The storm cometh......

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From the CAA:

MEDIA RELEASE 20 AUGUST 2008
SACAA responds to false allegations in the Beeld newspaper
The South African Civil Aviation Authority is issuing this statement as a response to claims made
in the Beeld newspaper of 19 August 2008 under the heading “SA pilots’ grading scrutinized”
and the same version covered in other related publications. The statements contained in this
publication state that the SACAA could be facing a possible downgrade by the FAA. These are
simply false allegations that may only seek to damage the image of the SACAA and that of the
country. In fact, the SACAA underwent an audit by the Federal Aviation Administration last year,
and the final outcome confirmed in January that we were compliant with all international
standards and that we had maintained our Category 1 status. The follow-up visit (not an audit)
that took place at the end of July was to monitor progress on training and other initiatives that
had taken place in the intervening 6 month period.
As a leading aviation nation on the sub-continent, the FAA was keen to see whether we had
achieved our stated goal of not only being compliant with International standards, but rather far
exceeding the minimum requirements. They left satisfied that we had now indeed achieved our
goal. They further indicated that should we continue at the current levels, we would not be
subjected to frequent audits in terms of the FAA risk management model.
The mandate of the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) is to regulate the civil
aviation industry by controlling, promoting and regulating safety and security within the industry
whilst ensuring and overseeing the development and functioning of the same.
The SACAA achieves this through various ways e.g. by developing relevant legislation that
supports and ensures that we deliver on this mandate and by overseeing all personnel and
operators within the industry to ensure compliance with applicable regulations and standards.
South Africa is a signatory state to the ICAO Convention of 1944 and it is therefore expected to
meet its international obligations in terms the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO)
SA Civil Aviation Authority
Private Bag X73
Halfway House
1685
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Website: CAA Website
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standards and recommended practices. The SACAA therefore is subjected to various audits by
ICAO to ensure compliance to these standards and recommended practices.
To this end the SACAA underwent two international audits in 2007. The first was the
International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) audit where the authority performed well, being
on par with various other developed aviation countries. The SACAA performed well above the
global average prior to implementing corrective actions, as demonstrated in the table below
produced by ICAO, based on the original audits results from July 07. Details of the SACAA’s
performance in the ICAO Universal Safety Oversight Audit Program are also contained on the
ICAO FSIX website: FSIX Home. The table below indicates that shortages of technical
skills within the aviation industry are a global phenomenon and one which most countries are
working at addressing. However it is important to note that the SACAA still managed to perform
better than the global average in this respect which should indicate to the South African public
that the authority is doing everything in its powers to ensure that our safety is not compromised
as a result of skills shortages. In fact since this table was produced, we have achieved 100%
compliance in a number of areas i.e. a rating of 10 in the table.
SAFETY OVERSIGHT AUDIT RESULTS UNDER
THE COMPREHENSIVE SYSTEM APPROACH
State : South Africa Audit Period 5 to 16 July 2007
Level of Implementation of the Critical Elements of a Safety Oversight System
01 = Not Implemented
10 = Fully Implemented

= State’s Level of Implementation
= Global Average
CRITICAL ELEMENT
01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10
Primary Aviation Legislation        

Specific Operating Regulations        

State Civil Aviation System and
Safety Oversight Functions        

Technical Personnel
Qualification and Training       
 
Technical Guidance, Tools and
the provision of Safety Critical
Information
       

Licensing, Certification,
Authorisation and Approval
Obligations
       

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The SACAA also received notification from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of the
United States of America that the authority would be subjected to an International Aviation
Safety Audit Programme (IASA) audit at the end of July/beginning of August 2007. With the two
audits being weeks apart the SACAA had to ensure that we satisfy the requirements of the FAA
which are based on ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices as well. This was a testing
time for the authority, one which both the SACAA management and the Department of Transport
were intent on addressing as a matter of urgency. Even though the initial report by the FAA
indicated deficiencies in our system, the authority was determined to address all of these and
this was included in the Corrective Action Plan submitted to the FAA. These deficiencies
included issues such as skills shortages and structural changes that could be made to ensure a
more efficient carrying out of the national and international mandate.
We are happy to report that at the end of 2007 the Minister of Transport issued a directive for the
positions of CEO and Commissioner for Civil Aviation to be merged with immediate effect and
this resulted in the appointment of the current incumbent Captain Colin Jordaan. The SACAA
embarked on an intensive recruitment drive which has resulted in about 80 new technical
appointments being made up to July 2008. This process is obviously not exhausted as yet and
recruitment is still underway. We have recorded 100% capacity in areas such as Airworthiness
and 90% in areas such as Flight Operations which required pilot inspectors mainly. We are
however pleased to announce that with the current capacity we are able to fulfill our mandate as
required.
It is with disappointment that we note that the journalist who wrote the story in the Beeld and in
News 24, regarding the skills shortage at the SACAA and the downgrading of the same, did so
without verifying the facts with the SACAA first. He simply extracted contextual background
written by the editor of SA Flyer out of an article in that publication and reported this as factual,
with disregard for the timelines and accuracy of the information.
The SACAA wishes to limit our comments on this matter to what is contained in this press
statement as we believe that it gives a clear and concise message on the correct facts regarding
this matter. Further to this, we would also like to assure the South African public that we take
our mandate seriously and we do everything in our power to ensure that our skies remain as
safe as they have been since commercial aviation activity started in this country.
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- ends –
Inquiries: Phindiwe Gwebu
SACAA Senior Manager Communications
Tel. [phone]
Mobile. [phone]
[email protected]

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