JOHANNESBURG - 21 July 2009
South African Airways Technical (SAAT) has again been given a stamp of approval by the US-based Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) following an independent re-audit of its maintenance facilities and manpower.
The positive outcome of the re-audit has resulted in SAAT’s accreditation with the regulatory body being extended to end-June 2010. This allows SAAT to perform maintenance on any US registered aircraft or components fitted to such an aircraft.
Annual audits of SAAT’s facilities and services by the FAA have been performed since 1994. They are critically important for SAAT as the audits gauge the organisation’s ability to safely maintain the aircraft entrusted to it by a host of domestic, regional and international carriers, including those of South African Airways (SAA).
Aircraft maintenance conducted by SAAT, the largest of its kind in Southern Africa, is governed by several international aviation regulatory bodies, including the FAA, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the South African Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). These organizations have detailed, highly prescriptive and non-negotiable regulations which must be stringently adhered to in order to maintain a high level of safety.
The inspection of SAAT’s facilities and services was carried over a period of approximately five days by five FAA inspectors.
“FAA approval is an important mark of our ability to provide a specialised service according to the highest standards expected by aircraft operators around the world. Being recognised by this respected international aviation body gives us further credibility in terms of our commitment to safe practises,” says Captain Stefan Poprawa, acting CEO, SAAT.
Many operators, irrespective of where their aircraft are registered, require a FAA approved facility to perform their maintenance, in addition to being approved by their applicable national regulatory body.
In order to become FAA approved, a number of criteria must be fulfilled by the maintenance facility. These include suitably qualified and adequate number of personnel, approved training programs for personnel, appropriate tooling and equipment, adequate technical manuals, knowledge of FAA regulations and requirements and retention of records for work performed and maintenance of equipment.
Issued by South African Airways Cargo