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.
Nevertheless, TFASA is disappointed that the United States Department of Commerce has taken this step without consultation.
TFASA has operated with the full knowledge of NATO defence and security agencies for over a decade. Recent communications between the US Federal Bureau of Investigation and the US Air Force Office of Special Investigation and the Society of Experimental Test Pilots indicate that TFASA has broken no laws. In addition, 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.’
TFASA notes that over the past ten years almost 70% of Chinese pilot cadets who received training internationally do so in the United States; all Chinese pilot cadets trained by TFASA are drawn from, and return to, exactly the same talent pool as those trained in the United States. The targeting of TFASA with punitive measures, but not larger US peers, risks creating the perception that commercial bias might play a greater role in elements of decision making than national security.
TFASA will be contacting the United States Department of Commerce to clarify its position.
TFASA has strict protocols and a Code of Conduct in place that are designed to prevent any TFASA employee sharing any information or training that is, or might be considered to be, legally or operationally sensitive, or security classified.
All of TFASA’s training materials are either open source documents, or provided directly by TFASA’s clients.
TFASA is, and always has been, in full compliance with the laws of South Africa, and every other jurisdiction in which it operates.
TFASA highlights that the training it provides is also available from other civilian contractors including organisations based in the United States of America, Australia, United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, and European jurisdictions.
If journalists have any questions regarding TFASA or any of its current or former employees they should contact TFASA’s communications agency, for whom contact details are provided below.
Media enquiries
Edward Lee
elee@sfassociates.ltd
+44 7736 220 565
Neil Cameron
ncameron@sfassociates.ltd
+44 7786 384 017
Statement regarding United States Department of Commerce.
TFASA notes that the United States Department of Commerce has added TFASA to a list of entities subject to export administration regulations. – 13 June 2023
Statement regarding media reports.
Test Flying Academy of South Africa (“TFASA” or “the Company”) is aware of recent media reports that include reference to the Company and its activities. Many of the accusations and allegations are factually incorrect and misleading. - 22 October 2022
To avoid the further spread of inaccurate information TFASA would like to put the following statements on record:
If journalists have any questions regarding TFASA or any of its current or former employees they should contact TFASA’s communications agency, for whom contact details are provided below.
Media enquiries
Edward Lee
elee@sfassociates.ltd
+44 7736 220 565
Neil Cameron
ncameron@sfassociates.ltd
+44 7786 384 017