Airforce aircraft may not fly again
Date: 8 August 2013
The followi is a translation of an Afrikaans article that appeared in Beeld newspaper:
By Erika Gibson
Unless the Air Force receives at least R800 million from the government within the next eight months its fighter jets and helicopters, which are not operational because of a budget deficit, may never fly again.
Among the aircraft affected are the Gripen and Hawk fighter jets and Agusta A109 helicopters.
This urgent cash injection won't be able to correct the imbalance between available aircraft and the expected requirements, but it will at least allow for maintenance contracts for the aircraft to be re-activated.
The impossible demands on the air force's transport aircraft presumably led to a sabotage attack two weeks ago, which has meant that the entire fleet of Hercules C-130 transport aircraft have been taken temporarily out of service until they can be inspected.
One of the planes is suspected to have been disabled by an expert to prevent it from flying, possibly because it has been flying day and night while receiving minimal maintenance.
Beeld learned this week from sources at the highest level that financial relief could occur if the air force's operating budget is topped up with the R300 million that was spent at government's request on the proposed second intervention in the Central African Republic, which had never happened, as well as the expenses for the power problem at AFB Makhado that has existed since underground cables exploded in October last year.
The base's operating budget, which is supposed to be for the Gripen and Hawk fighter jets, has instead been used up to buy fuel for generators. The Air Force's spending on diesel for the generators already amounts to about R50 million - enough for 300 flying hours for the Gripens.
It will cost about R5 million to restore the power supply, but the Air Force can not do it because it's the responsibility of the Department of Public Works (DPW).
At an urgent meeting of the armed forces chiefs yesterday plans were put in place to solve the power problem and other ongoing disputes with the DPW.
