Squeezing Out Every Last Cent

I have been writing about the CAA for sixteen years and the more time passes, the less I’m able to make much sense of it.

- GUY LEITCH

LET ME START OFF with the good stuff. It really is commendable that the SACAA scored 92% in its latest ICAO audit.

Under the leadership of Ms Poppy Khoza (yes really), this ICAO rating has been the prime objective, even if it is sometimes at the expense of the industry’s growth and development.

The importance of achieving this high rating must not be understated. Imagine what would happen if South Africa’s rating was going steadily backwards, like so much else in our beloved country. The industry would heap opprobrium on the government and regulator and say that the decline in aviation regulation standards is just another typical African governance failure.

Instead, we have a world-class aviation regulator. This is great comfort to those who rely on South African aviation standards. This includes international businessmen and tourists who fly into South Africa and use local airlines. It also includes all the flight schools who must have their standards internationally accepted. And it applies to every pilot who needs to have his licence recognised in another country.

I must also record that, despite my carping that the CAA all too often regulates the industry into the ground, it is also trying to develop general aviation. I specifically note the relaunch of its

Civil Aviation Industry Awards (CAIA) initiative. While many may like to think that this is a smug opportunity for overpaid civil servants to flaunt their conspicuous consumption of brands, it cannot be argued that it is good to recognise and reward excellence in the industry.

That’s enough of being nice to the regulator.