14 May 2001
Aviation Safety is a Matter of Concern for All. The General Public have a Critical Role to Play in Ensuring Cabin Safety on our Flights
Minister of Transport, Dullah Omar at the Aviation Safety Awareness Campaign
The safety of our transportation systems is of paramount importance and our government remains committed to improving the levels of safety across all modes of transport.
The Aviation sector is governed by globally established safety standards and practices set at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
South Africa's oversight of the industry has in a recent audit (November 1999) been found to have a high level of compliance with ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices. The South African Civil Aviation Authority has implemented an action plan to ensure that we comply fully with our ICAO obligations.1
The actual record of Aviation Safety in South Africa as presented by the Commissioner for Civil Aviation is encouraging. I can only encourage the CAA and the industry to strive even harder to further improve on our record. Every aviation accident should be viewed as one too many. Every aviation incident an important signal of possible weaknesses in the aviation safety system.
Aviation Safety is not simply a matter for the technical staff, flight personnel and Civil Aviation Authority. I am pleased to see the participation of the CEO's from our airlines, clearly demonstrating that Aviation Safety is a concern to all and in their case, an important responsibility.
The general public may not be aware, but they too have an important role to play in ensuring aviation safety, particularly with reference to cabin safety on our flights.
I commend the CAA and their industry partners in targeting cabin safety as part of the "Aviation Safety Awareness Month" in June 2001. Many of us do not fully understand the implications of transporting certain substances and goods, which in the Aviation context constitute dangerous goods.
The CAA informs me that in the last 8 months, there have been 3 separate incidents of booklet matches spontaneously combusting in passengers' baggage in the baggage hold of domestic flights, highlighting a need to focus on dangerous goods.
There is also the growing problem of "air rage" which we need to respond to and clearly communicate to the flying public that such actions are in violation of our aviation legislation2 and will result in severe penalties.
Targeted Educational Campaigns are clearly needed to ensure that we all play our part in ensuring aviation safety is continuously improved in South Africa.
It is also imperative that the aviation community and the CAA work together as a team to ensure the greatest success in promoting Aviation Safety in all sectors of our aviation industry. I am encouraged by the co-operation that exists within our aviation industry in this regard. This safety awareness initiative by the CAA is being done not only in conjunction with ACSA, SAA, SA Airlink, SA Express, BA/Comair, Nationwide and the ATNS companies, but also with sections of the tourism industry, including the hotels and travel agents.
I wish to express my appreciation for the roles played by all these stakeholders in helping to improve the safety of our aviation system.
I would also like to convey my special appreciation to the Lion Match Company, makers of the booklet matches, who after being made aware of the hazardous incidents involving book matches, immediately offered to place a warning message on books matches. I am informed that this has resulted in several passengers handing over their safety booklet matches to airline staff prior to checking-in.
In conclusion, I would like to reaffirm the government's commitment to improving the safety levels of our various transportation systems. I see this Aviation Safety Awareness Month as an important pilot project for future initiatives in which we, in cooperation with all the role players, actively promote transport safety through targeted campaigns across the different modes of transport.
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1. 1999 ICAO Audit: CAA Action plan submitted to ICAO in 2000. 85% of the ICAO actions are finalised. Two actions are being processed, namely the:
After the incident concerning the alleged Examination fraud, another ICAO audit was done focussing on the Licensing and exam systems. The feedback from the ICAO team was that they are satisfied with the level of oversight.
2. Civil Aviation Offences Act 10 of 1972 Section 2 (1) Any person who (iii) assaults or willfully interferes with any member of the crew of that aircraft in the performance of his duties, shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to imprisonment for a period of not less than five years but not exceeding thirty years.