US sanctions firms for links to SA flying company

The US added six companies to its trade restriction list last week, including four for their links to the training of China's military forces, according to a government posting. Two of the companies are in China, one in SA, two in the UAE, and one in the UK, reports Fin24. Global Training Solutions Limited and Smartech Future Limited, both in China, as well as Grace Air (Pty) Ltd and Livingston Aerospace Limited of the UK, were added because of their ties to the Test Flying Academy of SA and the training of China’s military forces using Western and North Atlantic Treaty Organisation sources, the posting said. ‘This activity is contrary to the national security and foreign policy interests of the US,’ it said. News24 previously reported that Oudtshoorn-based Test Flying Academy of SA appeared on a sanctions list for the same reason. The US is concerned that it trained Chinese fighter pilots, with the help of former American and European fighter pilots. The company said it was not consulted, has broken no laws, and has been operating openly for a decade. The UK issued a ‘threat alert’ about the SA company in 2022. According to a Government Gazette notice, Grace Air surrendered an aviation licence last year. Its address is listed in George, Western Cape. The companies put on the trade restriction list, known as the Commerce Department's ‘Entity List’, require licences to ship US goods and technology to them, which are likely to be denied.