SAAF to contract out rotary-wing training
Date: 22 August 2006
Following withdrawal of the Alouette III from South African Air Force (SAAF) service, the SAAF is to to contract out ab initio rotary-wing training previously undertaken by 87 Helicopter Flying School (HFS) at AFB Bloemspruit.
Brigadier General Paine, Director Helicopter Systems, confirmed the decision during a ceremony at Swartkop airfield on June 30, which officially marked retirement of the SAAF's Alouette IIIs.
Following the last Alouette III training sorties with 87 HFS in May, the June 30 ceremony included a final eight-ship formation flypast with the type. Two of these helicopters were then handed over to the Air Force Museum, whilst three others will remain in service with 22 Squadron at AFB Ysterplaat until the middle of next year to provide support to the South African Navy. Paine said at the ceremony that ab initio training of helicopter pilots at 87 HFS would now be contracted out to a civilian flying school for an initial trial period of two pilot's courses.
AirForces Monthly (September)
