Is it safe to fly SAA?

HOW SAFE ARE SOUTH AFRICAN AIRLINES?

South African Airways (SAA) is 16th on the list, sitting above the likes of Qatar Airways and Air France in the top 20. The only blot on its copybook is that it fails to meet two ICAO safety standards, but it still keeps hold of its seven-star status.

Kulula, Airlink and Mango also have the maximum safety rating, despite only clocking six of the eight criteria points set out by ICAO. Flying in South Africa seems to be a trouble-free pursuit. Well, unless you have to make an emergency landing because you’re too heavy to touch down.

OW AN AIRLINE IS CLASSED AS “SAFE”

So to judge how safe an airline is, you have to consider the following five factors. Unless mentioned, all of these account for one star on a plane’s safety rating:

  • An IOSA certificate from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) – that’s worth three stars.
  • The ability to travel to and from the EU, subject to their approval.
  • Being “fatality free”.
  • It needs to be meet most or all eight of the safety criteria set out by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). Adhering to five will get them half a star, whereas four or less means they get nothing.
  • If the country – rather than the airline – is allowed to fly in US airspace. For example, South African Airways has this star because South Africa has that permission. However, the same can’t be said for all Thai airliners, as Thailand doesn’t have the same allowance.

THE LEAST SAFE AIRLINES IN THE WORLD

If you’re travelling through Nepal at any point, you’re going to have to be very careful who you fly with. Two of their airlines – Buddha Air and Nepal Airlines – have a safety rating of just one star. Considering the maximum total is seven stars, that makes things even worse for the carriers. Both have also endured fatal crashes in recent years.

Afghanistan also doubles up on the danger: Both Kam Air and Ariana Afghan Airlines hold just a two-star rating. Although both pass the fatality-free and US airspace tests, they’re still regarded as highly unsafe.

As The National report, Kam Air suffered a major blow early last year when up to 10 employees were killed in an attack on Kabul’s Intercontinental hotel. About 40 of its pilots and aircrew, many of whom were foreigners, were staying in the hotel at the time.

Airline PNG of Papua New Guinea and Blue Wings of Suriname also have a lowly two-star status. Their rating suffered a blow when both airliners saw high-profile fatal crashes further damage their reputations, in 2010 and 2011 respectively.

Thailand’s NOK Air and Air Asia fleets also languish on two-star status. They are joined by Iraqi Airlines, and two more Nepalese businesses: Yeti and Himalaya Airlines may have had no deaths to report, but airlineratings.com still have them at the bottom of the pile for other various violations.

SAFEST AIRLINES IN THE WORLD

Okay, for nervous flyers, that couldn’t have been very enjoyable. So’s here is something a little more wholesome: The best airlines in the world have also been ranked, and they’re a veritable who’s who of the most recognisable names.

  1. Air New Zealand
  2. Qantas
  3. Singapore Airlines
  4. Emirates
  5. Royal Jordanian
  6. Cathay Pacific
  7. Virgin Atlantic
  8. Etihad Airways
  9. Air Canada
  10. Swiss International Airlines

Overview of Public Universities in South Africa

Here's an overview of some public universities in South Africa, including general admissions requirements and estimated application periods. Keep in mind, specific program requirements and dates can vary significantly, so it's important to check each university's official website for the most current information.

University of Pretoria

  • Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with minimum scores in specific subjects related to the chosen program; for international students, equivalent qualifications.
  • Application Period: Usually opens in March and closes at the end of July for most programs.

University of Cape Town

  • Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with pass levels required for degree study; subject-specific requirements depending on the program.
  • Application Period: Application opens in April and closes at the end of July.

Stellenbosch University

  • Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with required marks; some programs have additional testing.
  • Application Period: Opens in March and typically closes at the end of June.

University of the Witwatersrand

  • Admissions Requirements: Matriculation certificate with university exemption; required scores vary by faculty.
  • Application Period: Begins in March and ends on the 30th of September.

University of Johannesburg

  • Admissions Requirements: Matric exemption with a minimum APS score; specific subject requirements based on the faculty.
  • Application Period: Opens in April and generally closes by the 30th of September.

University of the Free State

  • Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with specific marks for the program applied to; additional requirements for certain courses.
  • Application Period: Typically opens in April and closes at the end of August.

University of Venda

  • Admissions Requirements: Completion of the National Senior Certificate with an endorsement for diploma or degree studies; specific APS scores needed.
  • Application Period: Usually from May to September.

University of Fort Hare

  • Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with university exemption; certain programs may have specific requirements.
  • Application Period: Opens around May and closes at the end of September.

University of the Western Cape

  • Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with specific performance levels; additional requirements for certain programs.
  • Application Period: Generally from May to September.

North-West University

  • Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with university exemption; program-specific requirements may apply.
  • Application Period: Opens in March and usually closes by the end of August.

Rhodes University

  • Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate or equivalent; minimum academic performance in certain subjects.
  • Application Period: Applications open in April and close at the end of September.

Nelson Mandela University

  • Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with required scores for chosen programs; portfolio or additional tests for some faculties.
  • Application Period: Opens in April, with a deadline at the end of August for most programs.

Cape Peninsula University of Technology

  • Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with specific scores; additional requirements for certain courses.
  • Application Period: Opens in May and typically closes by the end of September.

University of Limpopo

  • Admissions Requirements: Senior Certificate with endorsement for diploma or degree courses; specific APS scores for different programs.
  • Application Period: From April to September.

University of Zululand

  • Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with an endorsement for bachelor’s degree studies; specific score requirements for various programs.
  • Application Period: Usually between April and November.

Central University of Technology

  • Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with specific scores for the chosen field of study; additional criteria for certain programs.
  • Application Period: Application period generally starts in May and ends in October.

Vaal University of Technology

  • Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with a pass that qualifies for admission to bachelor’s degree, diploma, or higher certificate programs.
  • Application Period: Typically from May to September.

Walter Sisulu University

  • Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with required scores for chosen programs; additional criteria for certain faculties.
  • Application Period: From April to September.

This list provides a starting point for understanding the admissions landscape across South Africa's diverse higher education institutions. Given the variability in programs and requirements, it's crucial to consult each university's website for the most accurate and up-to-date information.