Is it safe to fly SAA maintained aircraft?

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kaspaas

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Is it safe to fly SAA maintained aircraft?

Maybe still now, but what about 2 years from now?



Flight safety risk a CAA priority
Borrie la Grange Published:Apr 15, 2008

http://www.thetimes.co.za/News/Article.aspx?id=748254

‘The loss of skilled personnel in the aviation sector concerns the CAA’
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# Brain drain could put flights at risk

The South African air safety watchdog, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), is worried about the exodus of skilled aircraft maintenance technicians.

This follows an exclusive report in The Times yesterday that highlighted the risk to flight safety because of the brain drain at SA Technical, the aircraft maintenance arm of SA Airways.

The international safety monitor, the US Federal Aviation Authority, cited a staff exodus at SA Technical as a major concern in a draft report on an inspection last month of the company’s operations.

The FAA report noted that SA Technical had lost more than 300 employees in the past two years. The FAA said it was “not confident in SA Technical’s ability to maintain a quality product if the loss of personnel continues”.

Moses Seate, a spokesman for the CAA, told The Times yesterday: “The loss of skilled personnel in the aviation sector is of concern to the CAA. We will have to work with industry and the government to address this problem urgently.”

SA Technical services the international aircraft fleets of SAA, Mango, Kulula.com, Air France and Lufthansa, among others.

Local carriers serviced by SA Technical said that, though they were comfortable with its safety standards, staff shortages at the company were delaying some flights.
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Given the choice, I would not. Call me names, say I am negative etc etc etc, but, at the end of the day, it is the perception of your customer that counts.

SAA has a lonnnnnnnnnng way to go before I trust them.
 
I still prefer BA, for some strange reason, on BA local flight, they do announcements in English AND Afrikaans, while on SAA its only english. And the food is nicer
 
At least in 2 years time government will see how well their affirmative action policies are working. Viva 2010!!!
 
This is the last thing i need to hear!!!
I think about the maintenance of each aircraft i fly on. I re-assure myself constantly that the standards used are top of the line in this industry and we are in good hands.
Now ill think about how many people have left in the last 2 years and wonder how skilled the current staff is.
I really hope it doesnt take a crash of some sorts to bring realisation to the industry and i really hope im not on that flight.
 
SAA Flight 210 crashes after engine falls off and lands on Brazilian soccer team doing Penalty shoot-outs.

:D

/joke
 
They are safe to fly, otherwise the UK would have kicked them out like they did with Angola.

Slightly off topic, I am disappointed with how SAA treats their skilled employees. I know someone who used to work on the planes as a maintenance technician. SAA basically told him that due to cost cutting, they would reduce his salary by R 500 per month - he could take it or leave it. Well he left it and has now just secured a job in Dubai.

This guy is Indian so he qualifies as AA. What is disgusting is that the CEO earns millions and contributes nothing but hot air. These guys on the ground do all the hard work and get treated like dirt. Does SAA have any idea how long it takes to become a good airplane technician, how much you have to study, how much experience you need before you can be considered reliable?

It is difficult to replace skilled people, that is why you have to do your best to retain them. Why is it that a CEO who gets paid a few million a year cannot grasp that simple concept?
 
I don't expect them to be any different to Eishkom in their structure, but it's a helluva lot worse when a planes turbines trip compared to a power station.
 
Gothan said:
I still prefer BA, for some strange reason, on BA local flight, they do announcements in English AND Afrikaans
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For real? That's awesome! I'll try them next time I'm flying locally in S.A.

Moederloos said:
SAA has a lonnnnnnnnnng way to go before I trust them.
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Remember SAA does the maintenance of (at least some) other airlines' aircraft too.

sabagamma said:
Slightly off topic, I am disappointed with how SAA treats their skilled employees.
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They treat everyone like dung. Employees and clients alike.

sabagamma said:
I know someone who used to work on the planes as a maintenance technician. SAA basically told him that due to cost cutting, they would reduce his salary by R 500 per month - he could take it or leave it.
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That is shocking!
 
Pre- AA/BEE south africa was home to the worlds leading aeroplane technicians/servicing etc, companies from around the world used our technicians to service and repair their aircraft. Instead of sharing the golden egg they killed the goose:(
 
Captain Slog said:
You are going to fly BA because they make announcements in Afrikaans!! That's amazing! :sick:
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I said I'll try them. I haven't flown with them in S.A. in about a decade.

And yeah, it would be worth the money just to hear announcements in Afrikaans on any sort of public transport. What's your problem with that?
 
Before asking is it safe to fly with SAA, ask yourself this, is it safe to drive on our roads?

Think you'll be safe mate :p
 
Gothan said:
I still prefer BA, for some strange reason, on BA local flight, they do announcements in English AND Afrikaans, while on SAA its only english. And the food is nicer
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Actually I think it depends on who the cockpit crew are and what language(s) they speak additionally to English. Thusfar I have heard announcements in Zulu, Afrikaans and German on SAA flights to Frankfurt and back. My sibling now flies for Qantas, and whenever it is a Sydney-Joburg flight she does the announcements in Afrikaans as well. The pax seem to enjoy that.
 
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I couldn't care if it's safe or not ... after several k@k experiences with SAA and their "fsk the customer" attitude, they'll never see another cent of my money
 
IIRC, rather than build up their own maitanance division, maintanance from ALL SA operators use SAA Technical?
 
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