World News
Airlink cancels upcoming stadium flyby amid aviation review of Cape Town display
South Africa's aviation regulator is reviewing a low-altitude formation flight over a rugby stadium as the airline scraps a planned follow-up.
The short version
- South African carrier Airlink canceled a planned formation flyover for an upcoming rugby match in Johannesburg, citing poor weather conditions.
- The decision follows public scrutiny over an August 29 flyby in Cape Town where two passenger planes flew at low altitude over DHL Stadium.
- The South African Civil Aviation Authority is analyzing flight data to ensure standard safety protocols were maintained during the maneuver.
Key facts
- Airlink withdrew plans to perform a formation flypast at a rugby test match between South Africa and New Zealand in Johannesburg, attributing the decision to poor forecasted weather.[Deutsche Welle]
- The South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) launched a compliance verification into an August 29 flyover by two Airlink passenger jets at Cape Town's DHL Stadium to assess safety protocol compliance.[Deutsche Welle]
- According to data from the tracking service Flightradar24, the lead aircraft passed under 15 meters (50 feet) above the top of the stadium.[Deutsche Welle]
- SACAA confirmed the Cape Town flyover had received prior approval in accordance with rules governing special air events.[Deutsche Welle]
- Airlink stated that the flight was fully rehearsed with three senior captains operating each aircraft, while also acknowledging public questions regarding the display.[Deutsche Welle]
What remains uncertain
- The final findings and conclusions of the SACAA safety compliance review remain pending as the regulator continues to examine flight data.[Deutsche Welle]