CemAir Ltd is a privately owned airline operating in South Africa which services popular tourist destinations and important business towns and leases aircraft to other airlines across Africa and the Middle East. The airline is based in Johannesburg. It was forced by the authorities to suspend operations in late 2018. The airline successfully launched a High Court challenge and the grounding was overturned. The CAA then again grounded the Airline in January 2019 and CemAir challenged the decision before the Civil Aviation Appeal Committee. On the 29th of April 2019 the CAAC issued a judgement in favour of the airline calling the CAA's actions "irrational, arbitrary, unreasonable and procedurally unfair." and "factually wrong."
History
The company was formed in 2005 with the purpose of operating turboprop commuter aircraft, the initial fleet consisted of 1 Cessna Grand Caravan aircraft and 3 Beechcraft 1900C aircraft. In January 2018, the South African Civil Aviation Authority withdrew the Certificate of Airworthiness for 12 of the airline's aircraft due to allegedly unqualified personnel certifying the aircraft as airworthy. In December 2018, the airline was grounded until further notice by the South African aviation authorities stating safety reasons. The decision was challenged and the CAA decision was overturned by the Civil Aviation Appeal Committee.
Corporate affairs
Head office
CemAir's head office and engineering and maintenance facility are located in Hangar 5 OR Tambo International Airport, 25 km north-east of Johannesburg. The fully equipped Flight Operations Control Centre is housed within the Head office and operates between 05h00 - 20h00 during the week and as required at weekends. This facility is also the primary parts stores and logistics hub of the operation.
Maintenance
The maintenance arm of CemAir has been accredited by the South African Civil Aviation Authority with the necessary approval to include the maintenance of the Bombardier CRJ to be conducted along with the Dash 8 and Beechcraft 1900s at the OR Tambo base by the company's own technical staff. This facility has the capability to carry out maintenance up to the C-check on the CRJ and all maintenance inspections on the Dash 8 and Beech 1900 including the changing of all major components such as engines, propellors etc. Apart from specialised activities like painting or Non-Destructive Testing, all maintenance is carried out in-house. The company is a South African Part 121 and Part 135 company, holding South African Civil Aviation Authority issued AOCs in both of these categories. The Air Service Licensing Council has issued the company with domestic and international licenses, for both scheduled and non-scheduled services. In addition, CemAir holds approval from the SACAA for a Part 145 AMO, which allows it to operate its own maintenance department.
On 1 September 2008 an Air Serv leased nineteen passenger Beechcraft 1900C crashed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, about 15 km northwest of Bukavu carrying two crew and fifteen passengers. The aircraft was wet leased at the time and flown by crew from Cemair, which was then based at Lanseria International Airport, Johannesburg, South Africa. The flight was arriving at Bukavu following technical service at N'Dolo Airport, Kinshasa. The aircraft crashed into a mountainous ridge. Passengers included twelve Congolese, one French, one Indian, and one Canadian.
