Question NW2040 to the Minister of Transport
01 October 2020 - NW2040
Hunsinger, Mr CH to ask the Minister of Transport
(1)What measures have been undertaken to replace SA Civil Aviation Authority’s Calibration Cessna Citation aircraft which crashed in January 2020; (2) whether there are any South African aviation companies that have both the aircraft and pilot’s skills that will ensure accurate calibration of the Republic’s main airports; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, (3) were any of the specified companies approached to provide a quote on instrumentation calibration at any major airport; if not, why not; if so, on what date will operations commence?
Reply:
1. The SACAA went on an open tender to procure the services of a service provider who can provide calibration services to the SACAA FIU clients.The tender was advertised on 19 February 2020 and ultimately closed on 17 March 2020. A service provider was appointed according to the PFMA requirements and they commenced work on 22 August 2020. The permanent replacement has been halted for about 12 months due to financial constraints as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
2. As far as the SACAA is aware there is no service provider for flight calibration in South Africa other than the SACAA FIU, neither is there an aircraft in South Africa that is fitted with a flight inspection system.Flight Inspection requires specific flight profiles to enable specific tests to certify a landing system, these flight profiles are not common to general flying procedures and requires specific pilot training as the flight profiles are done at very low levels. Unless a South African pilot is conducting the same type of flying overseas, the SACAA is not aware that there are any SA pilots who are current on flight calibration flying at the moment.
3. The SACAA advertised an open tender and there was more than one SA company who participated in the tender. A South African company was eventually appointed even though they are using an aircraft and crew from Europe. The operations with the flight calibration service provider started on the 22 August 2020 and continuing.