SAAF says skills drain prompted Zim deal
Date: 9 December 2005
The South African Air Force (SAAF) has dismissed criticism of its decision to invite Zimbabwean Air Force instructors to help train local pilots, saying there is "nothing sinister or insincere" in the arrangement.
Speaking at a "wings" parade for 54 new pilots yesterday, SAAF chief Lieutenant General Carlo Gagiano said: "It is a source of great frustration to the SAAF that this seemingly normal request, by means of which it is also actively trying to foster good relations with neighbouring countries as part of its regional strategy, has apparently been met with so much hostility and suspicion." He said the SAAF was "taken by surprise by the vehement reaction by certain media and politicians". The decision to ask six senior Zimbabwean flying instructors to join the Langebaanweg base in the new year was part of an effort to counter a shortage of skills in the SAAF, he said.
It follows the signing of two memorandums of understanding to facilitate greater co-operation between South Africa and Zimbabwe. The deal provides for Zimbabwe's air force to send instructors to train SAAF pilots, as well as aircraft technicians and support staff.
"On a fact-finding visit to Langebaanweg, we discovered with the Zimbabweans that we have a lot in common in the area of flying training," he said. The instructors will be joining 22 line instructors at the base and will start training in the last week of January. Gagiano said that although this had become a controversial matter, the SAAF did "not consider this request in any way out of the ordinary". "Is an air force's ability to provide basic flying training measured by the stability of the currency or the political situation of the country to which it belongs, or by its being an African or a European air force?" he asked. "I believe neither of these applies and therefore I see nothing sinister or insincere in the approach taken."
He blamed the skills shortage on salaries that were not market related, prompting pilots to go abroad or seek work in the private sector. Applications for SAAF selection close on January 3.
Cape Argus
