So many planes, so few fliers
Date: 6 August 2005
South Africa will soon have more combat aircraft then qualified pilots - this emerged in parliament yesterday when Minister of Defence Mosiuoa Lekota confirmed that the South African Air Force has only 30 operational pilots.
In a reply to a question by Freedom Front Plus MP Pieter Groenewald, Lekota said these could be broken down into 26 white men, one white women and three black men.
SA's controversial R60bn arms deal will see delivery of 28 Gripen fighter aircraft and 24 Hawk fighter-trainer aircraft. The force will also receive 30 helicopters. The SAAF has 131 pilots in training.
The Citizen
