End of year message
Date: 31 December 2011
By Dean Wingrin (Webmaster)
As is customary as the end of yet another year draws to a close, one tends to reflect on the events of the past year and wonder: Just were did the time go and what has been achieved?
This past year has had its fair share of challenges, both on a personal level and for the South African Air Force.
The SAAF in perspective
The past year was yet another difficult one for the SAAF. The 90th birthday celebration and Operation Kgwele, the SA National Defence Force's support effort for the 2010 Soccer World Cup, is but a distant memory.
For the airforce, the same problems of previous years remained: While the skills shortage was somewhat alleviated, funding remained a critical issue. Another issue that continued to plague the airforce was how to provide safe and efficient air transport to politicians and other VIPs. These issues were a recurring theme throughout the year.
The year started with a report that the SAAF needed a new VIP transport fleet because of the age of the incumbent aircraft, but currently had no registered projects to do so. This issue was to raise its head continuously during theyear, with on, off and on again tenders for a new fleet of aircraft, with confusing stories appearing regularly.
However, the military provided much needed humanitarian aid when the airforce deployed a Denel Oryx helicopter and Cessna 210 to Upington in mid-January to provide SAR support to the flood-stricken Northern Cape Province.
For the third successive year, the Air Force Prestige Unit of the year for 2010 was awarded to 2 Air Servicing Unit, head-quartered at AFB Langebaanweg.
In February it was reported that the Air Force Command Council had taken the decision to implement the restructuring of the Air Force to comply with the Air Staff 1 to 9 concept. After implementation of the new structure, the airforce would have a flatter structure with a smaller airforce HQ.
Civilian air traffic was partly disrupted when the airspace in the northern Limpopo was temporarily restricted from 15 to 23 February as part of the SA National Defence Force's border safeguarding operation.
The Silver Falcons, the official aerobatic display team of the South African Air Force, made history when Team 71 was announced in March. Scott Ternent handed over to new Leader and Number 1 Roy Sproul. The two incoming members, Beau Skarda and Heybrech van Niekerk, were also welcomed to the team, joining Sproul and Gerhard Lourens. van Niekerk is the first female member of the Silver Falcons. Later in the year, Jacques Poolman joined the Team 72, replacing Buti Tsebe.
A major milestone in the Roiovalk acquisition program was (finally) achieved on 1 April when the first upgraded Rooivalk combat support helicopters were handed over to the airforce for operational duties. This was quite an achievement, considering that the Rooivalk project started its design phase in 1984 and had its first flight in April 1990!
Our report that the SAAF has come up with a plan to increase both flying hours for its pilots and obtain additional revenue by starting a scheduled airline received a significant number of responses. It appears our annual April Fool report caught a number of people hook, line and sinker!
The Gripen fleet increased when three new Gripen C fighter aircraft arrived in Cape Town on 10 April. A further four aircraft arrived in early October, their appearance being delayed because of mechanical problems with the ship that was transporting them. The final four Gripen aircraft will be retained in Sweden to take part in Exercise Lion Effort next year.
In addition to the lack of VIP aircraft, another topic to rear its head a number of times over the year was the lack of funding for the airforce to replace its medium transport and maritime fleets.
News of Operation Hopper, a long-term counter-piracy patrol in Tanzanian, Seychellois and Malagasy waters, emerged in March when the SAAF deployed a Douglas C47TP Dakota transport/maritime patrol aircraft, a Cessna C208 Caravan and a Casa C212 transport to Pemba in Mozambique. The Super Lynx was also deployed aboard the navy's frigates. This operation is on-going.
The Hawk fleet was a regular featured aircraft, having been briefly grounded due to problems encountered with the rigging of the ‘T-door' that is located behind the main nose-wheel door. Then the fleet was grounded again because of an engine surge. Better news was that the fleet is receiving an upgrade to the navigation and weapons system.
May is traditionally the month in which the South African Air Force Memorial Service is held at the Air Force Memorial on Bays Hill, outside Pretoria. Localised services were also held at airforce bases around the country and we reported from AFB Ysterplaat.
