NEWS & EVENTS - GENERAL
10 December 2018
SAAF pilot numbers boosted by 17
General
The SA Air Force (SAAF) has 17 newly minted pilots in its ranks, along with 10 new navigators and flight engineers.
21 November 2018
Inkwazi flying again
General
President Cyril Ramaphosa had to wait 10 months before he could make use of the South African Air Force’s presidential aircraft for the first time.
13 November 2018
21 Squadron apparently didn’t transport VVIPs in 2017/18
General
The latest Department of Defence (DoD) annual report has it the SA Air Force (SAAF) logged 496.3 hours flying government VVIPs and VIPs.
12 November 2018
15 Squadron integral part of rescue technician training
General
The only SA Air Force (SAAF) helicopter squadron on the east coast – 15 in Durban – recently provided airborne platforms for professional rescue technicians to fine-tune their skills.
9 November 2018
“Critical maintenance events” impact on SAAF maritime patrol capabilities
General
Aircraft used by the SA Air Force (SAAF) for the maritime patrol tasking are not only in short supply - they are also more than 80 years old.
8 November 2018
SAAF can only put two C-130s into the air at any one time
General
Ever-increasing demands coupled to diminishing resources are putting what was once called “The Pride of the Nation” into an unenviable situation.
1 November 2018
Reserves to be “classified” for better utilisation
General
The revamp of the Reserve Force service system will see changes for South Africa’s part-time soldiers with among others, a classification system creating different levels of soldier.
26 October 2018
SAAF on firefighting duty in Southern Cape
General
A SA Air Force (SAAF) Oryx medium transport helicopter again showed its worth this week in a single day of firefighting operations in the southern Cape.
22 October 2018
A-Darter ready for launch
General
Denel Dynamics recently completed its V3E Agile Darter (A-Darter) air-to-air missile qualification tests, making deliveries to the South African Air Force (SAAF) a step closer.
19 October 2018
SAAF uses majority of allocated flying hours
General
In the 2017/18 financial year the SA Air Force (SAAF) achieved 81% of its targeted five thousand flying hours.
4 October 2018
Saab puts senior executive in SA to push for Gripen MS20 upgrade
General
Saab has placed a senior executive in South Africa to try and persuade the South African Air Force (SAAF) to buy into the Gripen’s latest upgrade progamme.
2 October 2018
SANDF officer falls to his death during training demonstration
General
An investigation has been launched into the circumstances leading up to the death of a Sergeant who fell out of a helicopter during a roping demonstration at the weekend.
27 September 2018
SAAF CHU medal parade in DR Congo
General
The cloud hanging over the future of the SAAF composite helicopter unit (CHU) deployed in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) was nowhere to be seen during a medal parade this month addressed by the MONUSCO Force Commander.
19 September 2018
SAAF helicopter damaged during capability demonstration
General
A South African Air Force (SAAF) Oryx medium-transport helicopter was damaged when it landed hard during an Air Capability Demonstration yesterday.
19 September 2018
Air power capability display marred by Oryx “hard landing”
General
Tuesday’s SA Air Force (SAAF) air power capability display in Limpopo was marred by an Oryx emergency landing, fortunately with no injuries.
12 September 2018
SAAF Museum Spitfire fighter project at ‘critical point’
General
The South African Air Force (SAAF) Museum project to rebuild, into flying condition, one of only two Supermarine Spitfires in South Africa has reached a critical point, requiring significant investment to be able to effectively proceed.
5 September 2018
SAAF helicopter damaged in DRC evading ground fire
General
A SAAF helicopter was slightly damaged whilst evading ground fire in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Tuesday.
30 August 2018
Falcon 50 flying again as SAAF improves aircraft maintenance
General
Efforts to get the SAAF’s VIP jet fleet flying again appear to be bearing fruit, with one of the Falcon 50s taking to the skies after some 18 months on the ground.
11 July 2018
SANDF denies suspension of SAAF Chief - Media Statement
General
The Chief of the South African Air Force, Lieutenant General Fabian Zimpande Msimang is not on suspension.
10 July 2018
SAAF Chief apparently suspended – no comment from SANDF
General
SA Air Force (SAAF) Chief Lieutenant General Zakes Msimang is apparently on special leave after being suspended from duty.
8 July 2018
It cost R1.5 million to fly Ramaphosa from Johannesburg to Cape Town
General
The promise from SAA to provide flights for President Cyril Ramaphosa is costing the government millions, according to a report by the City Press.
4 July 2018
Rooivalk remaining in the DRC
General
The Rooivalk combat support helicopter looks set to remain in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), but instead of being attached to the United Nations’ MONUSCO mission, it will apparently be operated only in support of South African troops.
26 June 2018
New SAAF transport aircraft apparently still on the cards
General
The South African Air Force will be getting new medium and light transport aircraft in the next decade, according to the Department of Defence.
20 June 2018
Armscor selling undocumented SAAF Cessna 185s
General
Six years after they were first offered for sale a tranche of unused – and undocumented – SA Air Force (SAAF) Cessna 185s are again up for sale, this time by Armscor via a tender.
