The Test Flying Academy of South Africa (TFASA) maintains that no irregularities have occurred at this flying school, or that it has violated any legislation. This follows after the Department of Commerce in the US imposed sanctions on TFASA because the flying school “helped China recruit British fighter pilots”.
TFASA has now been added to a list of entities subject to export regulations.
The flying school, with its head office at Oudtshoorn in the Western Cape, first landed on the US radar after the United Kingdom issued a notice in October last year naming TFASA as one of the companies that China believes helping to recruit British pilots for his army.
According to British authorities, China has recruited several military pilots to train its military to defeat Western warplanes and helicopters, SkyNews reported. This is considered by this government to be “a threat to the UK’s interests”, and that is why the notice was issued. At the time, TFASA denied that it was doing anything wrong.
TFASA said this week that the flight school was aware of the US sanctions.
“As a South African company registered with South Africa’s National Conventional Arms Control Committee (NCACC) and not dependent on US exports, this move (by the US) does not affect TFASA’s day-to-day operations.
“However, TFASA is disappointed that the US Department of Commerce took this step without consultation (with TFASA).”
TFASA further states that NATO defense and security agencies have been fully aware of the flight school’s activities for more than a decade.
“Recent communications between the US FBI, the US Air Force Bureau and the Experimental Test Pilots Association confirmed that TFASA had not broken any laws.
“After our lawyers in the UK liaised with the British Department of Defence, this department confirmed that ‘they do not believe TFASA is involved in any activities that are contrary to current UK law’.”
TFASA will now liaise with the Department of Commerce in the US to confirm its position on the matter.
“TFASA has strict protocols and a code of conduct that prevents any TFASA employee from providing any information or training that is considered legally or operationally sensitive, or is officially classified.
“All of TFASA’s training materials are documents that are freely available, or are provided directly by TFASA’s clients. TFASA has always complied with the laws of South Africa, as well as any other legal area in which it operates.”
TFASA emphasizes that the training offered by the flight school is also carried out by other civilian contractors, including organizations in the US, Australia, the UK, Canada, New Zealand and Europe.
