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Nationwide 'can be restored'
30/11/2007 13:43 - (SA)
Verashni Pillay
Johannesburg - The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said it would work "100%" with Nationwide to restore the suspended carrier's airworthiness status, if it was willing, CAA spokesperson Phindiwe Gwebu told News24 on Friday.
Gwebu said it was in the airline's "best interest" to follow procedure to regain their Certificates of Airworthiness of aircraft. "But I don't know what their intentions are," she said.
The CAA suspended approval for the airline's aircraft maintenance organisation from midnight on Thursday.
It had also suspended the certificates of airworthiness of Nationwide's entire fleet of 16 aircraft, until the airline has fixed deficiencies within its maintenance section.
'Must satisfy requirements'
"We are going to work with them 100% to make sure that they are able to do it but they have to satisfy the requirements," said Gwebu.
Nationwide CEO Vernon Bricknell said in a letter to customers that the airline would work with the CAA to reinstate their licence.
"We do not anticipate a prolonged disruption of air service due to the close co-operation that exists between the Civil Aviation Authority and Nationwide Airlines," said Bricknell.
However CAA chief executive officer, Zakes Myeza, said if the airline did not comply, its licence would be revoked altogether.
"It was unavoidable," said Myeza.
The CAA first spotted the deficiencies during a routine audit in September. The problems were not attended to in subsequent audits, "culminating in the decision today," according to Gwebu.
She explained the CAA had not acted before as it was following a process.
The CAA did not believe that the airline's AMO could continue maintaining the aircraft to the standard required by the Civil Aviation Regulations (CARs).
Controversy
"The regulations require that the AMO maintain the aircraft in accordance with the manufacturers' requirements and any other requirement imposed by the South African Regulations which would be consistent with International Bets Practice."
Nationwide was faced with controversy earlier in November when an engine fell off a Nationwide Boeing 737 on take-off, forcing the plane to return to ground. Gwebu said that incident was a separate matter and had nothing to do with the suspension.
Meanwhile, Johanneburg Airports Company of South Africa (ACSA) spokesperson, Solomon Makgale said that Acsa client managers were on the floor to explain to customers what had happened.
"There is a small number of passengers around the checking desk at Nationwide and the airline is making alternative arrangements for them," he said.
He said there was no chaos or unruly behaviour.
However, earlier a Nationwide employee had told a customer at OR Tambo International Airport to keep quiet or she would call the police, according to Sapa.
"I had to pay again to arrange a flight for tomorrow (Saturday). When I asked for my money back [for the first flight] the person at the desk told me to be quiet or she would call the police," said an angry Riekie, who did not give her last name.
Makgale said he had no knowledge of the incident.
- News24
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