SOUTH Africa's aviation sector has been shaken by the south African Civil Aviation Authority's (SAC) sudden enforcement of a controversial rule requiring all aircraft engines older than 12 years to undergo mandatory overhauls, reports London's South African.
The decision, which has grounded more than 1 400 fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters across the country, stems from SAC's belief that a strict time-based overhaul regime is essential to maintaining flight safety.
The cost of an overhaul in many cases may exceed the value of the aircraft, effectively rendering them obsolete. An industry with some 300,000 employees could be economically decimated by the ruling.
According to SAC, the enforcement of the 12-year engine overhaul rule is rooted in one key priority: Preventing mechanical failure that could result in fatalities.
SAC says it is aligning local regulations with the manufacturer-recommended 'calendar life' of engines, which typically advise overhauls every 12 years, irrespective of flight time.
The Authority points to international standards, including those of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and Federal Aviation Administration (F) in the United States, which often require scheduled overhauls for commercial operations.
SAC told media this week: 'Aging components - particularly in critical engine assemblies - can experience metal fatigue, corrosion, and rubber degradation that are invisible during external inspections.
SeaNews Turkey
The decision, which has grounded more than 1 400 fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters across the country, stems from SAC's belief that a strict time-based overhaul regime is essential to maintaining flight safety.
The cost of an overhaul in many cases may exceed the value of the aircraft, effectively rendering them obsolete. An industry with some 300,000 employees could be economically decimated by the ruling.
According to SAC, the enforcement of the 12-year engine overhaul rule is rooted in one key priority: Preventing mechanical failure that could result in fatalities.
SAC says it is aligning local regulations with the manufacturer-recommended 'calendar life' of engines, which typically advise overhauls every 12 years, irrespective of flight time.
The Authority points to international standards, including those of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and Federal Aviation Administration (F) in the United States, which often require scheduled overhauls for commercial operations.
SAC told media this week: 'Aging components - particularly in critical engine assemblies - can experience metal fatigue, corrosion, and rubber degradation that are invisible during external inspections.
SeaNews Turkey
