Inspections on Boeing 737-200s as ordered by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) were being carried out on Monday.
CAA spokesperson Phindiwe Gwebu said a number of airlines had submitted reports, while others were in the process of conducting the required inspections.
She said 12 aircraft had been cleared to fly and 20 were either being inspected or the authority was awaiting reports on them.
The inspections were ordered by the authority after a Nationwide carrier lost an engine during take-off and had to make an emergency landing at Cape Town International Airport last Wednesday.
Nationwide had submitted reports on inspections conducted on seven of its aircraft — three met the CAA’s requirements, while four others complied with 90% of the requirements.
”The CAA has given clearance to operate [the four aircraft] … the 10% remaining [requirements] have not been deemed as putting passengers at risk,” she said.
Nationwide will have to report back to the CAA in two weeks on the outstanding requirements. ”It has nothing to do with engine functionality and mounting,” Gwebu said.
The authority had received confirmation that inspections had been conducted on two South African Airways aircraft. It was waiting for the reports from the airline.
It had received reports on four aircraft from Comair. All four had been cleared to fly by the authority. One aircraft was still being inspected.
Interair told the CAA that of its three aircraft, only two were operational. It confirmed that the one craft would be inspected by the end of the day on Monday.
Star Air Cargo had completed inspections on one of its four Boeing 737-200s and the other three were grounded. The CAA was waiting for their report.
Reports submitted by Interlink were under review by the authority. — Sapa