SOUTH AFRICAN CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY

S O U T H A F R I C A N C I V I L AV I AT I O N AU T H O R I T Y

Putting sustainability at the top of the aviation agenda

S O U T H

A F R I C A N

C I V I L

AV I AT I O N

A U T H O R I T Y

F LY I N G T H E

FLAG As aviation continues to serve as a vital contributor to South Africa’s economy, we caught up with the country’s civil aviation authority to see how it is helping to guide the industry forwards Writer: Tom Wadlow Project Manager: Vivek Valmiki

A

viation is big business in South Africa.

Employing 70,000 people and contributing $7.4 billion to the national economy in 2014, the sector is a vital wealth generator and helps 22 million passengers to enter and navigate the country every year.

It is also an industry that stirs

passion. “My love for aviation led me to join the industry and the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA),” says the organisation’s Director of Civil Aviation Poppy Khoza.

“The aviation bug bit me right after I finished my tertiary education, where I was studying travel and tourism. I started my career working for the South African national carrier, South African Airways, and I have never looked back since.”

Khoza has emerged as an industry flagbearer over her time at SACAA. Not only is she the first female Director of Aviation, but also the recipient of the 2018 Business Leader of the Year Award at the Oliver Top Empowerment Awards.

“The journey has been truly an exciting one,” Khoza continues, “as I have had an opportunity to contribute in changing the face of civil aviation in this country through the successful delivery of the mandate as dictated by the Civil Aviation Act of 2009.”

Investing in innovation

Poppy Khoza, Director of Civil Aviation

2

A key priority for Khoza, and vital part of uplifting SACAA to worldleading status, is exploration of digital technologies.

The Authority kickstarted its digital migration in 2015 with the procurement of a new enterprise business system (EBS), a software solution designed to improve aviation safety and security across South Africa.

WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM

SACAA helped coordinate the Global Aviation Gender Summit in Cape Town on August 8-10

“This is a comprehensive, fully integrated electronic business solution which spans across various functional areas of the organisation and improves business processes for our clients, as we eventually become paperless,” says Khoza.

“The system is compliant with ICAO standards and recommended practices and will ensure that the SACAA’s

T

R

A

N

S

business processes are aligned to those of the international aviation administration body.”

The project is set to complete imminently, and modules already installed have already received positive feedback from users and recipients of licenses, which include pilots, air traffic controllers and cabin crew.

Another step towards becoming

P

O

R

T

paperless involves swapping printing licenses on paper to a card-based system.

Transforming industry dynamics

Not only is SACAA playing a leading part in digitising South Africa’s aviation industry, it is also working to make it a fairer one.

“Aviation was regarded as

an industry for those with deep pockets and as a result remained elusive to previously disadvantaged communities,” Khoza explains.

“This is evident when one reviews the statistics of aviation personnel such as pilots and aeronautical engineers. Currently there are less than 10 percent black (African, Indian and Coloured) pilots in South Africa.

WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM

3

S O U T H

A F R I C A N

C I V I L

A V I A T I O N

A U T H O R I T Y

SACAA AT 20 – WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW The South African Civil Aviation Authority recently celebrated 20 years in existence and continues to provide vital services to the industry.

Set up by an act of parliament in 1998, the SACAA is mandated with the responsibility of regulating the civil aviation industry by ensuring that South Africa complies with the prescribed Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) whilst taking into account the local context.

This work covers aviation security, safety operations (ensuring all aircraft in SA airspace are airworthy), incident investigation and general promotion of innovation and industry betterment. For example, the Authority hosted the first Global Aviation Gender Summit, co-organised with ICAO, in collaboration with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in August 2018.

The organisation has achieved numerous milestones during its tenure, including: • A 50/50 gender and racial equity ratio in the Executive Management Committee.

• An FAA Category 1 status. South Africa is one of five African countries to have retained this esteemed safety status. The country achieved a significant score of 87.39 percent during the recent ICAO USOAP CMA audit, which took place in 2017. This puts South Africa at number one in Africa and number 33 globally.

• Recognition as the Best Performing Institution in Transport award for four years in a row.

• 100 percent target achievement for four straight years.

