Cape Town – Embattled CemAir airline was dealt another blow when its urgent court application to overturn the SA Civil Aviation Authority's (Sacaa) suspension and grounding notice was dismissed with costs.
The ruling was made on Wednesday at the Johannesburg High Court, said Sacca.
This means that CemAir’s part 121 and 135 air operator certificates (AOCs) remain suspended until the airline has adequately addressed the safety concerns or findings uncovered by Sacaa during a recent renewal audit.
The suspension came into effect on January 11 and effectively means that without the requisite AOCs, CemAir cannot operate as an airline.
Sacca said: “It is vital to note that what is often dismissed as mere ‘administrative’ or ‘paperwork’ burden is in effect, in auditing and aviation terms, a bona fide evidence and demonstration of a commitment and ability to comply with safety obligations on which the entire air transport network is based.
“The evidence of the maintenance status of an aircraft is tracked through paperwork.
"As such, a paper trail is extremely vital and forms a crucial component of the physical examination of an aircraft.
"The adage that ‘if you cannot produce proof that it has been done, the conclusion is that it was never done’ is befitting and applicable to aviation auditing.”
Sacca said it was willing, able and readily available to assist CemAir to comply with the requisite civil aviation regulatory prescripts.