Measures to Address, Prevent and Combat the Spread of COVID-19: Air Freight Operations Directions, 2020


South Africa
Disaster Management Act, 2002

Measures to Address, Prevent and Combat the Spread of COVID-19: Air Freight Operations Directions, 2020

Government Notice 492 of 2020

I, Fikile Mbalula, MP, Minister of Transport after consultation with the Cabinet members responsible for cooperative governance and traditional affairs, health, police and justice and correctional services, in terms of regulation 22 (1) and (2) of the Regulations issued in terms of the Disaster Management Act, 2002 (Act No. 57 of 2002) hereby issue the directions set out in the Schedule hereto to address, prevent and combat the spread of the COVID-19.Mr F.A. Mbalula, MPMinister of Transport

1. Definitions

In these directions, any other word or expression to which a meaning has been assigned in the Act shall have that meaning assigned to it in the Act, and unless the context requires otherwise -"COVID -19" means the Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCov2) which is an infectious disease caused by a virus that has previously not been scientifically identified in humans, which emerged during 2019 and was declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organisation in 2020;"Disaster Management Act" means Disaster Management Act, 2002 (Act No 57 of 2002);"the Act" means the International Air Services Act, 1993 (Act No. 60 of 1993);

2. Authority

(1)Section 26(2)(b) of the Disaster Management Act, 2002 provides that a national disaster, once declared, must be managed in accordance with existing legislation, as well as contingency arrangements as amplified by disaster management regulations or directions issued in terms of section 27(2) of the Disaster Management Act, 2002.
(2)These directions are issued pursuant to the provisions of section 27(2) of the Disaster Management Act, 2002 and specifically in terms of Regulation 4(7), 20(1) and (2) of the Disaster Management Regulations 2020 to provide for measures necessary to manage COVID-19. These directions are valid for the duration of the declared national state of disaster.

3. Purpose of directions

The purpose of the directions is to provide for the:
(a)Charter Flights;
(b)Compliance with Disinfection measures;
(c)Engineers and Ground Staff, Inspections and Servicing of Aircraft at Hangars;
(d)Aviation Training; and
(e)Exemptions and Approvals.

4. Application of the directions

These Directions are applicable to all Air Services Operators and Air Services Facilities.

5. Charter flights

Transportation by charter domestic flight of mining products as set out in Annexure C of the Regulation and staff performing mining essential services are permitted.

6. Compliance with disinfection measures

(1)Aircraft Maintenance Organisations and Aviation Training Schools are required to submit procedure to the Civil Aviation Authority and the procedure must demonstrate measures they are going to put in place in order to eliminate the risk of spreading Covid-19.
(2)No person will be allowed to enter a building, place or premises if they do not wear a cloth face mask or a homemade item that covers nose and mouth.
(3)Air Service Operators must put measures in place to adhere to physical distancing to curb the spread of the virus.
(4)Air Service Operators must put in place procedures for cleaning and disinfection of their premises on regular intervals.

7. Engineers and ground staff, inspections and servicing of aircraft at hangars

(1)Aircraft Maintenance Organizations are allowed to conduct aircraft maintenance.
(2)Aircraft flights for purposes of positioning aircraft for maintenance are allowed.
(3)Flying for purposes of conducting flight test and ground engine runs are allowed.
(4)For the purposes of conducting maintenance related flights, approval from Civil Aviation Authority must be obtained.

8. Aviation training

Aviation Training Schools are allowed to conduct aviation training to students using virtual platforms.

9. Exemptions and approvals

All Exemptions or Approvals related to the Covid-19 Minister's Regulations and associated Directions must be submitted to the Department of Transport.

10. Short title and commencement

These Directions are called the Measures to Address, Prevent and Combat the Spread of COVID19: Air Freight Operations Directions, 2020 and comes in to operation on the date of publication by the Minister in the Gazette.
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History of this document

04 May 2020 this version

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  1. Disaster Management Act, 2002

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