AWSA confident about Myeza's leadership

[Cirrus SR22]

Media Release by AVIATION WATCH SOUTH AFRICA (AWSA) regarding the recent spate of aviation incidents involving commercial airliners.

www.awsa.co.za

Thursday 29 November 2007

AVIATION WATCH SOUTH AFRICA (AWSA) notes the heightened public concern regarding the recent spate of aviation incidents involving commercial airliners.


It is noteworthy that not one life was lost nor one injury sustained by anyone in any of the recently reported incidents affecting Southern African airline flights. “South African aviation is in good hands and AWSA is positive regarding its future,” says Paul van Tellingen, spokesperson for AWSA. “The role presently played by the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) under the leadership of its CEO Zakes Myeza has so far been unnoticed. A vote of confidence in Myeza by industry representative bodies will be communicated to Minister of Transport, Jeff Radebe, shortly. The major players within the general aviation community are of the view that Myeza has led the way in creating a fertile environment conducive to aviation safety. This is essential for aviation to thrive and grow within the SADC community. His approach is a breath of fresh air in a beleaguered industry and it bodes well for the improvement and maintenance of high safety standards now and in the future.” It is the considered opinion of informed sources within the industry that Myeza’s services are crucial to ensure continuity.


Van Tellingen noted that the view that stability was required in the industry to ensure high training standards was supported by representative aviation bodies such as Airlines Association of Southern Africa, Aero Club of South Africa, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association of South Africa, the Commercial Aviation Association of South Africa and the Aviation Watch Action Committee.

In regard to the most publicised recent event, namely the incident three weeks ago, in which the right engine fell of a Nationwide Airlines Boeing 737 on departure from Cape Town International Airport, it must be noted that the foundational training during the pilots’ time in the general aviation sector no doubt played a big role in their ability to control the aircraft when many of the aircraft’s systems stopped operating. The positive outcome of this incident is a credit to Boeing Aircraft Company and a reflection of the current high standard of South African aviation training. AWSA also recognises and applauds the outstanding professionalism of the in charge fight attendant and airline veteran Marilyn Rink onboard that Nationwide flight for the manner in which she interacted and briefed the passengers for the in flight emergency.


AWSA is a watchdog body which was formed in 2005 with the express purpose of receiving and disseminating information from and to the aviation community. AWSA has been at the forefront of interaction between the general aviation ("GA") community – being aircraft owners, air charter companies, pilots, aircraft maintenance organisations as well as flight training organisations – and the service providers including parastatals such as Airports Company (ACSA) and the Air Traffic and Navigational Services Company (ATNS).

[Cirrus SR22]

By Cape Argus Reporters and Sapa

The chief executive officer of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), Zakes Mayeza, is leaving the organisation and the Commissioner of Civil Aviation, Gawie Bestbier, is relinquishing his post in the middle of the Nationwide airline crisis.

This comes as the CAA and the airline reached agreement on what was required to get the airline back in the air.

The agreement between Nationwide and the CAA was confirmed by both parties on Tuesday, but was overshadowed by confirmation that Mayeza was leaving the helm of the CAA after his contract ended.

'Once Nationwide is back in the air, it will be the safest airline'
All Nationwide's aircraft were grounded by the CAA a week ago after the authority found administrative shortcomings in the airline's maintenance records.

The CAA's investigation into the loss of the Boeing 737-200's engine allegedly revealed the administrative shortcomings.

A lengthy meeting on Monday brought agreement on outstanding issues and the two parties have agreed to fully co-operate to have these resolved, said CAA spokesperson Phindiwe Gwebu.

She said the CAA would not comment on the details of the agreement, including what the outstanding issues were.

Gwebu also confirmed that Mayeza would be leaving and that Bestbier would stay with the organisation, but fill another post. Mayeza's contract expired on Monday.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, CAA board chairperson Duke Moroosi said the two men were stepping down after a decision had been made to merge the two positions.

A Nationwide spokesperson, who declined to be named because of contractual obligations, said the airline was happy with the agreement reached with the CAA.

"Once Nationwide is back in the air, it will be the safest airline, because it would have been subjected to the most stringent, intensive oversight inspection ever demanded in this country," he said.

"It may have been inconvenient in the short term, but now surely the airline's safety would be unquestionable," he said.

Meanwhile, an independent aviation specialist has described the grounding of the Nationwide fleet as an "overblown paper chase", slamming the CAA's insistence on being given documentation that they had already been given in the past.

The editor of World Air News, Tom Chalmers, said the reason that Nationwide was suspended had nothing to do with the engine incident.

"The CAA is claiming that the grounding was done because their paper work was not in order. From my knowledge everything is in order," said Chalmers.

"The CAA want paperwork and information about a 767 dating back years to when the aircraft was owned and operated by Air Canada," he said.

Chalmers said the CAA inspector who had reservations about whether Nationwide's engine bolts were genuine after an engine fell out did not know that the serial numbers were only visible under a special light.