The South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) is the national body responsible for controlling, regulating, and promoting aviation safety, security, and sustainability. It was established on the 1st of October 1998, following the enactment of the now repealed South African Civil Aviation Authority Act,1998 (Act No.40 of 1998). The Act provided for the establishment of a stand-alone authority charged with promoting, regulating and enforcing civil aviation safety and security. It reflected the Government's priorities and was in line with international trends in the aviation world where more and more states implemented this option. The abovementioned Act was repealed as a whole by the Civil Aviation Act, 2009, (Act No.13 of 2009). The Act, provides for the establishment of a stand-alone authority mandated with controlling, promoting, regulating, supporting, developing, enforcing and continuously improving levels of safety and security throughout the civil aviation industry. The SACAA is an agency of the Department of Transport (DoT). The above is to be achieved by complying with the Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), whilst considering the local context.
