Weather services are essential to aviation
Photo by: Creamer Media's Rebecca Campbell
South African Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Minister Barbara Creecy on Tuesday published the Regulations concerning the fees to be paid for aviation meteorological services to be provided by the South African Weather Service (SAWS). These fees are charged under the terms of the 2001 South African Weather Services Act (Act No 8, 2001), more specifically Sections 4(2)(e) and 21(1)(b). This new fee schedule covers the next three years, from April 1, this year, to March 31, 2026.
“SAWS aviation tariffs are determined through an extensive consultative process which includes stakeholder engagement and participation,” affirmed the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, in its press release. “The Regulating Committee for Meteorological Services (RCSM), through its mandate, ensures that the tariffs are fair and equitable to SAWS and the aviation industry.”
SAWS and the RCSM were not the only stakeholders consulted in the process of setting the new fees. Other stakeholders involved included the Airlines Association of Southern Africa, the Board of Airline Representatives of South Africa, and the International Air Transport Association.
For the purpose of the charging of these fees, aircraft are divided into two categories, designated simply as Category 1 and Category 2. Category 1 aircraft have a maximum certified mass (MCM) of 2 000 kg and above, while Category 2 aircraft have a MCM of less than 2 000 kg. However, there is an “exception rule” for aircraft with a MCM of between 2 000 kg and 4 999 kg which are operated only under visual flight rules; as far as the charging of meteorological fees are concerned, they are grouped with Category 2.
Fees for Category 1 aircraft will be charged using the formula T x W x D. T is the tariff amount (denominated in rands). W is the square root of the MCM (in metric tons) divided by 50 (the MCM being divided by 50, not the square root being divided by 50). D is the distance flown within the South African flight information region, measured in kilometres, and divided by 100.
The tariffs proposed for the next three years increase each financial year. For April 1 this year to March 31 next year, the proposed tariff is R56.91. For April 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025, the proposed tariff is R61.45, and for April 1, 2025 to March 31, 2026, the proposed tariff is R64.81.
Category 2 aircraft, including those larger aircraft covered by the exception rule, will pay no fees at all. Aircraft engaged in search and rescue flights, and South African Air Force coastal patrol flights, will also pay no fees.