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The South African Department of Transport (DOT) has issued a regulatory change concerning non-scheduled international operations transporting passengers to South Africa. The DOT has introduced enhanced advance passenger information and vetting requirements following a national security assessment that identified elevated risks tied to charter operations and gaps in the application of advanced passenger processing to…

This blog is co-authored by Eric Geldenhuys, candidate attorney.

The Department of Transport and the Director of the Civil Aviation Authority have published draft and proposed amendments to the Civil Aviation Regulations (CARs) and the South African Civil Aviation Technical Standards (SA‑CATS), with comments invited by 30 November 2025. The proposals refine requirements for aircraft…

This blog is co-authored by Eric Geldenhuys, candidate attorney.

Several aviation industry bodies (Industry Bodies) sought to halt the implementation of current South African Civil Aviation Technical Standards 2 of 2025 (SA‑CATS 2/2025) and to reinstate the 12‑year calendar engine overhaul recommendation per Aeronautical Information Circular 18.19 (AIC 18.19). In October 2025 the court declined…

The blog is co-authored by Eric Geldenhuys, a candidate attorney.

The South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) has enforced a regulatory change affecting the general aviation sector: the strict application of a 12-year engine overhaul requirement for certain aircraft engines, including those manufactured by Textron Lycoming, Teledyne Continental, Pratt & Whitney and Rotax.  The requirement…

Part139.01.1(2) of the South African Civil Aviation Regulations (CARs) has been amended and spells a major shift for commercial aviation in South Africa. This amendment could have significant ramifications for light aircraft operators, specifically those engaged in game and bush lodge transfers.

The amended regulation stipulates that no aircraft (fixed or rotor wing) engaged in…

This blog is co-authored by Eric Geldenhuys, a candidate attorney.

In March 2025, the Minister of Transport amended the Civil Aviation Regulations (CARs) in terms of section 155 of the Civil Aviation Act, 2009. The thirty first amendment to the Civil Aviation Regulations (Amended CARs) was gazetted on 28 March 2025. Part 139 of the…

This blog is co-authored by Jos Fogle, candidate attorney.

In February 2025 the High Court provided authority for the point that maintaining interim relief pending the final determination of a matter can be crucial to preventing harm to the public interest and ensuring the proper administration of justice.

In November 2024, the Johannesburg High Court…

A June 2014 judgment by the UK court of appeal found that airlines are liable for compensation under European Council Regulation No. 261/2004 to passengers where a flight has been delayed on account of an unforeseeable aircraft technical problem.

The Regulation and the court’s decision

Regulation 261 provides for compensation in the event of passengers…

2013 saw the emergence of low-cost airline FlySafair. In June 2013 Safair applied for a licence to allow it to operate a commercial scheduled air service. The licence was granted by the Air Service Licensing Council.

Interdict

An interdict was sought restraining Safair from operating the commercial service on grounds that more than 25% of…