NEWS & EVENTS - GENERAL
27 November 2009
Staff shortages leave air force no closer to combat readiness
General
The well-documented critical skills shortage in the SAAF is as bad as ever, if not worse, with Defence Minister Lindiwe Sisulu yesterday acknowledging huge shortages of pilots, technical staff and engineers.
20 November 2009
Pilots fly taxis for VIPs
General
Pilots fly taxis for VIPsBy Mandy De WaalThe South African Air Force (SAAF) spent six times longer flying VIPs than it did training pilots in fighter craft last year. This is despite a chronic shortage of pilots that experts say has already wiped out...
19 November 2009
Ysterplaat Aviators Evening
General
AFB Ysterplaat, held its bi-annual Aviators Evening on Thursday by providing something very special.
8 November 2009
The high cost of the Airbus move
General
So, did we honestly save R30 billion by cancelling the A400M contract? Not really, argues Helmoed Romer Heitman.
5 November 2009
Airbus Military A400M cancelled
General
Cabinet has decided to terminate the multi-billion rand Airbus A400M military aircraft contract.
4 November 2009
US Submarine Exercises with SA Navy
General
The Los Angeles-class nuclear powered attack submarine USS San Juan (SSN 751) pulled into the Simon’s Town naval dockyard today and Dean wingrin was there to witness the event.
3 November 2009
Tenders awarded during October 2009
General
SAAF related tenders awarded during October 2009.
29 October 2009
Astra lands minus passenger
General
In a highly unusual incident, a SAAF Astra training aircraft landed with one person less than which it took off!
29 October 2009
Zuma to re-open Waterkloof main runway
General
President Jacob Zuma will this afternoon re-open the main runway of Air Force Base Waterkloof in Pretoria that has been closed since 2006 for a R700 million reconstruction of the main runway and adjacent taxiways.
28 October 2009
Delivery of first Gripen C delayed?
General
It appears that the delivery of the first Gripen C single-seat fighter for the SAAF has been delayed slightly.
20 October 2009
A400M conundrums
General
By Leon Engelbrecht It is now certain South Africa will not pay R47 billion for eight Airbus Military A400M Loadmaster strategic transport aircraft as alleged - to much public and ministerial consternation - by Armscor CE Sipho Thomo last week. ...
16 October 2009
Armscor admits maintenance blooper helped to blow up Airbus costs
General
ARMSCOR yesterday admitted that the parastatal's failure to provide for maintenance costs had added to the R30bn extra SA has to pay for the eight A400M military transport aircraft on order from Airbus.
15 October 2009
R47bn Airbus arms deal bombshell
General
In the next month hcabinet will have to either cancel a R47 billion freight aircraft transaction that went wrong, or pay the price of a potential arms deal scandal Part 2.
15 October 2009
Pilatus Makes Successful First Flight With Upgraded Astra
General
The SAAF has contracted Pilatus to integrate an avionics upgrade on their Pilatus Astra PC-7 MkII fleet.
14 October 2009
SAAF maritime patrol and surveillance plans unveiled
General
The SAAF has a requirement for five specialised Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) and eight cheaper general-purpose Maritime Surveillance Aircraft (MSA).
6 October 2009
SAAF looking to acquire Paveway II guided munitions
General
It appears that the SAAF is intending on arming its new Gripen fighters with the Paveway II laser-guided bomb.
5 October 2009
Tenders awarded during September 2009
General
SAAF related tenders awarded during September 2009.
5 October 2009
Denel Aviation Upgrades the Oryx On-Board Communication and Navigation Systems
General
The systems' upgrade, which will include the modification and installation of the new on-board equipment will significantly extend their service life.
2 October 2009
SA needs new MPA by 2016
General
The South African Air Force will need new maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) from 2016.
2 October 2009
A-Darter delivered for Gripen integration
General
Denel Dynamics has delivered a test version of its A-Darter 5th generation short-range IR AAM to Saab of Sweden for integration onto the JAS39C/D.
1 October 2009
SAAF pupil pilots arrive at Babcock
General
The first SAAF pupil pilots to receive training on the Cessna C172 side-by-side trainer arrived at Babcock Central Flying Academy at Grand Central, Midrand.
1 October 2009
Nombembe shines light on air force’s idle trainer aircraft
General
The Department of Defence incurred irregular expenditure of R118m last year because it did not follow proper procurement procedures, auditor-general Terence Nombembe has reported.
25 September 2009
SA fighter could soar in South American skies
General
The South American country of Ecuador is negotiating with South Africa to buy 12 Denel Cheetah C single-seat fighters, retired from SAAF service.
19 September 2009
SAAF to Join Denel & SAA in Bid to Curb Skills Loss
General
The SAAF plans to cooperate with Denel and SAA to curb the skills loss.
