Increase of Radio Licence Fees

[Peter.L.]

Hi Everyone, I'm not too sure where this topic should be posted so if it is in the wrong place the Moderator should please relocate it correctly:

On 27th August 2010 in Government Gazette number 33495, ICASA published amended Radio Frequency Spectrum Licence Fees which were to have become effective on 1st April 2011. For various reasons implementation of the amended fees was deferred until 1st April 2012. No further postponement has been implemented and the increased fees will therefore become effective on 1st April this year, approximately 2½ months from today. The annual licence fee for all types of aeronautical licences, including aircraft, ground stations, beacons, etc., will increase to R120.00. There is a proposal for discounts if the fees are paid for multiple years up to 5 years in advance and I will post details as soon as these are fully confirmed by HQ.

Renewal notices will be posted from our Joburg HQ, within the next month or so, to the postal addresses we have in our licensing database. It is thus most important to ensure that the postal address on your last invoice, or the actual licence, is correct and has not changed in the last 12 months. If you have any doubts, please contact any of our regional offices and confirm your particulars. Contact details for all offices may be found on our website www.icasa.org.za click on “About Us“ on the homepage and then “Contact Us” at the top of the drop-down menu. Alternatively drop me an email to pleonard@icasa.org.za

In all enquiries please remember to include both your licence number and the aircraft’s callsign or registration letters.

As an additional bit of info, the base-line licence fee for any type of radio licence will be R120.00 from 1st April so anyone who is also an Amateur Radio operator or who owns a boat or who has a Citizen Band radio licence can also expect those fees to increase to R120.00 p.a.

Regards,

Peter

[old no 7]

Hi Peter,
Does this mean that if we pay, for example, for 5 years in advance we do not need to renew annually?

[Peter.L.]

It is my understanding that, if you pay for 5 years, the licence will be issued and valid for the relevant 5-year period, thus eliminating the need to renew every year. However, the mechanics of this has still to be finalised by ICASA HQ so it is subject to confirmation which I will post here ASAP. Please be aware though, that if you do pay for 5 years (or 4 or 3, etc) and then sell the aircraft after 2 years, the new owner will have to apply for his/her own licence because yours will automatically become null and void and there is no provision for a refund of your unexpended licence fees, so please consider your situation carefully before making any such payments.

Regards,

Peter

[Mogas]

Not stirring the pot here but a valid question.
If you have paid for an ICAASA license and not recieved it, do you have to pay again to renew the non existent license again the next year?

[kloot piloot]

Not stirring the pot here but a valid question.
If you have paid for an ICAASA license and not recieved it, do you have to pay again to renew the non existent license again the next year?

Thanks Mogas ! My question as well.

Does proof of payment constitute a license ? A lot has been said in the past on this issue. Will a copy of an EFT to ICASA satisfy a law enforcer ?

[Tumbleweed]

Can't we have them at the Misasa Tedderfield do where they sell and issue the radio licence on the spot?

[John Young]

Can't we have them at the Misasa Tedderfield do where they sell and issue the radio licence on the spot?

Now, where have you seen a government parastatal able to do that?

Guys, I have known Peter for many years - he is the last bastion of civil assistance there - hang onto him.

He will always help you.

Regards
John

[Mogas]

I have corresponded with Peter myself and have had good feedback from him.
My comment was not directed to him personally but at the useless system.
Even the CAA inspector rolled his eyes when goiing through my documents folder and finding a bank notice of payment instead of a valid radio station license.
I see no reason for the sort of delay we experience waiting for ICAASA licenses other than a completely inefficient system of processing applications.
I can not imagine conducting my own business this way and we should not accept this sort of service without a chirp.

[John Young]

My comment was not directed to him personally but at the useless system.

Hi,

I know you were not.

Why do you think that ICASA has been exempt from the Consumer Protection Act?

Simple - they can't / won't deliver. As a private enterprise, they would go bankrupt.

Regards
John