NEWS & EVENTS - GENERAL
14 October 2003
Air force pilots unhappy with salary increase
General
English summary: Air force pilots are unhappy that they only received the general public servant salary increase and not an increase to bring their salaries more in line with the commercial sector as stipluated in their contract.-----------------Vlie...
13 October 2003
19 Squadron status
General
Despite rumours to the contary, it has been (officially) confirmed that 19 Squadron will remain, for the present time, at AFB Louis Trichardt....
13 October 2003
AFB Overberg to be established
General
Plans are afoot to amend the organisational structure of the Test Flight and Development Centre (TFDC) near Bredasdorp in the Southern Cape. The base will become AFB Overberg and TFDC will be a lodger unit of AFB Overberg. Actual date is still to be ...
2 October 2003
SANDF Annual Report talks the talk but will its writers walk the walk?
General
By Leon Engelbrecht, Defence Systems Daily's Southern Africa correspondentA major general, still on active service some time ago said the trouble with the SA National Defence Force is that it talks the talk and then proceeds to talk the walk too....
2 October 2003
Flying Mbeki a long haul
General
Erika GibsonPresident Thabo Mbeki's safety during long-haul flights onboard the presidential Inkwazi transcontinental jet is assured despite the fact that the crew are expected to be on duty for up to 20 hours - especially on a South Africa to Ne...
26 September 2003
Air force stalls in pursuit of equity aim
General
Generals say the ideal racial make-up cannot be reached by the planned dateTHE South African Air Force (SAAF) is struggling to achieve a pilot corps that reflects the country's racial makeup. Despite affirmative action plans, more than 90% of its...
12 September 2003
Pilot error
General
Aviation students in the air force may fail all their theoretical examinations the first time before starting practical pilot's training, the Afrikaans daily Beeld reported on Tuesday. They may also fail two supplementary exams in those subjects,...
10 September 2003
Midnite to take to the sky
General
Erika Gibson Major Musa "Midnite" Mbhokota, assistant project officer, will carry a heavy burden when the new Gripen fighter planes are taken into use. Mbhokota is the first black Cheetah pilot and represents the "face"...
6 September 2003
Mbeki's jet: Taxpayers foot R13,5-million bill
General
South African taxpayers have paid about R13,5-million during the first six months for the presidential jet, Inkwazi's operational costs so that the country's leaders can arrive at their destinations timeously and effortlessly, the Afrikaans N...
29 August 2003
Oh chute! SAAF drops friendly fire on suburb
General
By Graeme Hosken The air drop was meant to be a dry run for a military top-up mission but instead turned into a "friendly-fire" disaster for the Centurion suburb of Eldoglen. Three South African Air Force flight pallets designed to deliver ...
17 August 2003
Cobra helmet-mounted display to equip SA Gripens
General
BAE Systems, Saab Aerospace and South African company Cumulus have started work to integrate the former company's Cobra integrated helmet-mounted display (IHMD) system into the JAS 39C/D Gripen swing-role fighter aircraft for the SAAF to be deliv...
16 August 2003
Helicopter pilot dies in ground collision with aircraft
General
A helicopter pilot of the South African Air Force has died after he crashed his motorcycle into a fixed-wing aircraft. Major André Hattingh, 48, an Oryx pilot, was riding to work Ysterplaat Air Force base on his motorcycle on Thursday morning....
14 August 2003
South Africa Confirms Contract For Agustawestland Super Lynx 300
General
At a signing ceremony held in Pretoria today, Minister Lekota, Minister of Defence signed the agreement on behalf of the Department of Defence for the supply of four Super Lynx 300 maritime helicopters together with an initial product support package...
13 August 2003
Promotions and appointments: 2003/2004
General
The DOD has approved the appointment and promotion of the undermentioned officers in the respective posts with effect from the dates as indicated:GOC Air CommandMaj Gen F.J. Labuschagne, currently Chief Director Force Preparation, is appointed as GOC...
16 July 2003
Flight costs taxpayer R270 000
General
Erika GibsonAn "urgent" flight with President Thabo Mbeki's brand new jet, Inkwazi, with only two passengers onboard to Kinshasa cost the taxpayer about R270 000.To add insult to injury, the jet returned empty and the two special envoys...
11 July 2003
Air force member dies in ejection mishap
General
An Air Force Sergeant of Langebaan has been killed in a freak accident after apparently inadvertently activating the pilot's ejection seat after the aircraft had landed.
