■ SOUTH AFRICA: LCC Skywise battles on with AOC Certification process.

South African startup, Skywise (SWZ), will likely miss a deferred October launch date after the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) revealed that, to date, the airline had completed 3 of the 5 steps necessary to obtain its Air Operators Certificate.

► SOUTH AFRICA: Eleven BA-Comair B737s suffer mass grounding over expired parts.

The South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) on Friday, August 2, reportedly grounded eleven of British Airways-Comair's aircraft after they were found to be flying with components whose life-cycle expired in August 2012.

► SOUTH AFRICA: Skywise still aiming for an August launch as SACAA has yet to issue it an AOC.

Nascent South African Low Cost Carrier, SkyWise (SWZ), says it has already paid deposits on two Boeing 737-300s though operations, still scheduled for August as previously reported, will only begin once the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) issues it an Air Operator's Certificate.

■ SOUTH AFRICA: FlightSafety International now offering Embraer ERJ145 training in South Africa.

FlightSafety International has announced that it now offers training for the Embraer ERJ 145 aircraft in Johannesburg, South Africa. The Embraer ERJ 145 full flight simulator, is installed at FlightSafety’s Learning Center in Johannesburg.

■ SOUTH AFRICA: SACAA threatens action against operator of chartered Jet Airways A330 that landed at military airbase.

The South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) is considering taking action against "the operator" of a Jet Airways (9W) Airbus A330, recently chartered by South African businessman, Atul Gupta on the occasion of a family wedding, for violation of the country's Civil Aviation Regulations. The furore reportedly comes after the civilian Airbus was spotted at Pretoria's Watekloof Air Force Base, a military installation, but which has subsequently been transferred to OR Tambo International on the orders of the Ministry of Defence.

► SOUTH AFRICA: LCC SkyWise granted air service licence, aims for launch in H2 of this year.

Skywise, the nascent South African LCC run by former 1Time (T6) executives, was on Monday  its air service licence by the South African Air Services Licensing Council. The new airline is now in the process of  acquiring its AOC (air operator certificate) from the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) with Johannesburg - Cape town ops due to launch in H2 of this year.

► SOUTH AFRICA: Blu Crane Air looking to start PE - George, Mthatha, King William's Town if market permits.

Marcus Van Heerden, the owner of Blu Crane Air, the Port Elizabeth based start up, says his plan for the airline is to fill "a gap in the Eastern Cape air route network," and not to compete with established carriers, though the addition of charter operations to Mozambique and Namibia in future does remain a possibility.

■ SOUTH AFRICA: DoT claims fastjet's relaunch timeframe for 1Time unrealistic, as Skywise remains ontrack for 1 March launch.

The launch of Skywise, the South African carrier founded by the original founders of defunct South African LCC 1Time (T6) is on track for a 1 March launch as fastjet's (FN) plans to push forward with a relaunch of 1Time face a protracted, relicensing process that could derail plans for a 27 February relaunch.

● SOUTH AFRICA: South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) warns of looming strike.

The South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) has given notice of an impending strike by members of the South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (SATAWU) set for tomorrow Monday 25 November 2012.