The South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) says it is important for the country to maintain its safety record in the skies.

The warning comes amid ongoing disruptions that have impacted several local airlines.

The disruptions have been caused by the Air Traffic and Navigation Service’s (ATNS) delays in renewing essential flight procedures at a number of airports.

Civil Aviation Authority Director Poppy Khoza says it is important that South Africa maintains the zero fatalities in the sky status.

“As the regulator, ours is really to ensure that aviation safety is preserved, our record of a 0% accident rate, particularly in the airline sector. And therefore, of course, we will do what is expected of us as a regulator, in terms of ensuring that we do not approve anything that is substandard, and that whatever that will pass through our hands, it must have gone through all the rigorous checks that are expected.”

“And if there are any flight procedures that are not fit to be flown, we are able to withdraw them. This is what is expected of the regulator. So, we’re not going to be accused later of sleeping on the job,” adds Khoza.

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