Microlighters

I sincerely hope you are well and keeping safe. I thought it would be appropriate to follow up on our last communique and give some feedback about what the Exco has been busy with. As most of you are aware, we lodged an application to the Minister of Transport last Sunday requesting a relaxation under SA Covid Level 4 for us to be able to perform Aircraft Maintenance Flights. As some might have seen as a video clip has been doing the rounds on social media, the Director General of Transport announced that such flights will be approved.

We are fortunate to have been able to make direct contact with the Department of Transport and have submitted further detail regarding the request. We are awaiting their detailed instructions possibly later this week as to exactly how these flights will be conducted and as from when. The final approval will most probably appear in a Government Gazette or a NOTAM. I must thank the Director and Senior Managers at SACAA for supporting this application and motivating it to DOT. Also, I must commend the individuals at DOT with whom I have been dealing as they have an extremely positive and proactive approach. We have highlighted the importance of lifting restrictions on AMO’s, AME’s and AP’s as well as ferry flights to maintenance organisations and I am sure it will be considered. Please do not shoot the messenger if the situation changes as we have recently seen with the extended ban on cigarettes.

On Friday Rob completed another application that deals with Levels 3, 2 and 1 as part of an Industry group forum. This application was submitted to a private convener appointed by the Director of SACAA whom we support whole heartedly. This application deals with the introduction of relaxation of regulations for ATO’s and instruction, and POSSIBLY some forms of recreation. This application forms part of a comprehensive industry view that Aviation especially non-scheduled & GA is a controlled environment with a low risk profile where there is low people density in its operations, thus easier to manage, even by softening many activities to be able to take place under Level 4. There will be another Industry forum to be held this week to finalise the application.

I would like to thank all the Chairs of AeCSA Sections who responded on very short notice. We live in a different world and work on very critical timeframes. We want to say a big thank you to John, Rowena and the rest of the team at MISASA who gave us a very comprehensive SOP on very short notice. It was extremely heart-warming to see the humble and unselfish response of some sections and members who did not just consider their own selfish needs but had an objective view of the bigger picture - thank you. I am proud to be part of individual’s like that. Also, we want to express our sincere appreciation to Kev Storie and the CAASA team for continuously sharing information with us.

We will keep you informed as all these subjects play out. Please be patient and responsible; the AeCSA Exco is trying their level best and spends many hours working to obtain relaxation for the Recreation Industry.

I will be requesting information regarding your insurance requirements as it has become my portfolio and I will be engaging with Dennis Jankelouw’s representative regarding group benefits so please formulate what the AeCSA can do for you and your section in this area. I will also engage with other specialists in this field.

Best Regards
Marthinus Potgieter (Vice Chairman)

The NOTAM dated 30/04 to 31/05 is still current until further notice. The message that is sent to applicants for permits to CAA refers "The regulations regarding these flights have not been promulgated as yet, we are expecting them in the next few days. Once they have been promulgated the requirements and process to follow to obtain approval will be issued via NOTAM. Accordingly, please monitor the NOTAM and make application when the regulations are in place". The gazette has made certain things possible for CAA and we are in consultation. However, I am not going to bomb a whole lot of conjecture or opinion out there until we have a firm answer and direction. This announcement will come from a central point (Aeroclub interaction with CAA) and then distributed. Trying to interpret what is written in the gazette is causing people to make serious assumptions and incorrectly so. JB

