Overview

The ROLE of AIRPORTS AND AIRLINES – in accordance to the South African Civil Aviation Authority: 

The Airports and Airlines division is mandated to promote, regulate and enforce best practice security measures and policies as highlighted in Annex 17 of ICAO. The key focus of Airports and Airlines division is the ensuring of aviation industry compliance with National Aviation Security Programme (NASP).  

The roles of this division are: 

§    Determine/identify system inadequacies/weaknesses of airlines and airports to prevent acts of unlawful interference, 

§    Evaluate the robustness of the security of the airlines and airports, 

§    Assess potential threats to airlines, airports and airspace, 

§    Recommend security measures to counter actual or perceived threats, and 

§    To assist each airline and airport to develop their security programme that must be aligned to the needs of CAA, NASP, and ICAO, 

§    Conduct investigations in cases of security related incidents or accidents, 

§    Security liaison with other state organs, 

§    Assist the airlines and airports with security related enquiries and ensure quality control, 

§    Determine deficiencies in security and suggest new requirements, and 

§    Analyse current threats and recommend revisions to the NASP if necessary. 

Introduction

“National Government has over the last ten or more years reduced their direct involvement in airports and partly also in civil aviation. State airports and airspace control, which were Department of Transport responsibilities, were in 1993 transferred to ACSA (Airports Company of South Africa Limited) and ATNS (Air Traffic and Navigation Services Company Limited) respectively. In 1998 many of the other civil aviation responsibilities were transferred to the Civil Aviation Authority, an agency on an arms-length from government. The National Department of Transport (NDoT) is currently responsible for matters such as national policy, strategy and legislation; for the establishment and enforcement of norms and standards for aspects such as safety regulation, aviation security and licensing, and environmental control; the co-ordination of relations with foreign countries and their airlines; and the economic regulation of ACSA” .  

As an initial step in the broader freight logistics planning efforts, it became obvious that critical data had to be secured and stored for the Eastern Cape freight databank project. This intervention by the Department of Transportation Province (DoT) will assist all those in freight planning or form part of the freight fraternity to elevate this sector needs and requirements. 

The structure of the report is based on the inventory of existing Aviation conditions and was undertaken to assemble data pertinent to the Eastern Cape Province. It further provides background information for subsequent freight planning processes. The inventory was conducted through field surveys; telephonic interviews and review of existing information (desktop) as well as reports and feasibility studies available. The data collected is contained in the following sections: 

·           Airport Profile 

·           Airport Activity 

·           Airspace and Air Traffic Control 

·           Airport Facilities 

·           Ground Transportation 

Based on the dynamic nature of each airport, a “snapshot” of the facilities as they exist (where possible) is used. The report contains all four airports in the Eastern Cape Province. The front-end of the report discusses the following: 

·           Air cargo World Trends 

o     International and national Cargo Markets 

o     Continental and National Markets 

o     Local Markets 

·           Air cargo Operations 

o     Cargo Handling in airports 

·           Cargo Capacity Analysis (Theoretical Framework) 

After this generic section, the specific airport profiles and relevant information is presented separately, in alphabetical order, i.e. Bisho Airport; East London Airport; Port Elizabeth Airport and Mthatha Airport.

Inclusive to these airports, the province also has 31 airfields/airstrips located in various municipalities. These are presented below and sourced from the National Transport Master plan – Phase1- 2007. 

Source: Municipal Demarcation Board-2007 

Picture: Eastern Cape Aviation