AWSA NEWS 2 NOV 2007..........PLSE READ

[Slider]

AWSA NEWS 2 NOV 2007

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1. WEATHER SERVICES

2. PART 61 PUBLISHED FOR COMMENT

3. PPL EXAM ISSUES

4. TRANSPONDERS

5. NTCA

6. FAA AUDIT OF SACAA

.

1. WEATHER SERVICES

During an information briefing held last week in PE, GA attendees were informed that telephonic weather briefings will be charged for from 1 December 2007 at a rate of R15 for three minutes or part thereof. Internet reports will not be affected. Various users have expressed concern that the same arguments that led to the exemption of the majority of GA from fees in 2006, still apply. Foremost is the concern that safety will suffer as a consequence of users now avoiding the cost of a proper briefing. Further, there is the perception that little consultation with users occurred before the notification of the proposed fees.

A discussion of the topic and a copy of the weather services release can be found at:

http://avcom.co.za/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=26542

Comments pertaining to this issue should be communicated to your representative body before mid November 2007.

2. PART 61 PUBLISHED FOR COMMENT

In a recent communiqué, the SACAA has informed users that the first amendment to Part 61 of the Civil Aviation Regulations (CARS) will be published in the Government Gazette of 2 November 2007, for public comment. On its website the CAA states, "It is proposed to change Regulations 61 to incorporate essential additions as recommended by the FAA and ICAO representatives that reviewed the proposed regulations prior to submission to the Minister as well as to incorporate corrections to errors and omissions."

The amended Part 61 and the applicable Technical Standards (CATS) are available on the SACAA website at:

http://www.caa.co.za/What's%20new/Part6 ... /Index.htm

All comments should be forwarded on or before 1 December 2007 to Mr.
Herman Wildenboer. His e-mail address is: wildenboerh@caa.co.za <mailto:wildenboerh@caa.co.za> .

3. PPL EXAM ISSUES

Various problems surrounding the implementation of the new PPL exam system have been reported to the monitors of AWSA. The main areas of concern relate to the correctness of the exam questions, standard of language used in the description of curriculum requirements, the moderation of exam papers, the source material on which the questions were based and the high level of knowledge required by PPL students.
This matter will be placed on the agenda by aviation representatives at the next CAA Industry Liaison Forum.

4. TRANSPONDERS

As reported in a previous AWSA newsletter, ATNS is currently engaged in a safety assessment which will lead to further discussions regarding the compulsory fitment of transponders. A meeting where ATNS will report back on the functional hazard assessment (FHA), is scheduled to be held on 26 November 2007. Comments should be forwarded to representative bodies well before this date to allow attendees at the meeting to incorporate all feedback in the discussions.

A collision risk assessment (CRA) will then be conducted by an international service provider utilising information obtained by the FHA. The planned completion date for the entire process is end March 2008.

5. NTCA

The existing concerns, surrounding the current status quo regarding NTCA registrations and authorities to fly, remain unaddressed. There is some degree of hope that these issues will be addressed in the forthcoming Industry Liaison Forum at the SACAA. The writer is of the opinion that the intervention of the most senior management at the SACAA is now required to defuse the situation.

6. FAA AUDIT OF SACAA

Amidst growing rumours surrounding the latest FAA audit of the SACAA, the CAA has issued a media release clarifying the issue. This statement can be found at:

http://avcom.co.za/phpBB2/download.php?id=26654

Report compiled by the monitors of AWSA.



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[andreb]

Thanks Slider.
Would you mind publishing same on www.ermf.co.za as well please.

tx and cheers

Andre

[andreb]

Sorry, I see you have done so already.
tx

[grostek]

FAA AUDIT OF SACAA

The letter from SACAA is a denial so will have to wait for official letter that the FAA sends to them.

(If we ever get to see it)

Gunter Rostek