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SAA aircraft can be used for ad hoc cargo charters for which the company receives commercial remuneration.
Silas Stein / Picture Alliance via Getty Images
- This week an SAA flight to collect coronavirus vaccines in Brussels was prevented from taking off.
- The SAA Civil Aviation Authority noted compliance issues related to the correct certification of a non-SAA pilot training facility.
- The first batch of Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccines arrived via a TUI Airlines plane at OR Tambo International Airport late Tuesday night.
A South African Airways (SAA) plane that was supposed to search for vaccines for SA in Brussels, Belgium, was unable to depart earlier this week due to failing to comply with civil aviation regulations at the time, according to Captain Grant. Back, president of the SAA Pilots Association (SAAPA).
A reliable source told Fin24 that the SAA plane is still parked on the runway and cannot be towed as it is full of fuel destined for its flight to Europe, which never took off.
The first batch of Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccines arrived via a TUI Airlines plane at OR Tambo International Airport late Tuesday night.
“Apparently SACAA [the SA Civil Aviation Authority] collected a series of questions, mainly about the training of pilots to update them. It is not related to your competence, but is more about questions related to the non-SAA training center that was used. This training facility apparently did not have the correct certification to allow it to take the training, “says Back.
It says that the pilots to be used for the flight were not SAAPA members and therefore were not blocked.
Members of SAAPA have been excluded by SAA’s business rescue professionals since December 18, 2020, and negotiations to resolve the deadlock are ongoing.
“SAA is now facing a training problem. The company has already called for the training of SAA pilots, asking if they would do the training again. As long as SAAPA members remain blocked, it would be illegal for them to offer their services,” explains Back .
Additionally, SAAPA intends to approach the CCMA regarding the non-payment of its members’ check number 13 of 2019, which expired before SAA entered the commercial bailout. The rest of the employees received theirs at the beginning of last year. Some of the pilots who quit SAAPA have in the meantime received this payment and three months of back pay.
SAA rescue professionals said Thursday that SAA jets can be used for ad hoc cargo charters for which the company receives commercial compensation. The first batch of Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccines arrived at OR Tambo International Airport late Tuesday night, delivered by TUI Airways.
Exemption request
SACAA responded that SAA approached it with a request for an exemption related to a flight to Brussels.
“SACAA thoroughly considered the operator’s request for such an exemption, and directed the operator to provide more details related to some of the risk mitigation measures,” the organization said in a statement Thursday afternoon.
“The concern SACAA had with the initial exemption request was related to the seniority of the flight deck crew, so the applicant did not provide adequate details on mitigation measures.”
SACAA notes that seniority is a vital safety requirement for pilots, as outlined in the Civil Aviation Regulations.
“It should also be noted that SAA had voluntarily ceased operations some time ago. However, this does not mean that they have delivered their Air Operator Certificate (AOC) to SACAA. In that sense, their AOC remains valid despite have put their operations temporarily on hold, “says SACAA.
“Any operator [that] does not operate regular flights, or [its] the aircraft is not in regular service or operation for one reason or another, it is expected to perform required maintenance on the aircraft, which may include upkeep and maintenance back to service. “
According to SACAA, SAA was able to address the concerns that were raised and the waiver request was granted on February 16.
An aviation expert, who wants to remain anonymous but whose identity is known to Fin24, said the vaccines the SAA plane was supposed to collect probably weighed less than a ton.
“Shipping an Airbus 340-600 and paying the crew would have cost much more than paying a transport company to deliver it to you,” the expert said.
* This article was updated with comments from SACAA. The DPE and the Department of Health have been contacted and if any responses are received, this article will be updated further.