14 September 2009
BAE Systems, ATE to take Hawk to “OC4” standard
General
BAE Systems to upgrade the Navigation & Weapons system of SAAF Hawks to "Operational Capability 4" standard.
Staff shortages leave air force no closer to combat readiness
General
The well-documented critical skills shortage in the SAAF is as bad as ever, if not worse, with Defence Minister Lindiwe Sisulu yesterday acknowledging huge shortages of pilots, technical staff and engineers.
Pilots fly taxis for VIPs
General
Pilots fly taxis for VIPsBy Mandy De WaalThe South African Air Force (SAAF) spent six times longer flying VIPs than it did training pilots in fighter craft last year. This is despite a chronic shortage of pilots that experts say has already wiped out...
Ysterplaat Aviators Evening
General
AFB Ysterplaat, held its bi-annual Aviators Evening on Thursday by providing something very special.
The high cost of the Airbus move
General
So, did we honestly save R30 billion by cancelling the A400M contract? Not really, argues Helmoed Romer Heitman.
Airbus Military A400M cancelled
General
Cabinet has decided to terminate the multi-billion rand Airbus A400M military aircraft contract.
US Submarine Exercises with SA Navy
General
The Los Angeles-class nuclear powered attack submarine USS San Juan (SSN 751) pulled into the Simon’s Town naval dockyard today and Dean wingrin was there to witness the event.
Tenders awarded during October 2009
General
SAAF related tenders awarded during October 2009.
Astra lands minus passenger
General
In a highly unusual incident, a SAAF Astra training aircraft landed with one person less than which it took off!
Zuma to re-open Waterkloof main runway
General
President Jacob Zuma will this afternoon re-open the main runway of Air Force Base Waterkloof in Pretoria that has been closed since 2006 for a R700 million reconstruction of the main runway and adjacent taxiways.
Delivery of first Gripen C delayed?
General
It appears that the delivery of the first Gripen C single-seat fighter for the SAAF has been delayed slightly.
A400M conundrums
General
By Leon Engelbrecht It is now certain South Africa will not pay R47 billion for eight Airbus Military A400M Loadmaster strategic transport aircraft as alleged - to much public and ministerial consternation - by Armscor CE Sipho Thomo last week. ...
Armscor admits maintenance blooper helped to blow up Airbus costs
General
ARMSCOR yesterday admitted that the parastatal's failure to provide for maintenance costs had added to the R30bn extra SA has to pay for the eight A400M military transport aircraft on order from Airbus.
R47bn Airbus arms deal bombshell
General
In the next month hcabinet will have to either cancel a R47 billion freight aircraft transaction that went wrong, or pay the price of a potential arms deal scandal Part 2.
Pilatus Makes Successful First Flight With Upgraded Astra
General
The SAAF has contracted Pilatus to integrate an avionics upgrade on their Pilatus Astra PC-7 MkII fleet.
SAAF maritime patrol and surveillance plans unveiled
General
The SAAF has a requirement for five specialised Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) and eight cheaper general-purpose Maritime Surveillance Aircraft (MSA).
SAAF looking to acquire Paveway II guided munitions
General
It appears that the SAAF is intending on arming its new Gripen fighters with the Paveway II laser-guided bomb.
Tenders awarded during September 2009
General
SAAF related tenders awarded during September 2009.
Denel Aviation Upgrades the Oryx On-Board Communication and Navigation Systems
General
The systems' upgrade, which will include the modification and installation of the new on-board equipment will significantly extend their service life.
SA needs new MPA by 2016
General
The South African Air Force will need new maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) from 2016.
A-Darter delivered for Gripen integration
General
Denel Dynamics has delivered a test version of its A-Darter 5th generation short-range IR AAM to Saab of Sweden for integration onto the JAS39C/D.
SAAF pupil pilots arrive at Babcock
General
The first SAAF pupil pilots to receive training on the Cessna C172 side-by-side trainer arrived at Babcock Central Flying Academy at Grand Central, Midrand.
Nombembe shines light on air force’s idle trainer aircraft
General
The Department of Defence incurred irregular expenditure of R118m last year because it did not follow proper procurement procedures, auditor-general Terence Nombembe has reported.
SA fighter could soar in South American skies
General
The South American country of Ecuador is negotiating with South Africa to buy 12 Denel Cheetah C single-seat fighters, retired from SAAF service.
SAAF to Join Denel & SAA in Bid to Curb Skills Loss
General
The SAAF plans to cooperate with Denel and SAA to curb the skills loss.
BAE Systems, ATE to take Hawk to “OC4” standard
General
BAE Systems to upgrade the Navigation & Weapons system of SAAF Hawks to "Operational Capability 4" standard.
