New aircraft to cost R11.9 billion
Date: 23 July 2007
The following is a (very) rough extract from an Afrikaans article that appeared in Beeld:
The aiforce will pay R11.9 billion for the eight new Airbus A400M cargo aircraft, more than the previous amount of R6.6 billion.
The airforce acknowledged the amount this past week, as well as details of the brand new squadron which will fly the aircraft from AFB Waterkloof.
Mr Alec Erwin, Minister of Trade and Industry, said in 2005, shortly after the contract was signed, that South Africa had options to purchase a further six aircraft, besides the initial eight ordered. This means that the amount of R11.9 billion is for 14 aircraft.
Mr Helmoed-Römer Heitman, a military analyst, said yesterday that no decision had been made regarding the additional aircraft.
Negotiations were still underway to determine if Waterkloof was the best base for new infrastructure, considering the surrounding terrain is susceptible to dolomite sinkholes.
According to Major Ronald Maseko, airforce spokeman, the cost of new buildings, hangers and workshops were included in their project costs.
Other options for the squadron include the Louis Trichard (AFB Makhado) and bloemfontein airforce bases.
The last mentioned already houses the multi-engine flying school and would be an obvious choice.
According to Maseko, Airbus' military division (AMSL) had already experienced various technical and engineering challenges during the development of the new model, airbus' first military transport aircraft. This was, according to him, normal and could mean that the first flight of the first aircraft could be delayed. Subject to delays, the first flight is expected in November 2010.
According to Maseko, the new aircraft will require between 10 and 12 aircrew.
A special eight month training course will be held next year. Airbus will carry all the airforces costs in connection with the training.
The airforce foresees that the current C-130 Hercules crew will not have a prbelm converting to the advanced A400M.
Maseko said that there was no truth in the rumour that commercial pilots would be contracted by the airforce if the current shortage of pilots continued.