It was also revealed that the Agusta A109 Light Utility Helicopter would be fitted with the Fabrique National 7.62m MAG machine guns.
The first Air Capability Demonstration of the year was held at the Roodewal weapons range in May and we once again provided an on-the-spot report and photos. Denel Dynamics completed the integration of the A-Darter fifth-generation air-to-air missile on the Gripen in June.
In one of the largest force preparation exercises in years, Exercise Winter Solstice was help over period 14 to 31 July 2011. Taking place in the Eastern Cape and Kwazulu Natal, aircraft that took part included Hawks, Cessna Caravans, Agusta, Oryx and Rooivalk helicopters.
A guardian angel was looking after the occupants of a Cessna Caravan when they survived with light injuries a crashed near the Kei River mouth area of the Eastern Cape whilst participating in Exercise Winter Solstice.
During August, several Southern African Development Community air forces assembled at Hoedspruit and Makhado for a joint and multinational simulated humanitarian relief exercise, codenamed Blue Cluster.
Further good news for the Gripen fleet was the announcement in September that South Africa was the first Gripen customer to order the state-of-the-art "Cobra" Helmet Mounted Display for use on their Gripen fighters. The deliveries of the system to the front line squadron had now commenced and 2 Squadron could boast the first operational Cobra system in the world.
October saw the term of office of the Chief of the South African Air Force, Lieutenant General Carlo Gagiano, extended for the second time. Later in the month, Gagiano and the SAAF were on the receiving end of what some would call uninformed or ignorant comments made by the Joint Standing Committee on Defence.
Military commentators were taken aback when it was announced that the airforce had spent scare funds to investigate the modification of the ejection seats fitted to its fleet of PC-7 Mk II trainers, Hawk and Gripen jets to fit local anthropometric measurements. This was in answer to Parliament's Joint Standing Committee on Defence question why the SAAF was not meeting its' transformation equity targets. The airforce explained that pilots need to meet rigorous physical, psychological and intellectual demands and standards.
Gagiano remained as the head of the South African Air Force after defence minister Lindiwe Sisulu refused to accept his resignation as a result of the VIP transport debacle. It should be noted that the airforce was not responsible for the actual awarding, nor running, of the VIP transport tender.
Another reaction capability exercise, Exercise Ndlovu 11, was held in November.
Showing that the SAAF was still a force to be reckoned with, no less than 12 aircraft were tasked to the DRC, involving delivery and collection of election materials and personnel all over the sprawling central African country. This was in addition to its anti-piracy Operation Hopper commitments.
A happier event was the awarding to thirteen successful student pilots of their coveted Wings at a ceremony at the Central Flying School, Langebaanweg. A member of the SAAF Forum, Second Lieutenant Francois Canosci, was awarded the SAAF Association floating trophy!
Good news for SAAF enthusiasts was the participation of the SAAF in a number of airshows around the country, the biggest being the Zwartkop and Waterkloof airshows. These airshows have been described as some of the best held by the SAAF for some time.
It has certainly been another difficult year for the SAAF, but also one with many great successes.
The Unofficial SAAF Website
Despite some personal challenges, 2011 has also been another exciting year for the Unofficial SAAF Website.
Over 100 news articles were published over the past year, with hundreds of new photographs being added to the Gallery.
The SAAF Forum (www.SAairforce.co.za/forum/) has been very active and some of the discussions have been very detailed and thorough. The modelling section has seen some fantastic and detailed builds, with many important colour scheme and equipment variations being researched.
The Unofficial SAAF Website as well as the SAAF Forum has accomplished much in the past year. This has only been possible with your support, encouragement and input. I would like to thank all of you and hope you will support our continuing efforts in the coming year.
Wishing you and your families a happy Christmas, safe holidays and a prosperous New Year.
Kind regards
Dean Wingrin
Webmaster: The Unofficial South African Air Force Website
