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View Full Version : It was on The Times..29 november 07..(SACAA in good hands)


Captain_djaffar
30th Nov 2007, 04:32
Aviation industry ‘in good hands’Sapa Published:Nov 29, 2007http://www.thetimes.co.za/thumbnail.aspx?type=mm&id=51452

The South African aviation industry is in good hands despite a number of recent incidents, according to Aviation Watch South Africa.


In a statement responding to recent aviation incidents, AWSA spokesman Paul van Tellinger said it was noteworthy that not one life was lost nor one injury sustained by anyone.

“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," Van Tellinger said.

He said major industry players in the general aviation community were of the view that Myeza had led the way in creating a fertile environment conducive to aviation safety.

"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," he said.

Van Tellinger said the view that stability was required to ensure high training standards was supported by representative aviation bodies.

These included 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.

Referring to the recent event in Cape Town where an engine fell off a Nationwide Boeing 737 on take off, Van Tellinger said the pilot’s training had "no doubt" enabled him to keep control of the plane when many 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," he said.

Van Tellinger said flight attendant Marilyn Rink, who briefed the passengers on the flight emergency should also be applauded.

The incident resulted in the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) grounding all Boeing 737-200s for inspection.

A number of aircraft-related incidents have occurred around the country in the last month.

These include one flight being cancelled and another having to turn back after experiencing technical difficulties.

Another plane heading to East London was also forced to turn back after a bird flew into the engine.
:D

starvingpilot
30th Nov 2007, 12:28
I found it pretty ironic that Nationwide was so quick to laud the skill and training of the pilots for saving the day following the engine loss at FACT.
The fact is, these guys pretty much prevented Nationwide from going to the wall.

Yet how much money does Nationwide as a company invest in pilot training? Well put it this way - a new FO is bonded to the tune of 170 k which only starts reducing after 2 years of earning a nominal wage (for a 737-200 rating! A good rating in the states costs around 6000 usd). Shame on you Nwide - your pilots deserve better.

starvingpilot
30th Nov 2007, 12:48
Yeah, Ryanair charge a similar amount for a VERY thorough JAR rating and base training that takes a couple of months to complete. Oh, and we wont talk about what a Ryanair pilot earns compared to a Nwide pilot. Salary during training??

I know a couple of people that have done the N wide rating and felt a bit short! Yes, I do know someone that did a rating at Pan Am and was very impressed with the training.

12 k pro rata over 2 weeks works out at around 5 k - whoopee!

south coast
30th Nov 2007, 17:07
By the way, Ryan Air pilots are not well paid until they have not only completed their type rating, but also their line training.

Basically, they are paid a low wage until fully qualified.

And low is relative to the cost of living of the country you are in and to the state of the current market in that region, Europe is expensive and booming!