12 June 2018
New boss for AFS Port Elizabeth
General
Phetogo Molawa has officially become the ultimate “boss lady” of the air force in PE.
SAAF pilot numbers boosted by 17
General
The SA Air Force (SAAF) has 17 newly minted pilots in its ranks, along with 10 new navigators and flight engineers.
Inkwazi flying again
General
President Cyril Ramaphosa had to wait 10 months before he could make use of the South African Air Force’s presidential aircraft for the first time.
21 Squadron apparently didn’t transport VVIPs in 2017/18
General
The latest Department of Defence (DoD) annual report has it the SA Air Force (SAAF) logged 496.3 hours flying government VVIPs and VIPs.
15 Squadron integral part of rescue technician training
General
The only SA Air Force (SAAF) helicopter squadron on the east coast – 15 in Durban – recently provided airborne platforms for professional rescue technicians to fine-tune their skills.
“Critical maintenance events” impact on SAAF maritime patrol capabilities
General
Aircraft used by the SA Air Force (SAAF) for the maritime patrol tasking are not only in short supply - they are also more than 80 years old.
SAAF can only put two C-130s into the air at any one time
General
Ever-increasing demands coupled to diminishing resources are putting what was once called “The Pride of the Nation” into an unenviable situation.
Reserves to be “classified” for better utilisation
General
The revamp of the Reserve Force service system will see changes for South Africa’s part-time soldiers with among others, a classification system creating different levels of soldier.
SAAF on firefighting duty in Southern Cape
General
A SA Air Force (SAAF) Oryx medium transport helicopter again showed its worth this week in a single day of firefighting operations in the southern Cape.
A-Darter ready for launch
General
Denel Dynamics recently completed its V3E Agile Darter (A-Darter) air-to-air missile qualification tests, making deliveries to the South African Air Force (SAAF) a step closer.
SAAF uses majority of allocated flying hours
General
In the 2017/18 financial year the SA Air Force (SAAF) achieved 81% of its targeted five thousand flying hours.
Saab puts senior executive in SA to push for Gripen MS20 upgrade
General
Saab has placed a senior executive in South Africa to try and persuade the South African Air Force (SAAF) to buy into the Gripen’s latest upgrade progamme.
SANDF officer falls to his death during training demonstration
General
An investigation has been launched into the circumstances leading up to the death of a Sergeant who fell out of a helicopter during a roping demonstration at the weekend.
SAAF CHU medal parade in DR Congo
General
The cloud hanging over the future of the SAAF composite helicopter unit (CHU) deployed in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) was nowhere to be seen during a medal parade this month addressed by the MONUSCO Force Commander.
SAAF helicopter damaged during capability demonstration
General
A South African Air Force (SAAF) Oryx medium-transport helicopter was damaged when it landed hard during an Air Capability Demonstration yesterday.
Air power capability display marred by Oryx “hard landing”
General
Tuesday’s SA Air Force (SAAF) air power capability display in Limpopo was marred by an Oryx emergency landing, fortunately with no injuries.
SAAF Museum Spitfire fighter project at ‘critical point’
General
The South African Air Force (SAAF) Museum project to rebuild, into flying condition, one of only two Supermarine Spitfires in South Africa has reached a critical point, requiring significant investment to be able to effectively proceed.
SAAF helicopter damaged in DRC evading ground fire
General
A SAAF helicopter was slightly damaged whilst evading ground fire in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Tuesday.
Falcon 50 flying again as SAAF improves aircraft maintenance
General
Efforts to get the SAAF’s VIP jet fleet flying again appear to be bearing fruit, with one of the Falcon 50s taking to the skies after some 18 months on the ground.
SANDF denies suspension of SAAF Chief - Media Statement
General
The Chief of the South African Air Force, Lieutenant General Fabian Zimpande Msimang is not on suspension.
SAAF Chief apparently suspended – no comment from SANDF
General
SA Air Force (SAAF) Chief Lieutenant General Zakes Msimang is apparently on special leave after being suspended from duty.
It cost R1.5 million to fly Ramaphosa from Johannesburg to Cape Town
General
The promise from SAA to provide flights for President Cyril Ramaphosa is costing the government millions, according to a report by the City Press.
Rooivalk remaining in the DRC
General
The Rooivalk combat support helicopter looks set to remain in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), but instead of being attached to the United Nations’ MONUSCO mission, it will apparently be operated only in support of South African troops.
New SAAF transport aircraft apparently still on the cards
General
The South African Air Force will be getting new medium and light transport aircraft in the next decade, according to the Department of Defence.
Armscor selling undocumented SAAF Cessna 185s
General
Six years after they were first offered for sale a tranche of unused – and undocumented – SA Air Force (SAAF) Cessna 185s are again up for sale, this time by Armscor via a tender.
New boss for AFS Port Elizabeth
General
Phetogo Molawa has officially become the ultimate “boss lady” of the air force in PE.
