ENR 1  General rules and procedures

ENR 1.1  General Rules

The air traffic and procedures applicable to air traffic in the Republic of South Africa conform with Annexes 2 and 11 to the Convention of International Civil Aviation and to the Procedures for Air Navigation Services - Rules of the Air and Air Traffic Services, and the Regional Supplementary Procedures applicable to the AFI Region except in the cases listed in GEN 1.7.

All differences have been registered with the International Civil Aviation Organisation.

1 Minimum Heights
1) Except when necessary for taking off or landing, or except with prior written approval of the Director, no aircraft -
a) shall be flown over built-up areas or over an open-air assembly of persons at a height less than 1 000 feet above the highest obstacle, within a radius of 2000 feet from the aircraft;
b) when flown elsewhere than specified in paragraph (a), shall be flown at a height less than 500 feet above the ground or water, unless the flight can be made without hazard or nuisance to persons or property on the ground or water; and
c) shall circle over or do repeated overflights over an open-air assembly of persons at a height less than 3 000 feet above the surface.
2)  Except when necessary for take-off or landing, or with the express permission of the Director, an aircraft shall at night, in IMC, or when operated in accordance with IFR, be flown
a) at a height of at least 1 000 feet above the highest terrain or obstacle where the height of such terrain or obstacle does not exceed 5 000 feet above sea level within five nautical miles of the aircraft in flight; or
b) at a height of at least 2 000 feet above the highest terrain or obstacle located within five nautical miles of the aircraft in flight where the height of such terrain or obstacle exceeds 5 000 feet above sea level: Provided that within areas determined by the Director the minimum height may be reduced to 1000 feet above the highest terrain or obstacle located within 5 nautical miles of the aircraft in flight, and provided furthermore that the aircraft is flown in accordance with such procedures as the Director may determine.
2 Dropping objects, spraying or dusting

Except in an emergency or unless granted special permission by the Director, no article shall be dropped from an aircraft in flight other than-

a)  fine sand or clean water used as ballast; or
b) chemical substances for the purpose of spraying or dusting.
3 Acrobatic flight

No aircraft shall be flown acrobatically so as to endanger air traffic. Except by individual permission from the Director, aircraft shall not be flown acrobatically -

a)  unless the manoeuvre can be concluded and the aircraft brought on an even keel at a height of not less than 2000 feet above the ground or water;
b) within a five nautical mile distance of an aerodrome reference point of an aerodrome licensed and approved in terms of Part 139 unless at a height not less than 4000 feet above ground level;
c) in the vicinity of air traffic services routes; or
d) over any populous area or public gathering.
4 Towing

The Pilot-in-command of an aircraft in flight shall not permit anything to be towed by the aircraft, except -

a) with the prior written approval of the Director; or
b) if licensed to do so under the International Air Services Act, 1993, or the Air Services Licensing Act, 1990.
5 Times and Units of measurement

The units of measurement used in connection with all air traffic services in the Republic of South Africa are in compliance with Annex 5

MEASUREMENT OF:- UNITS
Distance used in navigation position reporting etc., generally in excess of 2 to 3 nautical miles Nautical miles and tenths
Relatively short distances such as Metres those relating to aerodromes (e.g. runway lengths) Metres
Altitudes, elevations and heights Feet
Horizontal speed, including wind speed Knots
Vertical speed Feet per minute
Wind direction for take off and landing Degrees, Magnetic
Wind direction except for take off and landing Degrees, True
Visibility including runway visual range Kilometres or metres
Altimeter setting Hectopascal
Temperature Degrees, Celsius
Mass Metric tons or Kilograms
Time Hours and minutes of the day of 24 hours beginning at midnight Universal Co-ordinated time (UTC)
6 Airspace Structure

For the performance of the flight information service and alerting service, the Director of Civil Aviation establishes flight information regions which are published in the AIP. Within the flight information regions, the Director of Civil Aviation establishes the controlled and uncontrolled airspace according to the extent of the air traffic services maintained there, on the basis of the classification described in subsection ENR 1.4. Within controlled airspace, VFR flights may be prohibited completely or partly by the air traffic services with regard to limitation of space and time if urgently required by the degree of intensity of air traffic subject to air traffic control.

7 Prohibited Areas and flight restrictions

The Director of Civil Aviation establishes prohibited, restricted and danger areas, if necessary, for the prevention of danger to public safety or order, especially for the safety of air traffic. The areas are published in the AIP subsection ENR 5.1

8 Parasailing, kites, hang-gliders, radio-controlled aircraft.

Except with the written permission of the Director and then subject to conditions as he may impose, parasailing, hang-gliding and the operation of kites and model and radio controlled aircraft shall not -

a) Take place higher than 150 feet above the surface
b) take place closer than five nautical miles from the aerodrome reference point of an aerodrome or -
c) Commence or be carried out above a public road