The South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) held its State of Aviation media briefing at its headquarters on 13 October 2026, providing an overview of the regulator's performance during the 2025/26 financial year and developments affecting the country's aviation industry.
Commissioner for Civil Aviation Poppy Khoza addressed aviation safety, international oversight assessments, general aviation accident figures, regulatory changes and the SACAA's financial performance. The briefing also covered pilot training, digital services, emerging aviation technologies and updates on the ZS-CAR accident and Airlink's Cape Town flypast.
Aviation Safety and International Oversight
Khoza confirmed that South Africa achieved a final score of 94.99% in its latest International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) safety oversight assessment, conducted in April 2026. The preliminary result of 95.12% had been subject to ICAO's quality assurance process.
According to the SACAA, the final result places South Africa 1st in Africa and 7th globally for the effective implementation of international aviation safety requirements.
The assessment examines a state's ability to maintain an effective aviation safety oversight system, including legislation, licensing, certification, surveillance and regulatory enforcement. Khoza said the process also involves sampling operators to assess how effectively the regulator applies international requirements.
The Commissioner reported that the United States Transportation Security Administration (TSA) had conducted several assessments in South Africa during the preceding 12 months. According to Khoza, the most recent assessment, concluded in June 2026, raised no findings.
Turning to operational safety, Khoza said South Africa had maintained a record of more than 40 years without a fatal accident in scheduled commercial airline operations.
General aviation presented a different picture. The SACAA recorded 76 GA accidents during the 2025/26 financial year, compared with 133 in 2024/25, a reduction of 43%. However, fatal accidents increased from 4 to 17, while fatalities rose from 7 to 24.
According to the Commissioner, completed accident investigations continued to identify flight crew or human error, mechanical and powerplant issues, and structural or airframe failures among the leading causes.
The SACAA also provided an update on its General Aviation Safety Strategy (GASS) and General Aviation Accident Reduction Seminars (GAARS), which involve industry participation and focus on risk management and accident prevention.
Khoza said the regulator was working towards establishing an online Safety Hub to improve safety communication, reporting and access to information for industry participants.
Regulatory Developments and Aviation Training
The briefing included an update on the Condition Monitoring Programme (CMP) introduced for qualifying aircraft engines following the withdrawal of Aeronautical Information Circular (AIC) 18.19 in June 2025.
The programme provides an alternative maintenance framework under which qualifying engines may be managed according to their monitored condition and performance rather than a fixed calendar period, subject to prescribed inspections, testing, maintenance procedures and record-keeping requirements.
Khoza said the programme followed engagement between the SACAA and industry after the withdrawal of the circular, which had referenced repealed regulations.
The Commissioner also addressed the commencement of the Civil Aviation Amendment Act 22 of 2021 on 12 October 2026. The legislation introduces revised provisions concerning independent aircraft accident investigations, environmental oversight, regulatory finances and the statutory designation of the Commissioner for Civil Aviation.
A separate development concerned the recognition of aviation qualifications within South Africa's national qualifications framework.
During the reporting year, the SACAA and industry stakeholders reviewed 2 qualifications: the Commercial Pilot Licence (Fixed-wing) and Airline Transport Pilot Licence (Fixed-wing).
Both were submitted to the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO) for approval and subsequent submission to the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA). The regulator intends to consider further qualifications during the current financial year.
Khoza also acknowledged the industry's continuing shortage of specialised aviation skills. She referred to the SACAA's bursary programme and partnerships with operators, including Airlink and FlySafair, to support practical training and flight-hour building for aspiring pilots.
SACAA Performance and Digital Services
The SACAA reported a financial surplus of R62.7 million for 2025/26, compared with a budgeted surplus of R27.6 million. Khoza attributed the difference to revenue performance and expenditure management.
The regulator also reported its 12th clean and unqualified audit outcome from the Auditor-General of South Africa in 14 years. It achieved 39 of its 40 strategic performance targets, representing 97.5%.
In its workforce update, the SACAA reported a staff composition of 52% female and 48% male. The organisation also reported renewed Top Employer Certification, with its assessment score increasing from 71.8% to 92.15%.
Khoza outlined progress in the regulator's digital services, including the introduction of online applications for obstacle management. Existing services include smart-card pilot licences, an e-Services portal through which users can verify Aviation Training Organisations and Designated Flight Examiners, and a contact centre with AI-enabled chatbot functionality.
Further projects in development include the automation of personnel licensing processes and the 5-phase operator certification process.
The Commissioner also addressed the growing use of emerging technologies in aviation, including artificial intelligence, drones and advanced air mobility.
Khoza said the SACAA had received industry requests for simpler drone regulations and was working with stakeholders on this area. The regulator has also developed an Advanced Air Mobility strategy addressing technologies such as air taxis and pilotless aircraft operations. No implementation dates were announced in the prepared remarks.
Updates on ZS-CAR and the Airlink Flypast
The briefing also addressed 2 matters that had attracted public attention.
Regarding the fatal ZS-CAR accident of 23 January 2020, which claimed the lives of 3 SACAA employees, Khoza discussed the investigation report published by the Ethiopian investigation authority in January 2022.
The SACAA maintains that the report contained inaccuracies and said it had successfully appealed the findings. Khoza reported that the Department of Transport had informed the regulator of a decision to institute a judicial inquest into the deaths.
The Commissioner also rejected allegations concerning the SACAA's treatment of a former employee in connection with the accident. She said the related matter remained before the courts.
On the Airlink flypast conducted over Cape Town on 29 August 2026 ahead of the South Africa–New Zealand rugby fixture, Khoza confirmed that the SACAA had conducted a compliance check against the applicable regulatory requirements and the conditions of the flypast approval.
The regulator had completed its verification process and provided a report to Airlink. The operator subsequently requested additional time to respond, with the SACAA granting an extension until 15 October 2026.
Speaking on 13 October, Khoza said the regulator would consider the operator's response before determining whether any further regulatory action was necessary. No final enforcement decision was announced at the briefing.
The Commissioner distinguished the SACAA's regulatory compliance inquiries from aircraft accident investigations conducted under ICAO Annex 13, noting that the former may result in corrective or enforcement action, while the latter are intended to prevent future accidents.
