International Mission: Technical Co-ordination Officer at Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA)

OVERALL, PURPOSE OF THE JOB

The overall purpose of the job covers the following areas:

• To foster a positive image of the SACAA to international stakeholders through strategic communication
• Promoting safety protocols by formulation defect notices and Airworthiness directives ensuring high standards and compliance within the aviation industry.
• To conduct investigations related to safety occurrences that are classified as safety difficulties.
• Undertake In-depth Investigations into Safety Occurrences Defined as Safety Difficulties
• Promote the SACAA activities nationally, regionally, and internationally.
• To ensure that technical aircraft data and information shared by the aircraft or component state of design is distributed and shared with the South African Aviation industry.
• Identify gaps and needs within the SACAA departments and organise and manage bench marking exercise to close the gap, monitor the implementation of the benchmarking exercise and evaluate the effectiveness of the information gathered form the bench marking exercise.
• To provide international safety information feedback to the SACAA and the industry. To identify foreign states where South African aircraft and operators are based then conduct and manage international Safety Oversight.
• To resolve International Technical queries related to South African aircraft and operators operating outside the borders of South Africa. To collaborate with foreign NAA’s in safety promotions activities such as ad-hoc safety inspections and investigations in foreign states.
• To communicate and promote SACAA processes to the international stakeholders. To organise benchmarking exercises with other states to improve SACAA safety and Quality standards.
• To discuss, negotiate and be part of technical drafting of memorandum of understanding between SACAA and Foreign NAA to befit the SACAA.
• Conduct lease package quality evaluation to ensure that Flight Operations conducted a thorough lease review and ensure consistency in lease approvals being issued.
• Communication of approved international leases to the involved foreign National Authority. Attendance of international conferences and forums contributing to the growth of SACAA and the improvement of Aviation Safety.
• Update the register of Defect Reports and Technical Agreements. Provide activity and status reports.
• Monitor international and local incidents and accidents that might affect the South African aviation industry, research, and take necessary actions to mitigate the safety risk.
• Communicate first of type registered aircraft on the South aircraft register to the state of design to obtain continuous technical information support.
• Proactively research, develop and establish the specific standards to be applied around Defect Reporting. Producing reports of international technical assistance. Producing reports for international safety oversight.
• Monitor international developments related to aviation, also monitor the political developments that might affect the SACAA aviation relations with other states.
• Monitor how South African approval holders are being received in foreign states, monitor, how the economic regulations in other states are affecting South African approval holders. Communicate the challenges to the SACAA management.

Collaborate with the legal department and the department of transport for article 83 bis negotiations and implementations.

Communication and Safety Promotions

• Part 48 lease agreement approval and evaluation ensuring that the south African registered aircraft operating outside the borders of south Africa are being operated safely.
• Safety and regulatory information communication to the foreign states where south African registered aircraft and south African operators are operating.
• Airworthiness Directive research and development communication to the South African aviation industry.
• Communication of new international aviation developments to the SACAA and the Aviation industry.
• Communication of the part 48 lease approval communication to the related states.

Maintenance and obtainment of specialist skills

• To keep abreast and remain proficient in specialist skills and new developments.
• Actively research foreign NAA for latest developments.
• Identify organisational safety oversight gaps and benchmark with foreign National Authorities.

Quality Standards

• Proactively research, develop and establish the specific standards to be applied in the area of Defect Reporting.
• Conduct quality and consistency evaluation on Part 48 international lease agreements.
• Technical participation in international MOU/MOA/SOA establishment to improve and benefit the SACAA.

Records

• Keeping records of approved leases and all foreign technical interactions and technical reports

Planning and Reporting

• Plan and execute site visits and organisation inspections as required to investigate and analyses reported defects and incidents.
• Plan and manage international safety oversight and report on the outcomes.
• Plan and manage international technical assistance requested by other national authorities.
• Identify foreign National Authorities that we can benchmark with to improve the SACAA activities.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS 

Education

• Government Safety Inspector holding a Commercial Pilot Licence or Air Traffic Controller or Licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineer 

Ideal

• International Relations Degree, Law Degree, Project Management Degree

Experience

• 5-10 Year(s) Aviation experience in Operations/Airworthiness/Regulatory environment