The authority has officially withdrawn the proposed amendments to the civil aviation regulations. This outcome confirms that consistent public engagement can successfully safeguard the future of our general and recreational airfields. We must remain attentive to future policy changes but for now we have secured the freedom to fly.
January 6, 2017
Final supporters
The South African Civil Aviation Authority has now for the third time published proposed amendments to part 139 of the Civil Aviation Regulations covering unlicensed aerodromes.
The proposed regulation seeks to once again force owners of unlicensed airfields to register their airfields with CAA, and once again there are onerous requirements which will make most airfields in South Africa non-viable. There are also restrictions which will make it illegal for any pilot to take off and/or land at any unregistered or unlicensed airfield.
Needless to say, this will devastate general, recreational and commercial aviation in South Africa. Also in the pipeline are regulations which will make it mandatory for all airfields "related to tourism" to be fully licensed. This will drastically impact on tourism and the many game lodges, resorts and other tourist destinations in SA which have an airstrip, as well as pilots and aircraft operators who use such airfields, whether for tourism or not.
CAA are trying to bring in these regulations, piece by piece. The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA-SA) and Airfield Owners Association (AOA) urge you to send in comments and sign the petition.
We ask you to please react to this on or before the closing date of Monday, 24 October 2016.
Your assistance in helping us protect your freedom to fly will be highly valued.
Updates
October 25, 2016
We are approaching the mark of 2,500 signatures and this volume indicates a clear consensus among those who value our aviation independence. Please reach out to one colleague who understands the necessity of keeping these airstrips viable as we prepare to present this collective stance to the authorities.
Reached 1,000 supporters
October 19, 2016
Reached 100 supporters
October 18, 2016
1,163 Comments
Crop-spraying and firebombing critically depend on makeshift airstrips close to the area of work. These airstrips would not pass SACAA criteria. Apart from sidelining aviation activity this type of regulation retards economic growth and increases inflation.
No rational person can support the proposed amendments if the amendments are not supported by sound facts and statistics. At the very least they should be supported by an economic assessment of the implications thereof which has not been done.
Municipalities can't even maintain their own airports. Private runways are maintained privately and open up large areas of South Africa, that independent tourism operators can access. Closing down private airports is counter productive.
I strongly object to the proposed regulations as they will have a very negative impact on South Africa's unique tourism industry which is a valuable source of employment in a country with one of the highest unemployment rates in the world.
Having held a RSA PPL for more than 22 years, and flown into and out of many "unlicensed" airfields during that time, I object to this proposed amendment - there is no sense killing general aviation with red tape that brings no material benefit.
Against this change.
I am very much against the proposal of registering unlicensed aerodromes
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The authority has officially withdrawn the proposed amendments to the civil aviation regulations. This outcome confirms that consistent public engagement can successfully safeguard the future of our general and recreational airfields. We must remain attentive to future policy changes but for now we have secured the freedom to fly.
January 6, 2017
Final supporters
The South African Civil Aviation Authority has now for the third time published proposed amendments to part 139 of the Civil Aviation Regulations covering unlicensed aerodromes.
The proposed regulation seeks to once again force owners of unlicensed airfields to register their airfields with CAA, and once again there are onerous requirements which will make most airfields in South Africa non-viable. There are also restrictions which will make it illegal for any pilot to take off and/or land at any unregistered or unlicensed airfield.
Needless to say, this will devastate general, recreational and commercial aviation in South Africa. Also in the pipeline are regulations which will make it mandatory for all airfields "related to tourism" to be fully licensed. This will drastically impact on tourism and the many game lodges, resorts and other tourist destinations in SA which have an airstrip, as well as pilots and aircraft operators who use such airfields, whether for tourism or not.
CAA are trying to bring in these regulations, piece by piece. The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA-SA) and Airfield Owners Association (AOA) urge you to send in comments and sign the petition.
We ask you to please react to this on or before the closing date of Monday, 24 October 2016.
Your assistance in helping us protect your freedom to fly will be highly valued.
Updates
October 25, 2016
We are approaching the mark of 2,500 signatures and this volume indicates a clear consensus among those who value our aviation independence. Please reach out to one colleague who understands the necessity of keeping these airstrips viable as we prepare to present this collective stance to the authorities.
Reached 1,000 supporters
October 19, 2016
Reached 100 supporters
October 18, 2016
1,163 Comments
I fly long cross-country trips. The existing private airfields give me en-route options for a forced/emergency landing. If they disappear it wii greatly increase the risks for my air trips. I do not agree with this proposed legislation!
Crop-spraying and firebombing critically depend on makeshift airstrips close to the area of work. These airstrips would not pass SACAA criteria. Apart from sidelining aviation activity this type of regulation retards economic growth and increases inflation.
No rational person can support the proposed amendments if the amendments are not supported by sound facts and statistics. At the very least they should be supported by an economic assessment of the implications thereof which has not been done.
Municipalities can't even maintain their own airports. Private runways are maintained privately and open up large areas of South Africa, that independent tourism operators can access. Closing down private airports is counter productive.
I strongly object to the proposed regulations as they will have a very negative impact on South Africa's unique tourism industry which is a valuable source of employment in a country with one of the highest unemployment rates in the world.
Having held a RSA PPL for more than 22 years, and flown into and out of many "unlicensed" airfields during that time, I object to this proposed amendment - there is no sense killing general aviation with red tape that brings no material benefit.
Against this change.
I am very much against the proposal of registering unlicensed aerodromes
Share this petition
Share this petition to help it reach more people.
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I fly long cross-country trips. The existing private airfields give me en-route options for a forced/emergency landing. If they disappear it wii greatly increase the risks for my air trips. I do not agree with this proposed legislation!