SAAF operational outputs for the financial year 2004/2005

I have, finally, had a quick glimpse at the Department of Defence (DoD) Annual Report 2004/2005, which details the activities of the Department for the period 1 April 2004 to 31 March 2005.

The following is a summary of the hours flown by the SAAF during this period:

Combat Training Capability
The Impala combat training system flew a total of 1 995 hours. Three pilots completed the instructor's conversion and one pilot was cleared for low-level displays. Reserve Force pilots periodically assist in flying and ground instruction. During the year three pilots were transferred out of the system, two to 2 Squadron and one to 60 Squadron, whilst one pilot resigned.

Combat Capability
2 Squadron has the Cheetah C (single seat) and Cheetah D (dual seat) aircraft systems. 950 hours were allocated to the Cheetah system, of which 50 hours were earmarked for the Test Flying and Development Centre. Despite the non-availability of hot-end spares for the engines, 2 Squadron flew 1 010 hours. Essential combat competencies, including the employment of laser-guided bombs and basic night currencies, were maintained. All the pilots involved also acquired or renewed their competencies in aerial refuelling.

One pilot completed an instructional duty tour with the Royal Air Force and another completed a Mirage Elkan M-5M Conversion Course with the Chilean Air Force. Reserve Force pilots fly on a regular basis with the Squadron.

Heavy Transport/Mission Support Capability
60 Squadron was funded for 192 force preparation/ training flying hours only. In accordance with the approval of National Treasury, the Squadron therefore had to generate income to sustain the Boeing 707 capability. Funding was received in the form of flights against repayment from Chief of Joint Operations to the amount of 738 flying hours in support of external operations in Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the Sudan. For five months of the year two aircraft were not available. The first aircraft deeper level maintenance service was completed by the end of May 2004 whilst the second aircraft was withdrawn for its major service in October 2004.

Despite the aircraft restrictions and the availability of crews, 60 Squadron still managed to generate 891 hours, primarily in the air transport role, of which 720 hours were force employment hours. Crews are now qualified in the air-refuelling role. 60 Squadron was contracted by SAAB to carry out air-refuelling trials with the Gripen in Sweden over the period 16 March 2005 to 18 April 2005.

Electronic Warfare Capability
The Electronic Warfare Centre continued electronic warfare awareness training in the SA Air Force by presenting a Basic Electronic Warfare Course, a Mission Planning Course for transport pilots and an Electronic Warfare Systems Course. It also continued the establishment and evaluation of essential self-protection capabilities within the SA Air Force. Using the current building blocks on established Cheetah, Impala and C-47TP capabilities, the Electronic Warfare Centre has begun preparing for the evaluation and acceptance testing of the electronic warfare capabilities of the Strategic Defence Package Systems being phased into the SA Air Force. The Electronic Warfare Centre took part in three exercises, namely GOLDEN EAGLE, SEA EAGLE and Exercise INDLOVU, where more advanced self-protection scenarios were practised and countermeasures evaluated. The training of new Electronic Warfare Operators and Electronic Warfare Technicians commenced in 2004, which culminated in five students receiving their wings in March 2005.

Air Mobility for Diplomacy
The objective of 1 512 hours for air mobility for diplomatic aircraft (Boeing Business Jet/Falcon 900/50) was achieved.

Medium Heavy Transport
The medium heavy transport aircraft (C130BZ) flew a total of 1 207 hours during the year.

Medium/Medium Light Transport
The medium light transport aircraft (C235/C212) flew a total of 1 361 hours during the year.

Medium Range Maritime Patrol
1 761 hours were flown on medium range maritime patrol aircraft (C47-TP).

Light Transport/Reconnaissance
4 081 hours were flown on light transport aircraft (C208/C185)

Command and Control
1 037 hours were flown on command and control transport aircraft (C550/BE30/BE20/PC12).

Air Force Reserve Squadrons
3 000 hours were planned and achieved for nine Air Force Reserve Squadrons that fly various aircraft types.

Medium Transport Helicopter Capability
The medium transport helicopter capability consists of the Oryx helicopter fleet. The aircraft fleet flew 5 900 flying hours. Of the aircraft in storage, one was returned to service to replace the aircraft destroyed in an accident in 2003. The remaining stored airframes are being stripped of their major components to minimise the impact of temporary preservation methods. Although there was slow progress with the project study for the in-service fleet update, the first phase should be initiated in 2005. The delay has caused an increase in the operating cost of the fleet.

The Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism did not renew the Antarctica support contract with the SA Air Force. During the year the operation in Burundi changed from an African Union operation to a United Nations operation. Two white Oryx helicopters replaced the two normal camouflage Oryx helicopters in September 2004 in terms of the United Nations contract. These aircraft will be rotated with two other aircraft every six to eight months.

Light Utility Helicopter Capability
The light utility helicopter capability consists of the Alouette III helicopter fleet and the BK 117 helicopter fleet. This aircraft fleet flew 2 900 hours. Although the Alouette fleet was utilised fairly extensively in anti-crime operations, it still tends to be underutilised, as it cannot be operated during poor weather conditions or dark nights. During November the two Alouette III helicopters deployed in Burundi returned, as they did not form part of the United Nations force requirement. The delay in the delivery of the Augusta A109 has disrupted the phasing-out plan for the Alouette III fleet. Instead of the planned final withdrawal from operations in December 2004, indications are that this will be delayed until the middle of 2005. This has had a major impact on the consumption of spares and a general increase in operating costs, which is undermining the plan of using the Alouette III fleet for basic helicopter training until 2009.

The general availability of the BK 117 helicopter fleet has improved. The fleet flew 1 100 hours of the planned 1 200 hours as the engine upgrade programme prevented full use of the available hours. The upgrade programme was initiated to improve the safety of the single engine performance and the hot and high operational performance. Four aircraft have received the upgrade and the remainder will be completed in the first half of 2005.

Combat Support Helicopter Capability
The combat support helicopter capability consists of the Rooivalk helicopter fleet, which flew 650 hours during the year.

Basic Flying Training
All basic flying training as well as flying instructor training is done at the Central Flying School Langebaanweg. Two pupil-pilot courses were completed during the year and a total of 31 students qualified. Of the 31 who qualified 16 were black and 15 were white. Two females were amongst those who qualified. Two flying instructor courses were completed and seven pilots qualified as flying instructors. A total of 9 605 hours were flown by the Astra fleet.

Navigational and Survival Training Capability
The primary responsibility of 80 Air Navigation School is to train pupil navigators and navigator instructors. In addition, the unit presents survival training and aircrew orientation courses for the SA Air Force. Four pupil navigators qualified during the year as well as two navigator instructors. Two survival courses were presented as well as two aircrew orientation courses.

The full report is avialable on the official DoD website (www.mil.za).