Aviation Training Supplement 2020

Q.

AF: How difficult was the situation to become prepared to re-start SPS after the initial lockdown and then the further lockdown?

A.

BM: Firstly, we had to comply with the SACAA’s sanitising requirements, which are considerably stricter than for normal business. Because our Aviation Maintenance Organisation (AMO) could return to work ahead of the flight school, we could prepare the fleet with engine runs and necessary maintenance. Initially getting the instructors proficient was a challenge because they had not flown for more than two months. This mean that all our instructors were required to undertake check flights before they could resume training students.

Q.

AF: What happened to many of your foreign and South African students during the lockdown period?

A.

BM: We anticipated the lockdown and made various offers to our students. Several decided to remain in SPS’s accommodation lodge home. Some students went home, but then they could not return until the amnesty for inter provincial travel was opened.

Q.

AF: Once things opened at Level 3 how did SPS manage the regulations?

A.

BM: We had to look at an entirely new business model with limited staff members and students. SPS has the flight school in the main terminal building as well as the Academy across the road, which meant that students and instructors could be divided into groups to apply social distancing. All our training aircraft are in our training procedures manual (OPSPEC) and all instructors have been required to work to a specific schedule. The entire student group had to be re-trained with check flights. At this time cross-country flights across provincial boundaries is still prohibited, but the students are undertaking touch and goes at Gauteng airports: Wonderboom, Lanseria and Rand airports.

Q.

AF: How has your relationship been with the regulator at this

time?

A.

BM: Communication within the different parts of the SACAA has been challenging with the regulator moving the goal posts all the time. However, having said this response to queries has been good. We cannot conduct any initial skills tests unless we apply for permission to undertake the skills test. We can only conduct renewals. Our appeal to the regulator is to enable aviation rather than find ways to make things difficult.

Q.

AF: Tell me something about the future plans of SPS

A.

BM: We are positive about the fact that this pandemic has forced us to think differently about applying our minds towards the future of aviation training. Fortunately, none of our students asked for refunds and I have notices that they are motivated more than ever before. In fact, we have been excited that we have received several enquires for pilot training generated from the various platforms including our Website, Facebook page and marketing in African Pilot. With the re-opening of the SACAA’s exam centre for the booking of exams on-line things are slowly getting back to the ‘new normal’. Thank you, Ben for talking to African Pilot

and sharing your plans for the future. Indeed, over this time I have spoken to many flight schools and the sentiment has mostly been

positive looking into the future.

One thing is for sure is that everything in aviation has changed and things

will never be the same again.