19 June 2003
Fuel Leak Rehab is going to be very costly
General
Fuel leaks at the Louis Trichardt air force base were apparently reported to top structures of the air force as far back as 1989, but the problem was addressed only in 2000.The alleged "lack of effective action" eventually led to a loss of ...
19 June 2003
Integrated helmet-mounted display for Gripen
General
Saab Aerospace of Sweden and BAE Systems' Avionics' group, in partnership with South Africa's Cumulus, have signed an agreement that will see the latter's Striker integrated helmet-mounted display (IHMD) developed further for use on t...
18 June 2003
SAAF wastes R45m in fuel
General
Negligence has resulted in up to 15 million litres of jet fuel leaking into underground water supplies at Louis Trichardt air force base in Limpopo. The loss, calculated at current fuel prices, runs to close on R45m and represents at least 3 000 extr...
17 June 2003
SAAF aircraft for sale
General
Armscor have the following for sale:Quantity 2 Boeing 707’s cargo configurationQuantity 18 Mirage F1 AircraftQuantity 12 Cheetah AircraftQuantity 10 Oryx HelicoptersQuantity 9 Impala MK1 (MB326) Dual (sic)Quantity 3 Impala MK1 (MB326) SingleCan...
17 June 2003
New Hawk flies in SA
General
BAE Systems recently disclosed that the South African Hawk New Demonstrator Aircraft flew for the first time with the Rolls-Royce Turbomeca Adour Mk 951 engine on 27 May. The sortie, at the South African Air Force's (SAAF's) Test Flight and D...
6 June 2003
Further info on Oryx crash
General
Further to the Oryx crash yesterday at Durban, it has been rumoured that the Oryx was doing vectored ILS's at FADN and had already been flying for quite a while.The following was obtained via a pilot internet chat group:"He was +- 10nm miles...
5 June 2003
SAAF chopper crash - crew safe
General
The SA Air Force said on Thursday one of its fleet of Denel Oryx medium transport helicopters had crash-landed at Durban International Airport.Lieutenant Ronald Maseko said there was no deaths, only minor injuries.The 15 Squadron helicopter's cre...
3 June 2003
SA Navy, Air Force conduct first-ever joint exercise
General
For the first time ever, the navy and air force will conduct a joint annual combat preparation exercise, known as Operation Red Lion.Members from the medical health services are also participating.Nine ships, a submarine, fighter aircraft, helicopter...
8 May 2003
Poor pilots irk instructors
General
Erika GibsonPretoria - There is dissatisfaction over the training of pilots at the air force's Central Flight School in Langebaan after recommendations to suspend the training of four students were set aside by senior officials three times.Despit...
Air force pilots unhappy with salary increase
General
English summary: Air force pilots are unhappy that they only received the general public servant salary increase and not an increase to bring their salaries more in line with the commercial sector as stipluated in their contract.-----------------Vlie...
19 Squadron status
General
Despite rumours to the contary, it has been (officially) confirmed that 19 Squadron will remain, for the present time, at AFB Louis Trichardt....
AFB Overberg to be established
General
Plans are afoot to amend the organisational structure of the Test Flight and Development Centre (TFDC) near Bredasdorp in the Southern Cape. The base will become AFB Overberg and TFDC will be a lodger unit of AFB Overberg. Actual date is still to be ...
SANDF Annual Report talks the talk but will its writers walk the walk?
General
By Leon Engelbrecht, Defence Systems Daily's Southern Africa correspondentA major general, still on active service some time ago said the trouble with the SA National Defence Force is that it talks the talk and then proceeds to talk the walk too....
Flying Mbeki a long haul
General
Erika GibsonPresident Thabo Mbeki's safety during long-haul flights onboard the presidential Inkwazi transcontinental jet is assured despite the fact that the crew are expected to be on duty for up to 20 hours - especially on a South Africa to Ne...
Air force stalls in pursuit of equity aim
General
Generals say the ideal racial make-up cannot be reached by the planned dateTHE South African Air Force (SAAF) is struggling to achieve a pilot corps that reflects the country's racial makeup. Despite affirmative action plans, more than 90% of its...
Pilot error
General
Aviation students in the air force may fail all their theoretical examinations the first time before starting practical pilot's training, the Afrikaans daily Beeld reported on Tuesday. They may also fail two supplementary exams in those subjects,...
Midnite to take to the sky
General
Erika Gibson Major Musa "Midnite" Mbhokota, assistant project officer, will carry a heavy burden when the new Gripen fighter planes are taken into use. Mbhokota is the first black Cheetah pilot and represents the "face"...
