Aviation body grounds firefighting aircraft

Tina Phillips via freedigitalphotos.net

SA Civil Aviation Authority spokesman, Phindiwe Gwebu yesterday said the organisation's operating licences for helicopters and small aircraft had been suspended due to its failure to comply with legislative requirements.

Aircraft of the organisation - which trades as FFA Aviation - had been involved in four accidents this year, two of which were fatal. Gwebu said audits conducted as a result of the accidents had raised questions about its maintenance and quality management systems. The findings led to the suspension of the air operating certificates, which would remain in place until the organisation implemented corrective measures.

Freelance pilot Willem Marais died in March after the poverty relief programme's Bell 212 Huey chopper he used to battle the worst veld fires in the Cape Peninsula in years crashed in the Table Mountain National Park.

Just over a month later, pilot Darrel Rea and firefighter Jastun Visagie were killed when their helicopter crashed in the Bainskloof area of the Western Cape during an attempted emergency landing. Both were volunteers for Working on Fire.

FFA Aviation spokesman Naranda Leeuwner said the aviation authority had agreed to help the organisation get back in the air. This might happen within a week.

Source: The Times