A
- AIC
- Aeronautical Information Circular (AIC) is a formal type of communication from SACAA.
- AIP
- Aeronautical Information Publication is a formal type of communication from SACAA.
- ARCC
- Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre (ARCC) is a division of ATNS, equipped and authorised to oversee and co-ordinate aviation-related Search and Rescue operations.
- ARO
- Aviation Recreation Organisation (ARO) – a type of organisation defined by the Civil Aviation Act and issued with a formal mandate to oversee a particular aviation discipline. SAHPA is the ARO for Paragliding, Hang-gliding and powered versions thereof.
- ATNS
- Air Traffic Navigation Services (ATNS) provides safe, expeditious and efficient air traffic management services to South African pilots. See the ATNS website.
- ATO
- An Approved Training Organisation (ATO) is a regulatory status for schools, which allows aviation schools to operate. This is currently being phased out and being replaced by the DTO model with the 21st Amendment of the Civil Aviation Regulations.
- Accident
- An occurrence associated with the operation of an aircraft which, in the case of a manned aircraft takes place between the time any person boards an aircraft with the intention of flight until such time as all such persons have disembarked, or in the case of an unmanned aircraft, takes place between the time an aircraft is ready to move with the purpose of flight until such time it comes to rest at the end of a flight and the primary propulsion system is shut down, in which—
(a) a person is fatally or seriously injured as result of—
(i) being in such aircraft;
(ii) direct contact with any part of such aircraft, including parts which have become detached or are released therefrom; or
(iii) direct exposure to jet blast, rotor or propeller wake,
except when such injury is from natural causes, self-inflicted or inflicted by any other person, or when such injury is to a stowaway hiding outside an area normally available to passengers and flight crew;
(b) an aircraft sustains damage or structural failure which—
(i) adversely affects the structural strength, performance or flight characteristics of such aircraft; and
(ii) would normally require major repair or replacement of an affected component,
except for engine failure or damage when the damage is limited to a single engine including its cowlings or accessories, propellers, wing tips, antennas, probes, vanes, tyres, brakes, wheels, fairings, panels, landing gear doors, windscreens, the aircraft skin (such as small dents or puncture holes), or for minor damages to main rotor blades, tail rotor blades, landing gear, and holes resulting from hail or bird strike (including holes in a radome); or
(c) an aircraft is still missing after an official search has been terminated and its wreckage has not been located; or
(d) an aircraft is in a place where it is completely inaccessible;
- Accountable Manager
- A single, identifiable person within an entity who has full responsibility for the organisation’s on-going compliance with the CAR and have full authority for human resources issues, authority for major financial issues, direct responsibility for the conduct of the organisation’s affairs, final authority over operations under certificate and final responsibility for all safety and security issues;
- AeCSA
- The Aero Club of South Africa pro-actively promotes, protects and preserves all forms of aviation sport and recreational in South Africa.
- Assembly of Persons
- Assembly of Persons means any gathering of any Person, including but not limited to spectators, attendees, organisers, performers, and participants on any given day.
C
- CAA
- Civil Aviation Authority, more accurately referred to as the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA)
- CAR
- Civil Aviation Regulations (CAR)
- CATS
- Civil Aviation Technical Standards
- CFI
- Chief Flight Instructor, a person appointed into a leadership role at a Declared Training Organisation.
- CTA
- The Cape Tandem Association (CTA), a professional body for TFI pilots operating from Signal Hill and Lion’s Head in Cape Town.
- Cause
- The action, omission, event, condition or any combination thereof, which led to an accident or incident.
D
- DAME
- Designated Aviation Medical Examiner. A medical doctor that has met the requirements to conduct medical examinations, and who has been formally designated by the CAA.
- DTO
- A Declared Training Organisation (DTO) is a new risk-based approach for oversight of flight schools, introduced by the 21st Amendment to the Civil Aviation Regulations (CAR) in November 2021. This replaces the Approved Training Organisation (ATO) model.
- Duty period
- A period starting when an ATS personnel or a crew member commence a duty and includes time when a crew member flies in an aeroplane at the behest of his or her employer, and ending when that person is free from all duties.
E
- ENR
- A contraction of the word “Enroute”. The ENR 5.5 is an AIP which lists all SAHPA-approved sites, with GPS coordinates and airspace restrictions.
F
- Fatigue
- A physiological state of reduced mental or physical performance capability resulting from sleep loss, extended wakefulness, mental or physical activity, circadian phase or workload that may impair a person’s alertness and ability to safely operate an aircraft or perform safety related operational duties.
H
- HOS
- Head of Safety (HOS) is a role defined within SAHPA management structure.
- HOT
- Head of Training (HOT), a role defined within SAHPA management structure.
I
- IMC
- Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC), when visibility is impaired to the point where the pilot must rely on instruments to fly safely. Paragliders and Hanggliders are not permitted to fly in IMC.
- Incident
- An occurrence, other than an accident, associated with the operation of an aircraft, which affects or could affect the safety of aircraft operations.
M
- MAS
- The SAHPA Membership Administration System (MAS) is used by the SAHPA Office to manage all member information, subscriptions, and communication.
- MOP
- The SAHPA Manual of Procedures (MOP) is a controlled document which records the policies, process and procedures used within SAHPA.
N
- NSO
- National Safety Officer
S
- SACAA
- South African Civil Aviation Authority, more commonly referred to as CAA.
- SAHPA
- South African Hang-gliding and Paragliding Association is a membership-based organisation which protects, promotes and administers the sport of Paragliding, Hang-gliding and powered versions thereof.
- SMS
- Safety Management System
- Safety Management System
- A systematic approach to managing safety, including the necessary organisational structures, accountabilities, policies and procedures.
- Serious incident
- An incident involving circumstances indicating that there was a high probability of an accident and is associated with the operation of an aircraft which, in the case of a manned aircraft, takes place between the time any person boards the aircraft with the intention of flight until such time as all such persons have disembarked, or in the case of an unmanned aircraft, takes place between the time the aircraft is ready to move with the purpose of flight until such time it comes to rest at the end of the flight and the primary propulsion system is shut down.
- Serious injury
- An injury which—
(a) requires hospitalisation for more than 48 hours, within seven days from the date on which the injury was sustained;
(b) results in a fracture of any bone (except simple fractures of fingers, toes or nose);
(c) involves lacerations which cause severe haemorrhage, or nerve, muscle or tendon damage;
(d) involves injury to any internal organ;
(e) involves second or third degree burns or any burns affecting more than 5 per cent of the surface of the body; or
(f) involves verified exposure to infectious or toxic substances or injurious radiation;
T
- TPM
- Training & Procedures Manual (TPM), a document which defines the policies, processes and procedures of the SAHPA ATO.
- Threat
- Used in the context of operating an aircraft, means events or errors, as defined, that occur beyond the influence of the flight crew, increase operational complexity, and which must be managed to maintain the margin of safety.
- Threat management
- The process of detecting and responding to the threats with countermeasures that reduce or eliminate the consequences of threats, and mitigate the probability of errors, as defined, or undesired aircraft condition.
V
- VFR
- Visual Flight Rules (VFR) means that the aircraft is intended to operate in visual meteorological conditions (VMC, i.e. nice and clear weather). Clouds, heavy precipitation, low visibility, and otherwise adverse weather conditions should be avoided under VFR.
- VMC
- Visual Meteorological Conditions (VMC) is an aviation flight category in which visual flight rules (VFR) flight is permitted, that is, conditions in which pilots have sufficient visibility to fly the aircraft maintaining visual separation from terrain and other aircraft. See CAR 91.06.21.