Overview
This role is for a Helicopter Night Captain within Transnet's National Ports Authority (Transnet NPA), based in Richards Bay. The position involves serving as the commander of the aircraft for both day and night operations, bearing ultimate responsibility for the safety and management of flight crew and passengers. Adherence to TNPA procedures and SACAA Civil Aviation Regulations (Parts 91.02.7 and 91.02.8) is mandatory. The employee group is permanent.
What you will do
* Command the aircraft for both day and night operations, ensuring the safety and management of flight crew and passengers according to TNPA procedures and SACAA regulations.
* Display advanced flying skills and judgmental capabilities, especially due to increased risks associated with night operations and marine pilot transfers.
* Execute safe hoists at night with minimal visual references, maintaining helicopter stability over moving vessels in adverse conditions, and constantly monitoring for unforeseen risks and hazards.
* Conduct day and night helicopter flights in all-weather conditions, adhering to TNPA standard operating procedures and aeronautical publications.
* Maintain high standards of flight safety and ensure safe transfers of marine pilots onto vessels under all-weather and sea conditions.
* Navigate the helicopter in adverse weather conditions (cloud, rain, or Instrument Meteorological Conditions) with sole reference to instruments, and land safely without damage to occupants, aircraft, or equipment.
* Manage a multi-crew cockpit, including handling inflight emergencies and performing safe landings in low light or marginal weather conditions.
* Ensure compliance with standard and recommended practices and performance levels required for national certification criteria.
* Be personally and legally liable as Pilot in Command for the safe execution of all duties to prevent accidents or incidents.
* Be responsible for explaining decisions made in a court of law if the helicopter is involved in an incident or accident, and for taking accountability.
* Responsible for the safety and management of the crew and passengers as per SACAA CARs 91.02.7, 91.02.8 Regulations and TNPA SOP’s.
* Execute skills transfer plans.
Requirements (from the original advert)
* Hold a current ATPL-H
* Night Rating
* Instrument Rating
* Winching Rating
* 2200 hours total flight time
* 1200 hours on turbine helicopters
* 700 hours on multi-engine helicopters
* 250 hours on A109 helicopters
* Minimum of 5 years experience
* Driver’s license code 08
* Ability to travel as required and approved.
* **Competencies Required:**
* Decision Making
* Multi-tasking
* Good helicopter flying skills
* Team work
* **Knowledge:** Aviation rules and safety guidelines, Helicopter operation procedures & systems, Public safety & security, Transportation systems & procedures, Customer service, English language proficiency, Radio telephony proficiency, Mathematical applications, Electronic systems, Navigation data processing, Flight planning & execution.
* **Skills:** Good communication, Time management, Judgement & decision making, Operational control, Crew resource management (CRM), Active listening, Assertiveness, Accuracy, Social consciousness, Diversity management.
* **Added Advantage:** Operational knowledge of the functions of TNPA marine pilot services.
Who should apply
The ideal candidate is a highly skilled and experienced helicopter pilot, with significant expertise in night and multi-engine turbine helicopter operations, specifically on A109 helicopters. They must possess advanced flying abilities and exceptional judgmental capabilities, particularly for executing hazardous marine pilot transfers at night in challenging conditions. The role demands an individual who prioritizes safety, can make critical decisions under extreme pressure, and is capable of managing a multi-crew cockpit effectively, including during emergencies and instrument meteorological conditions. The candidate must also be prepared to assume ultimate personal and legal liability as Pilot in Command for all operational decisions and outcomes. Strong communication, teamwork, and leadership skills are essential.
Deadline
12/10/2026
Reference
Original posting: https://www.govpage.co.za/vacancies/transnet-vacancies-33
Source: govpage
Summary drafted with AI assistance from the original advert. The advert itself is the authority — how we use AI.
At a glance
At least 5 years of experience.
Customer service
Extracted automatically from the advert; confirm requirements on the original listing.
Job description
TRANSNET
HELICOPTER NIGHT CAPTAIN
Operating Division: Transnet NPA
Employee Group: Permanent
Department: HO, NGQ, CHM, Aviation
Location: Richards Bay
Reporting To: Pilot
Grade: AH5
Reference: req5921
The closing date is on 12/10/2026. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that HR has received the application before the closing date of the advertisement.