Today the Authority has 518 employees on its books, comprising inspectors with expertise in piloting, engineering, law, healthcare, mechanics and avionics. It is headquartered in Midrand, Johannesburg with a satellite office in Cape Town, and is looking to set up in Durban.

EXECUJET

E

xecuJet’s African operations are based in South Africa at Lanseria International Airport near Johannesburg and at Cape Town International Airport, as well as Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, Nigeria and Seychelles.

Both South African locations offer a comprehensive range of services encompassing corporate aircraft charter (fixed and rotary wing), aircraft maintenance, aircraft management, fixed base operations (FBO) and full concierge services. The Nigerian facility offers FBO and aircraft maintenance services while Seychelles offers FBO services.

ExecuJet’s aviation services include aircraft charter, management and insurance, fixed base operations, aircraft maintenance, cargo charter, as well as unmanned aerial vehicles.

ExecuJet manages 165 privately and commercially registered fixed and rotary wing aircraft on behalf of private, business and government owners worldwide under the most stringent safety standards. Its commercial fleet is operated under the regulatory umbrella of six regional civil aviation issued air operating certificates (AOCs). ExecuJet has many authorised maintenance facilities throughout four regions, certified to work on most business jets.

Our worldwide charter fleet represents the latest in modern technology and flexibility. They take a multi-faceted approach to business aviation, so they can supply any type of aircraft from any of their six bases throughout Africa, Asia Pacific, the Caribbean, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East – all supported through their network of 27 fixed base operations.

ExecuJet is part of the Luxaviation Group, one of the largest aircraft operators worldwide and embraces a workforce of more than 1,000 experienced staff.

Global Aviation Gender Summit, Cape Town, 8-10 August

4

WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM

T +27 11 516 2300 E enquiries@execujet.co.za

www.execujet.com

S O U T H

A F R I C A N

C I V I L

A V I A T I O N

A U T H O R I T Y

SUPERIOR PILOT SERVICES

DRONE DEVELOPMENT South Africa is one of the first countries in the world to introduce regulations for drones, identified as a source of economic potential.

Indeed, drones are now being used for commercial purposes to positive effect in areas including agriculture, construction, surveying, search and rescue, and advertising.

“An education programme is being undertaken by the SACAA to familiarise the flying community and the general public on the regulations,” says Khoza. “We will continue to contribute to the global agenda to ensure that a harmonised approach is realised since this is a new phenomenon in the civil aviation airspace.

“We do take cognisance of the benefits this technology brings however we must be circumspect in how we regulate it so that it does not undermine our impeccable aviation safety and security record.”

S

uperior Pilot Services (SPS) has had the great opportunity to partner with the SACAA cadet programme. The cadet programme aims to assist aspiring pilots to reach their dream. Since being awarded the contract, SPS has surpassed all expectations and produced numerous cadets who have honed their skills to become successful in the aviation industry.

It has been an honour to teach, assist and inspire these cadets to achieve their goals. SPS looks forward to building an even stronger relationship with the SACAA and produce even more cadets.

T +27 11 805 0605 E info@superiorair.co.za

www.superiorair.co.za

South Africa is one of the first countries in the world to introduce regulations for drones

Similarly, there are only a handful of black aeronautical engineers.”

This has prompted the SACAA to start creating awareness of careers in aviation at grass roots levels, especially within previously disadvantaged communities. Every year the Authority visits around 400 schools and engages with 20,000 pupils in a bid to deliver knowledge to areas that otherwise would remain isolated from this career path.

“In the last three years, the SACAA

6

has annually funded the training of more than 30 young South Africans, primarily female students from economically deprived households, who aspire to become aviators,” Khoza adds. “These students are enrolled for studies and training in various fields, including aeronautical engineering, cadet pilot training, and aircraft mechanics.”

SACAA has also been a keen contributor to the government’s National Civil Aviation Transformation

WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM

Strategy, which proposes practical and sustainable solutions to the current slow pace of transformation in the civil aviation industry.

“This is the course we cannot neglect as it is critical in terms of building the pipeline for the next generation of aviation professionals in our country,” Khoza continues. “We need to work on this aspect and be resolute in our endeavours to ensure that no youth is left behind if they so wish to advance a career in aviation.

