Engineer,
Interlink Airlines is a RSA registered operator who has been awarded a state tender to among others fly deportees to their countries, VIP flights, Navy target towing, etc.
The DC-9's in question is ZS registered. Hence the operation and crew should be the interest of the CAA. How else would Joe Public be assured about the safety of the operation and aircraft?
The DC-10's in question as 3D registered. But a FOP (Foreign Operators Permit) is required when they conduct business in/from South Africa. The CAA is involved in certifying the safety of the operation when an operator applies for the FOP.
As I recall, in terms of the International Air Services Regulations of 1994
Section 7: states that -
"An applicant who wishes to use an aircraft other than a RSA aircraft in providing an international air service shall ...satisfy the council that:
(d) the aircraft will be operated and maintained by staff who are in possession of licences or validations which in the opinion o the Commissioner for Civil Aviation comply with the standards prescribed in terms of the Aviation Act No. 74 of 1962"
In this instance the issuing authorization for Murad Ismail to conduct relief flight duties and stamping his Swazi license as having a P1 rating on a DC10, where he admits he never even took and passed a technical course, let alone a flight test, ought to be of interest to our CAA where flight with 211 RSA souls was scheduled to depart for Canada from FAJS with our interpid inspector Ismail on board as part of the flight crew.
