Airlink maintains that its flypast over DHL Stadium in Cape Town followed all the required regulations, amid an ongoing investigation by the South African Civil Aviation Authority.
The comments come after the aviation authority gave Airlink until Thursday to respond to the authority’s report on the flypast during a rugby match in August.
The SACAA said it will determine the appropriate action after Airlink’s response to the report.
“As we have done up to now as a Regulator we will not compromise on the safety of passengers, crews, or public to protect the interests of any operator. We will assess Airlink’s response and take the appropriate action in accordance with our mandate and the applicable regulatory processes,” said Commissioner for the Aviation Authority Poppy Khoza to the SABC.
Meanwhile, Airlink’s CEO, de Villiers Engelbrecht, said he is especially concerned by remarks by the SACAA, which he said were taken out of context by the media.
“Airlink is alarmed by some speculative news reports following the South African Civil Aviation Authority’s media briefing… which included an update on the review of Airlink’s formation flyby over the Cape Town Stadium on the 29th of August. Airlink has urged the South African Civil Aviation Authority to issue a clarifying statement that sets the record straight,” said Airlink’s media advisor, Linden Burns.
Despite this, Airlink said it will continue to cooperate with the aviation authority’s review.
“The safety of passengers, the public, crew, aircraft and our operations are always Airlink’s priority. And this also applied to the rugby stadium flybys where safety was the overriding consideration. Right from the outset in April, when planning, consultation and preparation for the flybys commenced, their performance; and which also informed the adverse weather-related decision to cancel the third planned flyby,” said Burns.
Engelbrecht said in a statement that should there be a need for further investigation, Airlink would subject itself to this “within the applicable South African legal framework and regulations”.