R

A

N

S

P

O

R

T

SACAA ATO 0212

PILOT TRAINING

DYNAMIC FLEET

T

FLIGHT SIMULATOR Are you ready to let your career take-off?

ABOUT US Superior Pilot Services offers a variety of courses, from the Private Pilots License to the Airline Transport Pilots License.

We combine the latest techniques, methods and training aids to provide a Superior training experience!

SPS offers accommodation to students who are enrolled at the school at a lodge near the airport.The property boasts a swimming pool, braai area and individual rooms that are serviced regularly.

FLIGHT TRAINING Superior Pilot Services offers the best value in PPL to ATPL training with fixed costs, set programmes and unmatched aircraft and instructor availability.

FLEET We have a dynamic fleet of single and multi engine aircraft.

Our fleet includes: 8 x Cessna 172 2 x Piper Arrow III 2 x Piper Twin Comanche 1 x Sling 2

We offer : - Private Pilot License - Night Rating - Hire and Fly - Multi or Single IF Commercial License - Airline Transport Pilot License - Instructor Rating

Grand Central Airport | Tel: 011 805 0605 | info@superiorair.co.za

‘Set up by an act of parliament in 1998, the SACAA is mandated with the responsibility of regulating the civil aviation industry by ensuring that South Africa complies with the prescribed Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) whilst taking into account the local context’

WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM

7

S O U T H

A F R I C A N

C I V I L

A V I A T I O N

A U T H O R I T Y

Students are enrolled for studies and training in various fields

“Women representation also lacks, so this will be a priority as we focus our energies towards transformation.

For example, we hosted the first ever Global Aviation Gender Summit.”

A sustainable flightpath

Another key mandate of the SACAA is to manage the environmental footprint of South Africa’s aviation industry.

The organisation recently coordinated efforts to submit to the ICAO a State Action Plan on limiting

8

carbon emissions, and represents the region on the ICAO’s Committee on Aviation Environmental Protection.

“Besides providing technical expertise, the SACAA also provides voluntary assistance with the aviation environmental protection work done

by ICAO,” adds Khoza. “In April this year, we hosted the first-ever ICAO African environmental seminar to be conducted in Southern Africa.

“Because we realise that sustainability is not only important for us but for the entire African region,

WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM

we also volunteered to assist Malawi, Zimbabwe, Mauritius, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Lesotho with the implementation of the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA).”

Closer to home, the Authority organises and runs numerous workshops with airports, with topics covered including handling of noise complaints, balancing land use planning with aviation growth and establishment and maintenance of environmental management

T

R

A

N

S

P

O

R

T

“We need to... be resolute in our endeavours to ensure that no youth is left behind if they so wish to advance a career in aviation”

“Women representation also lacks, so this will be a priority as we focus our energies towards transformation. For example, we hosted the first ever Global Aviation Gender Summit”

“I know we still have a long way to go but looking back I am quite pleased to see the progress we have made to make SACAA a credible institution counted among the best in the world”

programmes. Workshops with airlines mainly focus on implementation of CORSIA.

Flying forwards

Already the number one ranked in Africa in terms of aviation safety audits, South Africa is one of few nations to improve its ranking despite stringent ICAO methodology and standards.

For Khoza, building on this solid foundation is critical if the organisation is to rise to global prominence and

compete with the world leaders in aviation.

Her target is to reach the top 10 in the not too distant future, and an upcoming audit in 2019 represents another opportunity to demonstrate further progress.

She concludes: “The key focus of this audit will be on effective implementation, and it is for this reason that South Africa welcomes and is looking forward to it. South Africa aims to improve the country’s current status of 81 percent, and the

SACAA has embarked on a process of reviewing its regime and correcting any deficiencies identified.

“I know we still have a long way to go but looking back I am quite pleased to see the progress we have made to make SACAA a credible institution counted among the best in the world.”

South African Civil Aviation Authority Tel: +27 11 545 1000 mail@caa.co.za www.caa.co.za

WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM

9

Ikhaya Lokundiza 1 16 Treur Close Waterfall Park Bekker Street Midrand Johannesburg, 1685 South Africa Tel: +27 11 545 1000 mail@caa.co.za www.caa.co.za

www.outlookpublishing.com