Six new choppers to be stationed at PE?s air base
Date: 5 March 2007
THE SA Air Force‘s campaign to improve its image and extend its capabilities throughout the Eastern Cape has been given a boost with the announcement that six new Agusta A109LUH helicopters are soon to be based in Port Elizabeth.
"At the moment Port Elizabeth has three BK 117 helicopters with which we cover the whole of the Eastern Cape, which is pretty vast. With the new arms deal, we will be getting some of the new Italian helicopters."
In September, 1999, the Cabinet approved the purchase of 30 helicopters, with an option for the purchase of a further 10. The first of the South African version of the helicopter rolled out of the plant in Vergiate, Italy, in 2002.
SA arms manufacturer Denel, located at Irene, Tshwane, is an industrial partner and is doing the final assembly of the Agusta A109. The helicopter will replace the aging French Alouette IIIs, which have a cruising speed of 210km/h with a maximum range of 540km, a crew of two and can carry up to five passengers.
The new Agustas are light utility helicopters capable of carrying a crew of two plus six passengers and have a cruising speed of 283km/h and a maximum range of 935km. Various models are in use with the Italian and Belgian armies, the US Coast Guard and the New York police department.
Although the future of the two BK 117s currently in service in the city is uncertain, it is believed they might be handed over to the SA Police Service.
At the same time, Lieutenant-Colonel Wayne Sharp has been appointed officer commanding Air Force Station Port Elizabeth, replacing Lt-Col Lennox Mzongwana, who has been transferred to Pretoria.
"The promotion and appointment as officer commanding is quite a prestigious one," Sharp said during a special media meeting at the base on Friday morning.
On Friday, May 4, a change-of-command parade will take place at the base to make the transition official.
"It‘s tradition that you have a change- of-command parade where the previous officer commanding hands over command to the incoming officer commanding. It‘s normally held with all the traditional pomp and ceremony and a flypast.
"My promotion means a lot of work for me, but the officer commanding of Air Force Station Port Elizabeth is now commander of all air force structures in the Eastern Cape. I‘m in command of all air force personnel and the helicopter squadron," he said.
The air force generals are keen to improve the SAAF‘s image in Port Elizabeth. "They didn‘t realise that there was such a low level of awareness and the push now is to re-establish the air force image in the public eye to re-establish communications with the press and the public.
"The air force should be seen to be playing a role in the community, not just flying and doing military-type work, but also have a social responsibility towards the community at large.
"There‘s a very proud tradition in the Eastern Cape, but since the base closed in 1990, the air force contingent has been very small and low-key.
"Often you walk in the streets and people say: ‘Are you in the air force? We didn‘t even know there was an air force in Port Elizabeth. "
The Herald
