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South African Flight School TFASA Faces US Sanctions for Training Chinese Pilots
South African Flight School TFASA Faces US Sanctions for Training Chinese Pilots
Sputnik Africa
In October 2022, the UK issued a "threat alert" against TFASA, accusing the organization of aiding treason by training Chinese fighter pilots with Western and... 14.06.2023, Sputnik Africa
2023-06-14T18:58+0200
2023-06-14T18:58+0200
2023-06-15T09:07+0200
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The United States government announced Wednesday that it has sanctioned a flight school based in Oudtshoorn, a town in South Africa's Western Cape province, for training Chinese military pilots using Western and NATO resources.The US Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security justified its decision to add the Test Flying Academy of South Africa (TFASA) to its list of entities subject to export administration regulations by claiming that the school's ties to Beijing pose a threat to US "national security or foreign policy interests."In response, TFASA said in a statement that it was not concerned by the US sanctions, as they do not affect its daily operations.The academy pointed out that it follows the laws of South Africa and any other country it works in, and has measures to prevent any sensitive information from being shared with its Chinese students.While the company emphasized that it had "broken no laws," it added that it had operated transparently for more than a decade with the knowledge of NATO defense and security agencies.The US sanctions come after the UK issued a "threat alert" in October, naming TFASA and other aviation companies in countries such as Thailand and the United Arab Emirates.However, the British government has indicated that it will try to discourage TFASA and other companies from training Chinese fighter pilots by putting pressure on their instructors and partner countries.The Test Flying Academy of South Africa was established in 2003 to meet the highly specialized flight test training needs of the domestic and foreign aerospace industries.The company has hired retired Western military pilots as instructors for its students, which include Chinese pilots. TFASA only hired Western instructors who had already retired from the military and were working as civilians.While the sanctions do not necessarily mean that the South African organization has done anything illegal, they do suggest that American companies must avoid any dealings with TFASA or risk violating US law.
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South African Flight School TFASA Faces US Sanctions for Training Chinese Pilots
18:58 14.06.2023 (Updated: 09:07 15.06.2023) Muhammad Nooh Osman
Writer/Editor
In October 2022, the UK issued a "threat alert" against TFASA, accusing the organization of aiding treason by training Chinese fighter pilots with Western and NATO expertise. According to the British Defense Ministry, the pilots were not banned from joining TFASA, but were warned not to share classified information with China.
The United States government announced Wednesday that it has sanctioned a flight school based in Oudtshoorn, a town in South Africa's Western Cape province, for training Chinese military pilots using Western and NATO resources.
The US Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security justified its
decision to add the Test Flying Academy of South Africa (TFASA) to its list of entities subject to export administration regulations by claiming that the school's ties to Beijing pose a threat to US "national security or
foreign policy interests."
"The Entity List [...] identifies entities for which there is reasonable cause to believe, based on specific and articulable facts, that the entities have been involved, are involved, or pose a significant risk of being or becoming involved in activities contrary to the national security or foreign policy interests of the United States," the bureau said.
In response, TFASA said in a
statement that it was not concerned by the US sanctions, as they do not affect its daily operations.
The academy pointed out that it follows the laws of South Africa and any other country it works in, and has measures to prevent any sensitive information from being shared with its Chinese students.
"As a South African company, registered with the South African National Conventional Arms Control Committee (NCACC), and not reliant on US exports, this change does not affect TFASA’s day to day operations," TFASA said. "Nevertheless, TFASA is disappointed that the United States Department of Commerce has taken this step without consultation."
While the company emphasized that it had "broken no laws," it added that it had
operated transparently for more than a decade with the knowledge of NATO defense and security agencies.
The US sanctions come after the UK issued a "threat alert" in October, naming TFASA and other aviation companies in countries such as Thailand and the United Arab Emirates.
"Following our UK lawyers’ correspondence with the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) the MoD confirmed that 'they do not believe that TFASA is engaged in activities which breach current UK law,'" the South African test flying academy noted.
However, the British government has indicated that it will try to discourage TFASA and other companies from
training Chinese fighter pilots by putting pressure on their instructors and partner countries.
The Test Flying Academy of South Africa was established in 2003 to meet the highly specialized flight test training needs of the domestic and foreign aerospace industries.
The company has hired retired Western military pilots as instructors for its students, which include Chinese pilots. TFASA only hired Western instructors who had already retired from the military and were working as civilians.
While the sanctions do not necessarily mean that the South African organization has done anything illegal, they do suggest that American companies must avoid any dealings with TFASA or risk violating US law.
