Airlink has voluntarily provided flight-data recorder information from two Embraer E-Jets to the South African Civil Aviation Authority after the aircraft carried out a low flypast over Cape Town’s DHL Stadium before the South Africa-New Zealand rugby Test. The regulator is reviewing the data to determine whether the manoeuvre complied with its authorisation and safety limits, as public debate continues over how close the aircraft appeared to pass over the venue.
The flypast took place on Saturday and drew attention because of the aircraft’s apparent proximity to the stadium roof. Airlink had previously maintained that the manoeuvre was approved, rehearsed and flown within safety parameters, and coverage cited data from both aircraft as indicating the jets remained inside the authorised speed and altitude envelope.
The review has turned the event into a wider test of oversight for special-event flypasts and the use of recorder data to settle operational disputes. Airlink is not commenting further while the assessment is under way, and the SACAA has yet to release its findings.