senator
Posts: 449
May 24, 2018, 9:31 am
#5
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Cape Town
Programs: BA Exec Gold , Qatar Priviledge Club Plat
Posts: 1,584
May 24, 2018, 1:11 pm
#6
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: N/A
Programs: UA 1K, BA Gold, LH/SN/LX Senator
Posts: 449
May 25, 2018, 1:31 am
#8
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,866
I HAVE A FLIGHT ON South African Airways 8865 operated by South African Airlink in August. I should be OK?? I also have a flight on SAA from JNB-GRU (San Paulo) in August. With all the talk on the financial stability of SAA I hope there are no issues with SAA still operating??
May 25, 2018, 6:03 am
#9
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Cape Town
Programs: BA Exec Gold , Qatar Priviledge Club Plat
Posts: 1,584
I HAVE A FLIGHT ON South African Airways 8865 operated by South African Airlink in August. I should be OK?? I also have a flight on SAA from JNB-GRU (San Paulo) in August. With all the talk on the financial stability of SAA I hope there are no issues with SAA still operating??
May 25, 2018, 8:02 am
#10
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Programs: Delta DM
Posts: 425
So my wife and I are supposed to be flying from Cape Town to Hoedspruit on the 6th of June and returning on the 10th. I'm not holding my breath in hopes the issues will be fixed by then. Can anyone help with suggestions as to what to do? I called the USA 1-800 number for SAA and they said because I booked online I need to talk to them in South Africa. I sent a couple emails yesterday and have yet to hear back. Help!!!
OPS
OPS
May 25, 2018, 2:25 pm
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2000
Posts: 14,352
Airlink is a completely different, privately owned and well-run airline. (It is registered under the name SA Airlink Ltd., but trades simply as Airlink). As opposed to SAA and SAX, it is not managed by corrupt plundering crook.
Johan
May 25, 2018, 2:39 pm
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2000
Posts: 14,352
So far, CPT-HDS flights are still operating.
Today's flight was operated by Airlink using an RJ-85.
Johzn
May 26, 2018, 8:20 am
#14
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: N/A
Programs: UA 1K, BA Gold, LH/SN/LX Senator
Posts: 449
SA Express is SA 1000-1999
Airlink is 8000-8999
