Being foreign and having experience with three different aviation organizations located on three different continents, does make you a little bit confident to judge certain procedures and organizations.
In terms of personal service and willingness to deal with unusual requirements, I would consider RAASA being excellent and very very service oriented. If you compare that to the US (FAA/TSA) where everything a little bit off the unusual track causes the bureaucratic donkey to run nuts, I only can say “learn from Africa cowboys”.
But a few things are (from my point of view) are a little bit funny and not necessary.
Why do I have to renew my license every two years and why do I need a rating for every specific model?
In the US (license never expires) and Germany (valid 5 years) a documented check ride (within the last 24 month) in the logbook, signed by certified instructor is good enough and does not cause additional costs and time consuming actions.
Also the issue with SA type ratings. I could fly with my German license every plane that fits in the category (in my case fixed wings /Gyro).I do not need to be signed out by an instructor and have it added in my license (with all the bureaucratic heck). That also applies for my US license too, apart from taildraggers or complex plane endorsements where a sign out by an instructor (only to be documented in your log) is mandatory.
But even than it is category / rating orientated and not specific for a certain model.
Therefore, I would judge RAASA (and the folks there) as being top in service but certain procedures and regulations are difficult to understand and are also not ICAO compliant.
Yes, having a fast Pizza in the Havard Cafe is great while RAASA does the job, but only if you are
located in the Joburg area.
Nevertheless: Cheers
to W. and his crew for being so helpful and service orientated.
