CAA Investigator Says Some Are Breaking Rules

South African officials say pilot error is the main reason for a significant increase in the number of aircraft accidents in that country during the first six months of this year. The Civil Aviation Authority says the accidents are mainly due to pilots who break the rules and regulations, especially among private operators.

Head of accident investigations Gilbert Thwala says many pilots are taking chances, instead of simply doing the basic things right.

"The regulations stipulate that any aircraft flying from point A to point B must be able to continue flying for 45 minutes if for some reason it cannot land at its destination," Thwala told News 24. "Just the other day there was an incident at the Wonderboom airport when a plane carrying 10 American tourists as passengers had to make an emergency landing with two dry engines."

Thwala's comments come after a number of accidents in the last several weeks. So far this year, there have been 89 aircraft accidents from January to June... and unfortunately, Thwala says, the numbers appear to be growing.

Last year, there were only 78 accidents for the whole year in South Africa.

Thwala adds the most striking increase is in the number of accidents in experimental or unregistered types of aircraft. So far this year, there have been 40 accidents involving this kind of aircraft... compared with 29 last year.

FMI: www.caa.co.za/