A Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) notice on how air force pilots obtain their civilian flying licences has exposed “highly concerning” flaws, including some examiners waving mandatory testing requirements such as navigation skills.
The notice raising red flags came four months after the US Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) audited its SA counterpart, though the CAA said an internal review process which led to the notice began in 2019. It added that it had full trust in SAAF qualifications and training.
The FAA audits other countries’ aviation regulators to allow foreign-based pilots and aircraft into US airspace. The audits look into, among other things, how aviation authorities regulate their sectors, the processes of attaining pilot licences and aviation safety incidents.
On March 14 the CAA’s licensing senior manager, Johan Niemand, issued a general notice raising concerns about “isolated” instances in which “irregularities” occurred. Apparently short cuts were taken in some cases in which air force pilots acquired private pilot licences.
Now a vetting process into the issuing of civilian pilot licences to air force pilots is under way.
The CAA, which issues private, commercial and airline transport pilots’ licences in SA, told TimesLIVE the notice was in response to an internal review process which began in 2019, and added it had full trust in SAAF qualifications and training.
Niemand writes in the notice: “This review is ongoing and intended to compare the SACAA’s current processes with general international practice, ensure compliance with legislation, simplify administration, provide meaningful guidance and ultimately make the application process more efficient ...
“Sadly, during this review process the [civilian] department became aware of irregularities relating to the use of SAAF and foreign military flight time in applications for [civilian] pilot licences or ratings.
“Several isolated, but highly concerning actions by industry members have been identified.”
These relate to:
- [Military] applicants enrolling for examinations or undergoing skills tests without obtaining formal accreditation from the CAA;
- Examiners conducting incomplete skills tests or waiving mandatory elements of skills tests, for example the navigation component;
- Initial skills tests conducted outside an aviation training organisation and on military aircraft;
- Revalidation checks conducted at SAAF military bases and on military aircraft;
- SAAF pilots using flight time obtained on military aircraft to meet the requirements to act as civilian pilot; and
- SAAF pilots using flight time obtained on military aircraft to meet the minimum annual flying hour requirements for the maintenance of a civilian pilot licence or rating.
The notice said these occurrences “necessitated the publication of a clear, transparent and fair policy in dealing with any irregular applications for the accreditation of SAAF experience”.
CAA regulations, governed by the Convention on International Civil Aviation, state civilian pilots may only obtain their licences on civilian aircraft and at civilian airports.
The notice adds: “The International Civil Aviation Organisation makes allowance for the formal recognition of military experience towards a civilian licence ... Civilian Aviation Regulations make provision for the recognition of military experience.
“Without formal recognition, military experience may not be used towards any of the flight time requirements towards a civilian licence.”
Niemand said in the notice that no civilian licence applications will be accepted if these are based on military flight crew experience. Incomplete skills tests and those conducted on military aircraft will also be disallowed.
“New applications will be thoroughly vetted for compliance with legal requirements,” Niemand warned.
Vetting of civilian pilot candidates, flight examiners and flight instructors will be done through “random sampling” of historic licence applications.
“Candidates and examiners should note that contraventions of the regulations ... related to military accreditation, training and testing may result in enforcement action. Criminal investigation may also result ...”
‘Adverse findings could see SA aircraft banned from US’
Brendan Nortje, Airline Pilots’ Association of SA vice-president, said it would be useful to know what prompted the notice. “We are curious about why. It is clear something happened, with the CAA suddenly seeming to be trying to close loopholes.
“In December, the CAA was audited by the FAA. The FAA audits all aviation regulators of countries whose airlines and pilots fly into US airspace. The audit looks at how regulators regulate their home countries’ aviation sector. Any adverse findings against the CAA and the FAA would ban SA aircraft entering the US.
“We have been pressing them for the audit results, but have not received them. We suspect this notice may be a reaction to the audit’s findings.”
Duncan Gillespie, a retired former SAAF and commercial airline pilot and editor of Fly Africa, said the notice would affect SAAF pilots wanting to use their experience to move into civilian aviation.
“The irregularities claim is peculiar. Where are the examples? Why has this not been raised with the defence force and parliamentary oversight committees?”
Military expert Helmoed Heitman said the SAAF’s flying training, while burdened by budget cuts, remained excellent. “Our pilots are highly competent. The SAAF does not fool around with training standards. It’s seen in how our pilots fly in UN peacekeeping missions.”
‘Application process, not military training, is what’s problematic’
CAA spokesperson Daphney Chuma stressed military qualifications were recognised and SAAF pilot qualifications trusted “without a doubt”.
“The matter does not involve the quality of military training, but the application process for the civilian recognition of military flight time, which is the mandate of the CAA.”
She said due to internal CAA administration factors, an inspector was responsible for conducting the technical evaluation of military accreditation in 2019, leading to a review of the CAA’s processes.
“During the reviews the CAA became aware of uncertainty and misunderstanding in the civil aviation industry regarding processes by which military experience is credited.”
During the reviews the CAA became aware of uncertainty and misunderstanding in the civil aviation industry regarding processes by which military experience is credited.
— Daphney Chuma, CAA spokesperson
On irregularities uncovered, Chuma said accreditations were done informally instead of through formal applications, with military aircraft and infrastructure used for civilian flight tests and checks.
“Less than 10 applicants enrolled for examinations without having obtained formal CAA accreditation ...
“Two examiners were found to have waived mandatory test requirements. One was intercepted by staff and rejected. The second was successful and the first such application that was accepted. A corrective intervention is in progress regarding this case.
“The CAA rejected three applications for a licence submitted without applicants having obtained formal recognition of their military experience. The CAA is aware of two current military pilots, who hold a civilian licence, who attempted to use military flight time towards the annual civilian flight time requirements. Both applications were rejected.”
She said while the SA Civil Aviation Regulations made provision for the recognition of military experience towards a pilot’s licence, “it has become apparent that military flight crew are often not familiar with the civilian legislative framework.
“The CAA is of the opinion that ignorance of or confusion regarding the application process contributes to an increased workload for applicants and CAA staff involved with the licensing process.
“The CAA has been working hard to communicate accessible information to assist military pilots ...this led to the notice.”
The SANDF did not respond to requests for comment.
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