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Airlink suspends flights to Polokwane after airport downgrade for safety reasons 07 April 2021 - 14:52 Image: 123rf.com/Jaromír Chalabala
Airlink has suspended flights to Polokwane with immediate effect after the airport was downgraded by the SA Civil Aviation Authority for being unable to provide the minimum level of emergency services required to maintain its aerodrome licence category.
Airlink said it was advised by the authority on Tuesday night that the Polokwane airport had been de-categorised to CAT2, which was below the minimum level required for scheduled commercial air services.
“The status of the airport presents as an operational safety concern and it would be illegal to operate scheduled services at the airport. It is regrettable that the airport did not advise Airlink of the impending threat of de-categorisation and its inability to provide the minimum level of emergency services required to maintain its aerodrome licence category,” the airli
Airlink has explored all options including the possibility of operating at the Pietersburg Civil aerodrome. (Supplied)
Privately owned regional airline Airlink announced on Wednesday that it has suspended its Polokwane services with immediate effect.
This was after the SA Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) advised on Tuesday night that, with immediate effect, the Polokwane airport had been de-categorised to below the minimum level required for scheduled commercial air services. The current status of the airport presents an operational safety concern and it would be illegal to operate scheduled services at the airport. It is regrettable that the airport did not advise Airlink of the impending threat of de-categorisation and its inability to provide the minimum level of emergency services required to maintain its aerodrome licence category, Airlink said in a statement.
Image: Supplied
The pilot who crashed a SANParks helicopter at Cape Town International Airport on January 2 momentarily took his hand off the collective lever to lower the volume of the radio.
The collective lever - which is responsible for up and down movements of the helicopter - suddenly shot up, causing the pilot to lose control.
This is according to a preliminary SA Civil Aviation Authority (Sacaa) report. The Sacaa said the report was compiled in the interests of aviation safety, and not to apportion blame or liability.
According to the authority s Accident and Incident Investigations Division (AIID) findings, the AS350 B3 helicopter crashed while the pilot was on the ground at the airport waiting for take-off clearance. The incident occurred at 5am and was reported to the AIID 30 minutes later.
Tshwaneâs plans for Wonderboom airport dealt blow as all night flights grounded
By Rapula Moatshe
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Pretoria - The City of Tshwane s plans of changing the fortunes of the embattled Wonderboom National Airport were this week dealt a serious blow by the SA Civil Aviation Authority s (SACAA) decision to ground all flights scheduled at night due to faulty runaway lighting.
This followed an ad hoc inspection conducted on Tuesday by the aviation authority, which discovered that the runway, threshold and end lights were in bad working condition.
Aviation spokesperson, Kabelo Ledwaba, said it was also found that the airport was non-compliant with the rescue and fire-fighting requirements.