ill-informed, almost conspiracy theory type
skies across a number of fronts.
statements made by Mr Martinus.
We kept our membership fully informed from
I am not aware of any “deeply dishonest or cooked
the start all the way through to when restrictions
up ludicrous scheme” that was implemented to
were mostly lifted at Level 2. Our Communiques
“exploit pilots’ and aircraft owners’ fears”. I am
from March #3 onwards which can be found here
however well aware of various official requests
https://www.aeroclub.org.za/aero-club-latest-
from CAASA to the National Command Council
news/ have bearing on what was going on and
and the Minister of Transport to open-up various
what was being negotiated or secured to get
sectors of the aviation industry as quickly as
the GA/RA community airborne again within the
possible and to implement processes and
bounds of Gazetted regulations. As Leon notes,
procedures that resulted directly in allowing for
if we as the collective industry together with the
essential aviation services and maintenance
regulator did not find ways to secure concessions
operations (including cross-border) to continue,
with the DoT based on our proposals of GA type
aviation schools to re-open, business flights to
Aviation being a low risk environment we would
resume, etc.
not have had “opened” up skies to the extent as
If this task was left to a one-man- only- a few
to what was achieved – which would have been
members -after- the- fact-complaining-not-
detrimental on a number of aspects, Continued
actually- involved- association, the aviation
Airworthiness of Aircraft and Proficiency of Flight
industry would have “opened-up” much later and it
Crew.
would have been much more complicated.
To note that the mechanisms put in place to support return-to-flight within the set regulations
Leon Dillman
were developed and supported by a number of
CEO The Commercial Aviation Association of
our members in their voluntary capacity – with the
Southern Africa
common goal of getting us all airborne.
-----------------------------------------------
Rob Jonkers Chairman Aeroclub of SA
Mr Rob Jonkers, Chairman of the Aeroclub of South Africa reply to Chris Martinus:
------------------------------------------------
DEAR GUY With reference to statements made by AOPA, I concur fully with what Leon has indicated, we had an industry wide approach to deal with the effects of COGTA imposed regulations for C-19 on Aviation and how to find ways to re-open up the
112
November 2020
At time of publication we had not received a reply from Pilot Insure and the SACAA.