PART 01 OF 02
(A1591/20A02 NOTAMR A1590/20
Q)FAXX/QXXXX/IV/NBO/E/000/999/5152S01651E999
A)FAJA FACA FAJO B)‪2004301815‬ C)‪2005311000‬ EST
E)COVID-19:
ALL INTL, REGIONAL AND DOM FLT (INCLUSIVE OF GEN AND RECREATIONAL
AVIATION) PROHIBITED, IRRESPECTIVE OF THE RISK CAT OF THEIR COUNTRY
OF ORIGIN, EXC THOSE FLT AUTHORISED BY THE MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT OR
FLT AUTHORISED BY THIS NOTAM.
1)REPATRIATION OF FOREIGN NATIONALS TO THEIR RESPECTIVE COUNTRIES ARE
ALLOWED SUBJ THE FLW COND:
A)CHARTER FLT MAY ENTER WITH CREW, NO PAX ALLOWED.
B)CREW MAY NOT DISEMBARK AND OPERATORS OF SUCH FLT TO ENSURE THAT FLT
AND DUTY TIMES ARE ADHERED TO UNDER ALL CIRCUMSTANCES THROUGH
PROVISION OF RELIEF CREW.
2)EVACUATION OF SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONALS FM FOREIGN COUNTRIES ARE
ALLOWED SUBJ THE FLW COND:
A)PAX SHOULD HAVE FULLY PAID RETURN FLT TICKET.
B)PAX WILL BE QUARANTINED FOR UP TO 21 DAYS.
C)CREW MAY DISEMBARK SUBJ MANDATORY QUARANTINE LAWS AS APPLICABLE.
3)AIR AMBULANCE OPS ARE ALLOWED SUBJ THE FLW COND:
A)MEDICAL EVACUATION FLT MAY NOT CARRY PAX OTHER THAN CREW AND
PATIENTS.
B)CREW AND PATIENTS SHALL BE SUBJ APPLICABLE QUARANTINE LAWS.
FLIGHTS NOT FOR THE PURPOSES OF REPATRIATION, EVACUATION, ACFT IN
STATE OF EMERG, DOMESTIC AND INTL AIR CARGO OR AIR AMBULANCE OPS ARE
REQ TO OBTAIN WRITTEN PERMISSION FOR EACH FLT FM DEP OF TRANSPORT,
PRIOR TO THE FLT DEPARTING.
)
PART 02 OF 02
(A1591/20B02 NOTAMR A1590/20
Q)FAXX/QXXXX/IV/NBO/E/000/999/5152S01651E999
A)FAJA FACA FAJO B)‪2004301815‬ C)‪2005311000‬ EST
E)
LIASON WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT FOR APPROVAL WILL BE PERFOMED
BY THE SA CAA, ALL APPLICATIONS FOR APPROVAL BY THE DEP OF TRANSPORT
MUST BE MADE IN WRITING AND SUBMITTED TO SACAA, MARY STEPHENS EMAIL:
STEPHENSMA(AT)CAA.CO.ZA AND NEIL DE LANGE EMAIL:
DELANGEN(AT)CAA.CO.ZA.
THE APPLICATION MUST DETAIL THE NEED FOR THE FLIGHT, SPECIFICS
RELATED TO THE OPS AND BE ACCOMPANIED BY THE CIPC (COMPANIES AND
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY COMMISSION) ESSENTIAL SERVICE APPROVAL LETTERS
FOR ALL PARTIES INVOLVED IN THE FLT.
ONLY TECHNICAL, OVERFLIGHTS, ACFT WISHING TO REFUEL, ACFT OPS RELATED
TO HUMANITARIAN AID, RELIEF FLT AND OTHER SAFETY RELATED OPS AND
ESSENTIAL SER FLT WILL BE CONSIDERED FOR APPROVAL. NO PAX FM
TECHNICAL FLT LDG MAY DISEMBARK. DISEMBARKATION OF CARGO CREW IS
PERMITTED SUBJ QUARANTINE LAWS APPLICABLE. CARGO FLT WILL BE SUBJ
SANITISATION RQMNTS. ACFT IN STATE OF EMERG (ADDN SDBY STAFF WILL BE
AVBL AT FAPE, FABL, FAUP, FAPP, AND FAKN IN ADDN TO FALE, FAOR AND
FACT).

Good day all

Please take note of GENERAL NOTICE #. AIR-2020/001- COVID-19. This Notice is ONLY applicable to aircraft maintenance engineers, approved persons, ground Staff, inspection and servicing, or maintenance of aircraft as per the Regulations issued under Government Gazette No.43271 of 4 May 2020.

It is not applicable for relocation flight or any other flights other than maintenance related supported by the manufacturer and not the local rep.

If an application does not comply with the set-out requirement, including supporting documentation, the application will be rejected by the CAA, meaning you will need to start all over again and move to the back of the line.

Should you have any queries regarding this issue, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Regards,
Johan Armstrong
Senior Airworthiness Inspector
Aviation Safety Operations
Tel: 011 545 1299 | Fax: 086 545 2288 | Cell: 083 451 2618| Email:armstrongj@caa.co.za | www.caa.co.za

NTCA PROTOCOLS FOR MAINTENACE FLIGHTS ALL ENGINES on the Aeroclub portal is LIVE. Applicants have to download the latest protocols and submit with their applications. Please note that CAA will consider and accept other preservation protocols if supplied by the OEM's or if approved in an aircrafts AMP/AMS. The OEM's published protocols take preference.