End of year message
Date: 31 December 2013
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 where did the time go and what has been achieved?
Indeed, for the South African Air Force, 2013 has been, in the words of Queen Elizabeth II, an annus horribilis. It has certainly been a busy, challenging year, a year of frustrations spiked with proud achievements.
The SAAF in perspective
Last year I wrote about déjà vu, the feeling of having seen something before. This year I can only but quote French novelist Alphonse Karr (1808-90): The more things change, the more they stay the same.
For the airforce, the same problems of previous years remained. Funding reared its ugly head, skills shortages remained a critical issue and the question of how to provide safe and efficient air transport, to both VIPs and the soldiers on the ground, continued to torment the airforce.
The year started with a report that the SAAF was facing a maintenance and support crisis as the deadline to renew the Denel Aviation/AMG contract of 528 aircraft specialists was no closer to finalisation. On 1 April, the SAAF’s air servicing units lost 389 skilled maintenance technicians, but retained the services of 139 specialists for a further year.
2012 ended with December marking the most tragic day in modern SAAF history when eleven people died when their 35 Squadron C-47TP crashed in bad weather in the Drakensberg mountains. Thus it was with relief what no one was injured when a CASA 212 light transport aircraft, operated by 44 Squadron, was involved in a “hard landing” at Tempe on 17 January. The aircraft was written-off.
Airforce Day was celebrated on 1 February, with 35 Squadron winning the SAAF Sword for Peace award for 2012/13. This award is presented to the squadron, unit or base that distinguishes itself in humanitarian service. As with the previous year, a limited flypast was performed, highlighting the tight budgetary constrictions facing the SAAF.
Then came the news that had long been rumoured … twelve of the SAAF’s 26 Gripen fighter jets were in long-term storage as the Air Force did not have the funding to fly them. It was later reported that half the Gripen fleet was no longer grounded, the Air Force had instituted a rotational preventive maintenance programme which involves flying all the aircraft every now and then. To make matters worse, the support contract with Saab to maintain the Gripen fleet had expired.
An embarrassing report appeared in the press when it was revealed that aircraft parts sent for servicing overseas were almost sold at a public auction, due to a delay in issuing permits to re-import it again.
Despite all the bad press, the SAAF stepped up to the plate when they timeously evacuated wounded SA soldiers from clashes in the Central African Republic (CAR) and repatriated those who were killed. The Rooivalk attack helicopter and Gripen fighter was also operationally deployed outside the country for the first time, but were quickly returned to South Africa without having flown any combat missions.
Tragedy once again struck the small SAAF community at the end of March when five people died when an Agusta A109 light utility helicopter of 15 Squadron crashed in the Kruger National Park. Those who perished were Captain Phil Tshabalala (pilot) and Sergeant GP Ruiters (flight engineer) of the SAAF and Captain Jakes Janse van Rensburg, Sergeant PM Nidishishi and Corporal BP Cele of 5 Special Forces Regiment. As a result, the Agusta fleet was temporarily grounded. It was not the only time that the A109 fleet stood idle as lack of funding also grounded the fleet later in the year.
In April we reported that the Silver Falcons, the official aerobatic team of the SAAF, had recently converted to the Hawk jet trainer. Our report included a photo and colour profile of the Hawk in the new colour scheme. Our annual April Fool report caught a number of people hook, line and sinker!
However, very soon thereafter we reported that the defence force budget had claimed another victim with grounding of the Silver Falcons. This time it was no joke, but thankfully the team were once again allowed to fly at airshows later in the year.
May saw an event that was to have a profound effect on the SAAF and its interaction with both Government and civil society. A top government official and senior SAAF officers based at AFB Waterkloof were suspended for their alleged involvement in facilitating the arrival of a privately chartered Indian airliner at AFB Waterkloof. The airliner was carrying members of the Gupta wedding party from India, a family which has very close ties to South African President Jacob Zuma.
We also reported that the SAAF had cancelled all new pilot and navigator recruitment initiatives for the year.
May also saw the first of two Air Capability Displays of the year, at which the airforce showed that austerity does not mean inefficiency. During her first defence budget debate, Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula noted that the defence force is back in the market for purchasing presidential jets as well as planes that will give the military its own airlift capacity. Funding continues for peacekeeping, anti-piracy operations and border patrol.
28 Squadron marked two major milestones in June: its 70th anniversary and the 50th anniversary of the venerable C-130 Hercules in service.
Further articles appeared in the press about the poor state of buildings, infrastructure and vehicles at airforce bases around the country, with technical staffing levels also causing concern.
Finally, after more doom and gloom reports of insufficient funding and the loss of capabilities, September heralded some good news. Three Rooivalk attack helicopters would be deployed to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to support the UN intervention brigade. Less than a month after arriving in the DRC, and after three decades of development, the Rooivalk fired its guns in anger for the first time when they were used successfully in an attack on M23 rebels in early November. Despite a chronic lack of funding, the SAAF were able to successfully complete the mission and were instrumental in bringing new capabilities to the UN’s operations in the DRC, altering the course of the civil war in that country.
The much delayed second Air Capability Display of the year finally took place in October, which itself was not without drama when a Hercules aircraft almost crashed whilst manoeuvring.
Drama and controversy once again entered the arena when, with less than two weeks to go, the Air Force cancelled the Ysterplaat Wings and Wheels show due to be held in early December. This did not go down well with the civil participants, aviation community and local population, with legal action against the SAAF for financial compensation on the cards.
With such a heavy year of ups and downs, ten proud young men were awarded their coveted Wings at a parade at AFB Langebaanweg in early December.
Once again, it was a difficult year for the SAAF, with a lot of budgetary musical chairs happening behind the scenes. The SAAF has certainly received its fair share of criticism with many forecasting a complete collapse, but the South African Air Force has not failed when called upon to perform its duty when it really matters.
Such was the case in the DRC and yet again in December. Under Operation Uxolo, the Air Force participated in the SANDF effort of supporting the events surrounding the passing of former President and first SANDF Commander-in-Chief Nelson Mandela. This included establishing air identification and exclusion zones, combat patrols and providing security, reconnaissance and transport facilities. This climaxed on the day of the funeral, under the watchful eye of the world’s media beamed into virtually every household around the world. The Hercules transporting the body of the late President from AFB Waterkloof to Mthatha and the flypasts of Oryx, PC-7 MKII and Gripen aircraft saw the SAAF ending the year on a high, despite the sombre occasion.
The Unofficial SAAF Website
2013 continued to be another exciting year for the Unofficial SAAF Website and the Webmaster.
Over 100 news articles were published over the past year, with hundreds of new photographs 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.
On a personal note, the launch of my book Tumult in the Clouds - Stories from the South African Air Force 1920–2010 at Zwartkop in February was a fantastic experience and I’d like to thank Chris Cocks and each and every one of you who contributed, assisted and supported me. If you haven’t purchased a copy yet, buy one now at http://www.saairforce.co.za/shop/product_info.php?products_id=1249. Use code 710dbd33 for a R20 discount!
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 Brent Best for his continued enthusiasm and assistance in moderating The SAAF Forum and hope you will support our continuing efforts in the coming year.
Wishing you and your families a great year-end break, a safe holiday and a prosperous New Year. For those who celebrate, I'd also like to take this opportunity to wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas.
Looking forward to interacting with all of you in 2014.
Kind regards
Dean Wingrin
Webmaster: The Unofficial South African Air Force Website
