The SA Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) has suspended certain air traffic navigation procedures at more than ten airports due to noncompliance.

Air travelers should be prepared for delays and inconvenience after the suspension of air traffic navigation procedures at more than ten South African airports.

According to the SACAA - the civil aviation regulator of South Africa , the suspension period is"very fluid", and is dependent on Air Traffic and Navigation Services (ATNS) submitting measures that, after being evaluated, mitigate the highlighted safety risk.

• The International Civil Aviation Organisation is conducting a 12-day universal safety oversight audit programme of SA’s civil aviation safety system.
• The SA Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) has suspended certain air traffic navigation procedures at more than ten airports due to noncompliance.
• An affected procedure could include the instrument landing system (ILS) - usually used when visibility is poor.
• While the SACAA found some of these mitigations acceptable, the ATNS had not submitted mitigation measures for all the affected procedures.

The development takes shape, as the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) conducts safety audits in the country. The 12-day Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP) and Continuous Monitoring Approach (CMA) audit of South Africa’s civil aviation safety system and oversight capabilities is due to continue until Monday, 3 April.

The South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) is the body that oversees aviation matters in the country and carries out audits of navigational procedures at the country’s Air Traffic and Navigation Services (ATNS).

• ICAO’s Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP) will soon celebrate USOAP-1000, a milestone that marks the significant aviation safety improvements that Member States have achieved.
• Through this programme, ICAO monitors how Member States have fulfilled their safety oversight obligations.
• Based on the results of USOAP activities, ICAO can assess a State’s capability to provide safety oversight by evaluating its implementation of the eight critical elements (CEs) of a safety oversight system, including safety-related Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs), associated procedures and guidance material.

The audits have found that several South African airports failed to meet the requirements for certain navigation procedures, resulting in the suspension of certain air traffic navigation procedures at more than ten of South Africa’s airports.

The affected airports include,

• Cape Town International Airport (Western Cape),
• George Airport (Western Cape),
• King Phalo International Airport (Eastern Cape),
• Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport (Gqeberha),
• Kimberley Airport (Northern Cape),
• Upington Airport (Northern Cape),
• Bram Fischer International Airport (Free State),
• Pietermaritzburg Airport (KZN),
• Richards Bay Airport (KZN),
• Pilanesburg Airport (North West) and
• Polokwane International Airport (Limpopo).

Flights will generally be operating as usual should aircrafts be able to land in good visual conditions. However, inclement weather may affect operations.

‘The SACAA does not take such actions lightly,’ says the Authority. ‘Disruptions that may be encountered resulting from enforcement actions are unfortunate. However, upholding the country’s aviation safety remains paramount and must remain prioritised at all times.’