WTF have journos got to do with the situation ?
Read the article below and decide for yourself. The APU especially gave me sleepless nights...
SA aviation under the spotlight
ÜGEN VOS
JOHANNESBURG – The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) cannot guarantee there will be no further aviation mishaps during this festive season, but believes it has taken all proper precautionary measures to ensure smooth flights for commuters.
November has proven to be a turbulent period for the aviation industry in SA, with many of the nation’s top airlines lambasted by both politicians and the media following recurring reports of technical difficulties on flights.
Repeated assurances by the Civil Aviation Authority and the various airlines that all is business as usual, and that recent problems have been overexposed in the media, seem to have done little to dampen the debate.
“I cannot say there will be no incidents in December,” said CAA spokesman Phindiwe Gwebu recently, when quizzed about the country’s recent aviation safety track record.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) also entered the fray, expressing doubts about South African Airways Technical’s (SAAT) ability to fulfil its maintenance contracts.
DA spokesman on Public Enterprises Manie van Dyk said cursory investigations had revealed the majority of the country’s domestic airlines made use of SAAT, and a number of foreign airlines were serviced by SAAT.
This meant a staggering 71% of all technical incidents in SA airspace occurred on airlines that had fixed servicing and maintenance contracts with SAAT.
Van Dyk stressed that air traffic – and the accompanying technical burden on the South African aviation industry, was likely to swell during the run-up to the 2010 Fifa World Cup.
“The popularity of air travel is on the increase, and it will be of great importance that SAAT’s service facilities and service levels are beyond reproach,” he argued.
A timeline of scares in the skies
* NOVEMBER 2: Plane goes off the runway at Cape Town International airport. Flights delayed.
* NOVEMBER 7: Nationwide Boeing 737 makes emergency landing at Cape Town International after losing an engine during takeoff.
* NOVEMBER 8: Aircraft makes emergency landing on a farm road in Zonkizizwe (Heidelberg).
* NOVEMBER 10: CAA grounds Nationwide 737-200s pending inspections. CAA also receives reports from SAA, Comair, Interair, Star Air Cargo.
* NOVEMBER 12: Kulula aircraft turns back to Jhb due to low air pressure warning; lands with only one engine.
* NOVEMBER 13 : CAA will not extend directive to inspect Boeing 737-200 class to other aircraft.
* NOVEMBER 15: Trade Union Solidarity sounds warning on aviation safety, effect of planned retrenchments at SAA Technical on skills levels.
* NOVEMBER 16: Mango aircraft forced to turn back to Durban International due to problem with satellite communication device.
* NOVEMBER 20: SAA Express flight to Namibia turns back; Kulula aircraft loses power in auxiliary unit used to start up plane’s engine.
* NOVEMBER 21: Two incidents (delay- technical difficulties; plane diverted) not reported to CAA.
* NOVEMBER 23: Kulula flight MN913 cancelled due to technical difficulties ; SAA flight to East London turned back after bird blown into engine. CAA says media is giving too much attention to technical issues.
* NOVEMBER 26: Passengers on SAA plane moved to another flight due to problem with navigation system.
I'd say as much as they had to do with the wrecking of Bob Skinstad's rugby career a few years ago, as well as those of many Springbok coaches.
Back to the topic: I'm with CAA on this one.