NEWS & EVENTS - GENERAL
2 February 2008
SAAF invests in tech refresh
General
The SA Air Force is spending about R10 million in the near-term to upgrade its communications technology and safeguard voice and data transfers against eavesdropping or jamming.
1 February 2008
SAAF Prestige Awards 2007
General
Awards were presented to bases, units and squadrons who have performed exceptionally during 2007. The winners of the respective categories were acknowledged during the Air Force Day Parade at Swartkop on Friday 1 February 2008.
1 February 2008
Air Force Day Parade at Swartkop
General
The annual Air Force Day Parade was held on the first of February 2008 at the Swartkops Airfield near Pretoria.The Unofficial SAAF website representative Pierre Laubscher reports on the days activities.
30 January 2008
MPs want to increase flying hours
General
Parliament's defence committee is calling for more money to be spent on South Africa's land defences.
28 January 2008
New lease of life for the BK-117
General
What should have been a rather sad and sombre function turned out to be a rather joyous occasion, when Brig. Gen. Jakes Msimang announced that the BK-117 helicopters in service with the SAAF would be gradually phased out.
28 January 2008
MPs find problems at Makhado air base
General
A number of serious shortcomings at Makhado air force base in Limpopo have been identified by a group of ANC MPs who visited the base last year.
28 January 2008
Gripen SA02 soares past 100 000 flying hours.
General
South Africa’s second Gripen fighter (SA02) made history when during a scheduled flight test sortie, it passed the cumulative 100,000 flying hour mark for the Gripen fleet of new generation fighters.
28 January 2008
Training aircraft fly again after accident
General
The airforces' Pilatus Astra training aircraft can fly again. The airforce has announced that the flight safety review that temporary withdrew the aircraft from service was withdrawn yesterday.
25 January 2008
Extension to Airborne tactical reconnaissance contract
General
Carl Zeiss Optronics (Pty) Ltd have been awarded an extension on theor contract to provide an Airborne tactical reconnaissance capability.
24 January 2008
Old equipment hampers pilots
General
The Defence Force is not in a position to test its prospective fighter pilots on the effects of g-forces because of obsolete equipment.
22 January 2008
SAAF pilots set for Gripen training in September
General
The South African Air Force's first six instructor pilots for the Saab Gripen will commence training activities in September, with development testing having recently concluded using its first of 26 aircraft.
21 January 2008
SAAF JAS-39D delivered
General
SA's first new jet fighter in over 30 years is a coat of paint away from delivery to the nation's air force.
18 January 2008
Pilots protected against sharks and lions
General
South African Gripen fighter-pilots will, should they ever need to eject from the new aircraft, be protected from sharks and lions.
17 January 2008
Air Force grounds fleet
General
The SAAF has grounded its fleet of Pilatus Astra PC-7 MkII aircraft following the death of a pilot in a plane crash on Tuesday.
16 January 2008
Technical fault takes life of pilot
General
A senior airforce pilot with more than 30 years flying experience died yesterday when a technical problem was the likely cause of the crash of his training aircraft shortly after take-off.
16 January 2008
SAAF pilot dies as aircraft crashes near Bredasdorp soon after takeoff
General
A SAAF pilot died when a single-engine light aircraft crashed shortly after taking off from the Test Flight and Development Centre outside Bredasdorp yesterday.
15 January 2008
Astra crashes at AFB Overberg
General
An Astra crashed today shortly after take-off from TFDC at AFB Overberg, killing the pilot.
30 December 2007
BK117 retired from the SAAF?
General
It has been rumoured that the SAAF has transferred its BK117 helicopters presently with 15 Squadron in Durban to the SA Police Service (SAPS).
1 December 2007
SAAF A109LUH Deliveries Continue to Slip
General
Delivery of the 30th and final AgustaWestland A109LUH light utility helicopter to the SAAF continues to slip, as local assembly of the LUHs by Denel continues at a very slow pace.
29 November 2007
Two more ex-SAAF Mirage F1s delivered to Gabon
General
Gabon received two more ex-SAAF Mirage F1AZs recently when they were flown from AFB Hoedspruit in South Africa to Libreville, Gabon.
22 November 2007
Cop dies in border chopper crash
General
A routine crime prevention exercise has turned deadly for a group of soldiers and police patrolling the Lesotho border.
22 November 2007
Helicopter pilots 'short of eyes'
General
Helicopter flying, particulalry in mountain areas with strong wind, takes place in a three-dimensional space which requires a helicopter pilot to have eyes in the back of his head.
21 November 2007
Oryx crashes in Free State
General
An Oryx helicopter carrying 14 police officers has crashed between Weppener and Zastron.