Mbeki's jet: Taxpayers foot R13,5-million bill
General
South African taxpayers have paid about R13,5-million during the first six months for the presidential jet, Inkwazi's operational costs so that the country's leaders can arrive at their destinations timeously and effortlessly, the Afrikaans N...
Oh chute! SAAF drops friendly fire on suburb
General
By Graeme Hosken The air drop was meant to be a dry run for a military top-up mission but instead turned into a "friendly-fire" disaster for the Centurion suburb of Eldoglen. Three South African Air Force flight pallets designed to deliver ...
Cobra helmet-mounted display to equip SA Gripens
General
BAE Systems, Saab Aerospace and South African company Cumulus have started work to integrate the former company's Cobra integrated helmet-mounted display (IHMD) system into the JAS 39C/D Gripen swing-role fighter aircraft for the SAAF to be deliv...
Helicopter pilot dies in ground collision with aircraft
General
A helicopter pilot of the South African Air Force has died after he crashed his motorcycle into a fixed-wing aircraft. Major André Hattingh, 48, an Oryx pilot, was riding to work Ysterplaat Air Force base on his motorcycle on Thursday morning....
South Africa Confirms Contract For Agustawestland Super Lynx 300
General
At a signing ceremony held in Pretoria today, Minister Lekota, Minister of Defence signed the agreement on behalf of the Department of Defence for the supply of four Super Lynx 300 maritime helicopters together with an initial product support package...
Promotions and appointments: 2003/2004
General
The DOD has approved the appointment and promotion of the undermentioned officers in the respective posts with effect from the dates as indicated:GOC Air CommandMaj Gen F.J. Labuschagne, currently Chief Director Force Preparation, is appointed as GOC...
Flight costs taxpayer R270 000
General
Erika GibsonAn "urgent" flight with President Thabo Mbeki's brand new jet, Inkwazi, with only two passengers onboard to Kinshasa cost the taxpayer about R270 000.To add insult to injury, the jet returned empty and the two special envoys...
Air force member dies in ejection mishap
General
An Air Force Sergeant of Langebaan has been killed in a freak accident after apparently inadvertently activating the pilot's ejection seat after the aircraft had landed.
Fuel Leak Rehab is going to be very costly
General
Fuel leaks at the Louis Trichardt air force base were apparently reported to top structures of the air force as far back as 1989, but the problem was addressed only in 2000.The alleged "lack of effective action" eventually led to a loss of ...
Integrated helmet-mounted display for Gripen
General
Saab Aerospace of Sweden and BAE Systems' Avionics' group, in partnership with South Africa's Cumulus, have signed an agreement that will see the latter's Striker integrated helmet-mounted display (IHMD) developed further for use on t...
SAAF wastes R45m in fuel
General
Negligence has resulted in up to 15 million litres of jet fuel leaking into underground water supplies at Louis Trichardt air force base in Limpopo. The loss, calculated at current fuel prices, runs to close on R45m and represents at least 3 000 extr...
SAAF aircraft for sale
General
Armscor have the following for sale:Quantity 2 Boeing 707’s cargo configurationQuantity 18 Mirage F1 AircraftQuantity 12 Cheetah AircraftQuantity 10 Oryx HelicoptersQuantity 9 Impala MK1 (MB326) Dual (sic)Quantity 3 Impala MK1 (MB326) SingleCan...
New Hawk flies in SA
General
BAE Systems recently disclosed that the South African Hawk New Demonstrator Aircraft flew for the first time with the Rolls-Royce Turbomeca Adour Mk 951 engine on 27 May. The sortie, at the South African Air Force's (SAAF's) Test Flight and D...
Further info on Oryx crash
General
Further to the Oryx crash yesterday at Durban, it has been rumoured that the Oryx was doing vectored ILS's at FADN and had already been flying for quite a while.The following was obtained via a pilot internet chat group:"He was +- 10nm miles...
SAAF chopper crash - crew safe
General
The SA Air Force said on Thursday one of its fleet of Denel Oryx medium transport helicopters had crash-landed at Durban International Airport.Lieutenant Ronald Maseko said there was no deaths, only minor injuries.The 15 Squadron helicopter's cre...
SA Navy, Air Force conduct first-ever joint exercise
General
For the first time ever, the navy and air force will conduct a joint annual combat preparation exercise, known as Operation Red Lion.Members from the medical health services are also participating.Nine ships, a submarine, fighter aircraft, helicopter...
Poor pilots irk instructors
General
Erika GibsonPretoria - There is dissatisfaction over the training of pilots at the air force's Central Flight School in Langebaan after recommendations to suspend the training of four students were set aside by senior officials three times.Despit...
