Julius Baumann
5 December 2008
Johannesburg — SOUTH African Airways Technical (SAAT) has finally received an unqualified stamp of approval by the US Federal Administration Authority (FAA) after its re-audit by the US safety agency last month.
In April the FAA raised questions over the safety of the airline's maintenance operation, warning that SAAT was dangerously understaffed.
Between January 2006 and May this year 372 employees left SAAT, leading the FAA to note that if SAAT continued to lose staff it would no longer be confident in SAAT's ability to maintain a quality product.
SAAT is responsible for the maintenance of SAA's fleet, aircraft belonging to Comair, Angolan airline TAAG as well as other international airlines flying to SA.
The FAA said in a report in April that although many workshops were adequately staffed others were " barely staffed with enough trained and qualified personnel to meet daily demands of the repair station and subsequent oversight".
The South African Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) also raised concern about the staffing level at SAAT in May this year.
Colin Jordaan, CEO and commissioner of the CAA , said ahead of the audit the skills shortage at SAA Technical (SAAT) had not affected the safety of SAA's aircraft.
"I would still put my family on an SAA flight," Jordaan said at the time.
Many technicians left during the airline's turbulent restructuring over the past 18 months, while others were poached by Middle Eastern airlines offering lucrative packages.
Shortly after the FAA audit, SAAT embarked on an energetic recruitment programme, hiring 260 employees, including former employees. There are now only about 80 posts not filled out of a complement of about 2500.
In a letter to SAAT, the FAA said it was "extremely pleased with the staffing you now have".
SAAT CEO Clive Else said yesterday: "The outcome of the FAA's findings and the subsequent renewal of our accreditation with this top regulatory organisation is of incredible significance for passengers, who can rest assured that safety at SAAT remains a priority.
"The FAA's findings are also significant for all the airlines whose aircraft are maintained by SAAT.
"They are all highly safety conscious and only allow their aircraft to be maintained by FAA accredited maintenance organisations."
The CAA conducted its annual audit of SAAT in September, and extended its accreditation to next October. The next FAA audit will be in April next year.
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