03/05/2020
Message from the Aero Club Vice Chairman Marthinus Potgieter
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 ci******es.
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)