Position Purpose
The Helicopter Night Captain is the Commander of the aircraft for both Day and Night operations and takes ultimate responsibility for the safety and management of the flight crew and passengers on board the aircraft as per TNPA procedures as well as the SACAA Civil Aviation Regulations and Technical Standards, including but not limited to, Parts 91.02.7 and 91.02.8.
Position Outputs
Due to the increased risk levels associated with operating at night, the Helicopter Night Captain must display advanced skill levels regarding Flying ability and judgemental capabilities. Marine pilot transfers at night can be extremely hazardous and the Night Captain must possess the ability to safety control all situations as they develop.
Ability by Night to execute a safe hoist with minimal buffer margins, without external visual references and horizon to assist with maintaining the stability of the helicopter, to move the helicopter’s main and tail rotor disc to within danger close proximity of obstacles, on moving vessels with constantly changing references, all the while constantly monitoring for unforeseen risk and hazards, monitoring aircraft instruments, maintaining the height, position and stability of the helicopter over the selected point, in adverse and constantly changing sea conditions, wind and swell, whilst listening to and receiving commands for movement of the helicopter from the hoist operator during daylight, lowlight, night time conditions, marginal weather and high stress environment. Failure to carry out any of the above safely every time would result in catastrophic failure, incident or accident with imminent loss of life and equipment.
Conduct day and night helicopter flights under all-weather conditions in accordance with TNPA standard operating procedures and aeronautical publications.
Maintain high standards of flight safety, as well as safe transfer of marine pilots onto vessels under all-weather and sea conditions.
Ability to navigate the helicopter in cloud, rain or Instrument meteorogical conditions with sole reference to instruments if the helicopter was flown in adverse weather conditions and inadvertently entered cloud or IMC conditions, as well as land the helicopter safely without damage to passengers, crew, the aircraft and equipment during Night, daylight as well as marginal weather conditions.
Manage a multi-crew cockpit with the ability to manage an inflight emergency as well as to land the helicopter safely without any damage to passengers, crew, aircraft and equipment during low levels of light as well as marginal weather conditions.
Compliance with standard and recommended practices as well as performance levels required to meet national certification criteria.
Night Captain is Personally and legally liable as Pilot in Command
Responsible for safe execution of all of the above, to prevent any accident and incident.
Any accident or incident arising in the execution of their duties will pose a Risk to Transnets AOC, ATO and operational Air Service licences, Reputational damage to Transnet SOC, Risk of Litigation and legal costs, damages being recovered and sought by Shipping companies, agents or individuals.
Execution of skills transfer plan.
Responsible to answer in the court of law if the helicopter was involved in an incident or an accident and explain the reasons behind decisions made as well as to take accountability for decisions made.
Responsible for the safety and management of the crew and passengers on board the aircraft as per SACAA CARs 91.02.7, 91.02.8. Regulations as well as TNPA SOP’s.
Qualifications and Experience
Qualifications, Experience & Inherent Job Requirements Hold a current ATPL-H. Night Rating. Instrument Rating. Winching Rating. 2200 hours total flight time. 1200 hours on turbine helicopters. 700 hours on multi- engine helicopters. 250 hours on A109 helicopters. Minimum of 5 years experience. Operational knowledge of the functions of TNPA marine pilot services will be an added advantage. Standard Job Requirements Driver’s license code 08 Travel as required and approved.
Competencies
Competencies Required Decision Making. Multi-tasking. Good helicopter flying skills. Team work. Knowledge Aviation rules and safety guidelines. Helicopter operation procedures & systems. Public safety & security Transportations systems & procedures. Customer service. English language proficiency. Radio telephony proficiency. Mathematical applications. Electronic systems. Navigation data processing. Flight planning & execution. Skills Required Good communication. Time management. Judgement & decision making. Operational control. Crew resource management (CRM). Active listening. Assertiveness. Accuracy. Social consciousness. Diversity management.
Equity Statement
Preference will be given to suitably qualified Applicants who are members of the designated groups in line with the Employment Equity Plan and Targets of the Organisation/Operating Division.
Disclaimer
If you have not heard from Transnet within 90 days, please consider your application as unsuccessful.
Transnet, its employees or representatives never ask for a fee from job seekers. Any such requests are fraudulent. Please report any suspicious activities in this regard to the Transnet anti-fraud line on 0800 003 056 or email reportit@ethicshelpdesk.com
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