PSHi Guys , I received an anonymous phone call this weekend re illegal flying
with an unregistered / unlicenced microlight at PineRock airfield .
I have spoken to the Relevant owner/s of the plane and suggested the
following on a previous occasion .
An immediate visit the CAA (Andre Swanepoel ) to sort out the paperwork
as well as the authority to fly - this was discussed yesterday once again.
.
Should these persons not comply , they will be dealt with by the full law
and CAA.
The owner of the airfield may find his field closed as he allowing this
unauthorised behaviour.We are trying to promote safety as well as legal flying in South Africa
and do not want a repitition of the Hartswater saga where two accidents
have cost four lives in the past four years .
Both planes and pilots were unlicenced.
Brits airfield have two pilot s who have been spoken to an a few occasions
to get there planes and licences in order . The latter have not been
complied with as yet -
Please guys get your act together lets keep microlighting safe and legal
in South Africa
Should you have a "paper / licence problem , please feel free to contac me
and I will make contact with the relevant CAA persons to assist / address
your problem.
Kind regards Alex Rudd (Head of Safety MISASA)
Have posted reply on SAMICO as follows;
Agree with the sentiments re the illegal flying with an unregistered / unlicensed aerie, but the owner/pilot is the accountable person, not the airfield owner. These guys (owner/pilots) will simply operate from a road or other piece of ground if the strip is shut down, given the fact that they have little regard for the “rules†while all others suffer (again) as a result with the closure of the field. At risk of being ostracized, I think the airfield owner should be kept out of the loop. If they are forced to police the aeries operating there they will simply shut the strips down (I would) or not let others use them. Most of the fields are used at own risk and are provided as service to the ML fraternity. Owners have ltd control and these fields are drying up fast. Read previous post(s) regarding private strip(s) which is being closed due to potential liability and owners not wanting the schlep factor. Closure of the strip is simply going to move the unregistered / unlicensed aerie elsewhere, but will not solve the problem.
2c
George
PS
If owner of strip is accountable would govt not accountable and have to shut down a road when an unregistered / unlicensed vehicle is caught for allowing them to use it? (Sounds sooo ridiculous when I read it, but possibly not a too dissimilar situation)
PPS
What about provision of free access to CAA database to see status of aircraft reg via internet? Ie. Anyone can insert aircraft reg and the status regarding Auth to fly will be displayed, or is this confidential and if so why? Know it won’t happen overnight, but think it may have merit?
