Country's airports will not come to 'screeching halt', says SACAA
The South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) has refuted reports that all the country’s airports will come to a screeching halt, as a result of the landing systems calibration status expiring at some airports.
This is after various notices to airmen (NOTAMs), including one issued on Monday - which was posted on aviation forum, Avcom.
However, Corporate Services Executive at SACAA, Phindiwe Gwebu, has confirmed that Instrument Landing Systems (ILS) at some airports have either expired or been switched off.
“OR Tambo International Airport has four (4) ILS’s, and, as at 10 August 2020, two of these were switched-off because the exemption period lapsed.
“This airport therefore will neither be downgraded or closed as reported.
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“In addition, King Shaka International Airport has been downgraded to a lower instrument meteorological usage level as a result of two ILS’s being switched-off.”
However, the expired exemptions have led to ILS being switched off at two airports - the Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport and George Airport in the Southern Cape.
“These are the only ones that have been switched-off. The rest, even though they are also nearing expiry during the month of August, and later on in the year, are still operational,” adds Gwebu.