Articles
RAASA
Whilst the functions assigned to a designated body are contained in the Civil Aviation Regulations (CARS), the CAA added some functions not specifically provided for in Part 149 of the regulations. These include oversight over Special Air Events, Aerobatic ratings and Display authorisations and oversight over Model Aircraft operations.
The designated functions include the establishment and determination of safety standards and airworthiness standards, issuing of the newly introduced National Pilot License and Authority- to-fly permits, serve on the CAA consultative forums such as CARCOM and NASCOM, monitoring compliance with regulations, and the Approved Person scheme.
The oversight over the activities of the Parachute Association and the Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association will shift from the Aero Club to RAASA.
Oversight over the activities of gliding as currently done by the Soaring Society is specifically excluded.
It is important to note that the functions will be phased in over a period of some months, and that the process will be completed during 2009. Detail of the progress will be published on the RAASA website and will be distributed through news letters and bulletins.
Glider Administration
Administration of Glider Pilots License and Authorities to Fly documentation
On the 29th September 2010 the SA Civil Aviation Authority issued instruction to RAASA to carry out administrative functions regarding gliding.
This followed more than a year after the then Commissioner for Civil Aviation (now Director for Civil Aviation) expressed his intention on 28 August 2009 to incorporate the administration of gliding related functions with RAASA.
The administrative functions referred to above includes the following
• Glider Pilot Licensing.
• Touring Glider Pilot Licensing.
• Instructors and other ratings.
• Foreign Glider Pilot Validations.
• Other ratings to the above.
• All Aircraft Authorities to Fly documents.
• Inclusion of SSSA Approved Persons into existing AP scheme.
To ensure a high level of service to all aircraft owners and pilots, the following arrangement will take immediate effect:
1. In the case of Pilot related qualifications:
1.1. All current licenses held by glider pilots needs to be regularised (meaning re-issue);
1.1.1. This process has been necessitated by legal opinion of the SACAA regarding the licenses validity.
1.1.2. This process is quite painless in that you need to present the original SSSA issued license, ,application form, copy of ID and colour passport photo, pay R 57.00 (Vat incl), and wait about 90 minutes for the new license.
1.1.3. The validity dates on the newly issued license would reflect the current dates on the current SSSA issued card.
1.2. All initial, renewals and additions of ratings and medical updates of licenses,
1.2.1. All initial, renewals and additions to licenses will be issued against the requirements as set out in ANR 3.17 read together with the approved SSSA MOP.
1.2.2. Should the license lapse during this time of regularisation the process for renewal of a license will apply, Part 187 fees will then apply.
1.2.3. Medical updates will only be done on presentation of a valid medical certificate, and will attract no cost at no cost.
1.2.4. Additional aircraft class (type) ratings will be added at no cost, where other additional class (i.e. Instructor ratings) ratings will be charged as per Part 187, although where more than one application is submitted at the same time, only one fee will apply.
1.2.5. Time to process the application is around 90 minutes (make a small allowance if you submit in bulk).
Please note: The above process requires verification by the SSSA. It would therefore be more expedient to lodge the application with the SSSA directly.
2. In the case of Aircraft Authority to fly documents:
2.1. The provisions contained in Part 24 of the Civil Aviation Regulations (CARS) provides adequately for the issuing and renewing of Authorities to fly for all NTCA.
2.2. The appropriate forms available on the RAASA website provides further guidance on what needs to be included in the application which needs to be lodged with RAASA
2.3. The Appropriate fee is R 100 (vat included) at this time, as promulgated in Part 187 of the CARS.
2.4. RAASA will forward a list of ATF’s issued on a regular basis to the SSSA for record keeping and further notification.
3. In the case of approved persons:
3.1. The provisions regulating Approved Persons is contained in Part 66.10 of the CARS.
3.2. All SSSA Approved Persons certificates will remain valid until 29 September 2011 where after, should the individual apply, be added to the recognised Aero Club of South Africa’s (AeCSA) approved person scheme (where the SSSA has representation), and issued with a new certificate, book and stamp.
3.3. All current ratings will be carried over under a grandfather clause, additional ratings will be subject to approval.
3.4. Application forms are available with a list of requirements on the RAASA website.
3.5. The initial cost of application for inclusion into the AeCSA scheme is R350, where after the normal renewal fee will apply.
3.6. The requirements and fees are determined by AeCSA Technical Committee in conjunction with RAASA.
4. Document Handling:
4.1. Applicants have the option of using the SSSA as an agent to apply on their behalf, or either personally hand in or post the applications directly to RAASA.
4.2. Should an applicant so choose to have their documentation sent back to them, a variety of posting options are available from ordinary mail to courier. The choice would be for the applicants account.
4.3. Should a document become lost the relevant fee for issuing a duplicate will be charged as per Part 187.
Source: RAASA