20 November 2007
Waterkloof runway work delayed
General
The reconstruction of the runways at AFB Waterkloof is getting tougher and the chances of completing the construction work before 2010 is getting smaller.
12 November 2007
More money for Rooivalk
General
Government has decided to invest another R962 million into the Rooivalk attack helicopter programme.
SAAF invests in tech refresh
General
The SA Air Force is spending about R10 million in the near-term to upgrade its communications technology and safeguard voice and data transfers against eavesdropping or jamming.
SAAF Prestige Awards 2007
General
Awards were presented to bases, units and squadrons who have performed exceptionally during 2007. The winners of the respective categories were acknowledged during the Air Force Day Parade at Swartkop on Friday 1 February 2008.
Air Force Day Parade at Swartkop
General
The annual Air Force Day Parade was held on the first of February 2008 at the Swartkops Airfield near Pretoria.The Unofficial SAAF website representative Pierre Laubscher reports on the days activities.
MPs want to increase flying hours
General
Parliament's defence committee is calling for more money to be spent on South Africa's land defences.
New lease of life for the BK-117
General
What should have been a rather sad and sombre function turned out to be a rather joyous occasion, when Brig. Gen. Jakes Msimang announced that the BK-117 helicopters in service with the SAAF would be gradually phased out.
MPs find problems at Makhado air base
General
A number of serious shortcomings at Makhado air force base in Limpopo have been identified by a group of ANC MPs who visited the base last year.
Gripen SA02 soares past 100 000 flying hours.
General
South Africa’s second Gripen fighter (SA02) made history when during a scheduled flight test sortie, it passed the cumulative 100,000 flying hour mark for the Gripen fleet of new generation fighters.
Training aircraft fly again after accident
General
The airforces' Pilatus Astra training aircraft can fly again. The airforce has announced that the flight safety review that temporary withdrew the aircraft from service was withdrawn yesterday.
Extension to Airborne tactical reconnaissance contract
General
Carl Zeiss Optronics (Pty) Ltd have been awarded an extension on theor contract to provide an Airborne tactical reconnaissance capability.
Old equipment hampers pilots
General
The Defence Force is not in a position to test its prospective fighter pilots on the effects of g-forces because of obsolete equipment.
SAAF pilots set for Gripen training in September
General
The South African Air Force's first six instructor pilots for the Saab Gripen will commence training activities in September, with development testing having recently concluded using its first of 26 aircraft.
SAAF JAS-39D delivered
General
SA's first new jet fighter in over 30 years is a coat of paint away from delivery to the nation's air force.
Pilots protected against sharks and lions
General
South African Gripen fighter-pilots will, should they ever need to eject from the new aircraft, be protected from sharks and lions.
Air Force grounds fleet
General
The SAAF has grounded its fleet of Pilatus Astra PC-7 MkII aircraft following the death of a pilot in a plane crash on Tuesday.
Technical fault takes life of pilot
General
A senior airforce pilot with more than 30 years flying experience died yesterday when a technical problem was the likely cause of the crash of his training aircraft shortly after take-off.
SAAF pilot dies as aircraft crashes near Bredasdorp soon after takeoff
General
A SAAF pilot died when a single-engine light aircraft crashed shortly after taking off from the Test Flight and Development Centre outside Bredasdorp yesterday.
Astra crashes at AFB Overberg
General
An Astra crashed today shortly after take-off from TFDC at AFB Overberg, killing the pilot.
BK117 retired from the SAAF?
General
It has been rumoured that the SAAF has transferred its BK117 helicopters presently with 15 Squadron in Durban to the SA Police Service (SAPS).
SAAF A109LUH Deliveries Continue to Slip
General
Delivery of the 30th and final AgustaWestland A109LUH light utility helicopter to the SAAF continues to slip, as local assembly of the LUHs by Denel continues at a very slow pace.
Two more ex-SAAF Mirage F1s delivered to Gabon
General
Gabon received two more ex-SAAF Mirage F1AZs recently when they were flown from AFB Hoedspruit in South Africa to Libreville, Gabon.
Cop dies in border chopper crash
General
A routine crime prevention exercise has turned deadly for a group of soldiers and police patrolling the Lesotho border.
Helicopter pilots 'short of eyes'
General
Helicopter flying, particulalry in mountain areas with strong wind, takes place in a three-dimensional space which requires a helicopter pilot to have eyes in the back of his head.
Oryx crashes in Free State
General
An Oryx helicopter carrying 14 police officers has crashed between Weppener and Zastron.
Waterkloof runway work delayed
General
The reconstruction of the runways at AFB Waterkloof is getting tougher and the chances of completing the construction work before 2010 is getting smaller.
More money for Rooivalk
General
Government has decided to invest another R962 million into the Rooivalk attack helicopter programme.
