GEORGE NEWS - George Airport has been listed as one of South Africa's airports where flight disruptions may be seen due to an air navigation compliance review process. Despite this, everything is running smoothly in George at the moment, and no flights have been delayed.
The suspension is due to Air Traffic and Navigation Services (ATNS) currently conducting a maintenance programme for instrument flight procedures at various airports nationwide.
"The maintenance of flight procedures does not necessarily mean there is no access to airports and/or flights are cancelled," said ATNS spokesperson Percy Morokane.
"Flights to George, Kimberly, Mthatha, Polokwane, and Richards Bay operate with visual approaches into those airports,” said Morokane.
"In terms of our safety management system, procedures that do not meet the requirement should be suspended unless such non-compliances are mitigated."
Aircraft operators were informed on Friday night, 19 July, by the Air Traffic Navigation Service (ATNS) that all instrument-navigation flight (IF) approaches to the George, Kimberley, Mthatha, Polokwane, and Richards Bay airports have been suspended indefinitely.
Pilots may fly visual approaches in good weather, but at night or during cloudy, misty or rainy weather, approaches may not always be allowed.
The South African Weather Service has currently not issued any severe weather alerts in the affected areas.
The ATNS said it would ensure an expedited maintenance review process per the standards to minimise the impact on safety and operational flight delays.
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