Waterkloof upgrade commences
Date: 23 July 2008
Report by Dean Wingrin and Paul Potgieter.
After several delays, it appears that the long awaited upgrade to AFB Waterkloof has commenced.
While problems have hampered the upgrading of the runway and the revamping of the base since 2006, it is expected that the upgrading of the runway and related work would cost upwards of R600m. This would include a reinforcement of the runway that has been closed to all big aircraft due to the damage caused by sinkholes at the base. It would also include a new presidential departures and arrivals lounge and various other projects.
Work commenced about two months ago, with the building of a new lighted road around the base. Heavy machinery moved onto the main runway today and has commenced to dig up the old runway surface.
Many of the Waterkloof based squadrons are now operating from Swartkop, while the 21 Sqn, operating the VIP aircraft, has moved to a temporary home at O R Tambo International Airport.
Media reports have quoted Brigadier-General Anthony Staunton saying that President Thabo Mbeki's office had instructed the first phase of runway upgrade be completed by July 2009 in time to receive presidents and government leaders for the inauguration of the new president.
In a joint partnership between the government and Aerosud, the Centurion Aerospace Village, a large aviation manufacturing complex, is being constructed on and off the east side of the base. Denel Aviation will move to the new Village, while Aerosud is bringing many major aviation companies together to create a critical mass for the aviation manufacturing industy.
