NEWS & EVENTS - GENERAL
19 January 2021
SAAF misses flying hour targets
General
The SA Air Force (SAAF) did not meet its own set targets for flying hours in the 2019/20 financial year, with total hours and VVIP hours both less than planned.
19 January 2021
COVID-19 puts paid to Armed Forces Day 2021
General
There will be no Armed Forces Day/Week event this year.
18 January 2021
SAAF assists in rescue of six flood victims
General
The South African Air Force (SAAF) used an Oryx helicopter to assist in the rescue of six people who had been trapped due to flooding close to their property, in Loch Vaal, Vanderbijlpark, along the Vaal river.
12 January 2021
Long delay in 2020 SAAF pupil pilots course caused by COVID-19
General
The "blame", if it can be called that, for the delay in pupil pilots at Central Flying School not finishing their courses last year is due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
4 January 2021
No December wings parade at AFB Langebaanweg
General
The SA Air Force (SAAF) presented a pilot's course last year but those who made it will not be able to say they earned their wings in the year the air force marked its centenary.
4 January 2021
No MSD intake for 2021
General
The ongoing havoc caused by the coronavirus pandemic and the associated national state of disaster has reached as far as the SA National Defence Force's major recruiting effort with no Military Skills Development (MSD) intake for 2021.
31 December 2020
The more things change, the more they stay the same (End of year message and Review)
General
It's not easy writing these year-end reviews. It's a recurring theme over the past decade: Lack of budget, skills shortages, loss of capability, poor media and public relations. Then there is 2020 …
22 December 2020
85 Combat Flying School Conducts Air to Air Training Exercise.
General
At least 48 members of 85 Combat Flying School (CFS), participated on the air-to-air training exercise which was conducted at Air Force Base Overberg from 08 November until 06 December 2020.
14 December 2020
AFB Waterkloof management working hard under difficult circumstances – Marais
General
Air Force Base Waterkloof, once known as the SA Air Force's (SAAF) centre of transport excellence is a title the current base boss is working hard to keep, a Parliamentarian said following an oversight visit to the Centurion base.
11 December 2020
COVID-19 delays new AFB Durban build
General
Another casualty of the coronavirus pandemic in South Africa is the new air force base at Durban's King Shaka International Airport – with occupancy now expected "around the end of 2025".
24 November 2020
Construction of new Durban Air Force Base among Defence Works Formation projects
General
Construction of Air Force Base Durban at King Shaka International Airport is underway and will see 15 Squadron move there once completed.
23 November 2020
Oryx evacuates sick crewmember off West Coast fishing vessel
General
The South African Air Force (SAAF) has once again assisted the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) in evacuating injured or sick crew off vessels along the South African coastline.
20 November 2020
End of the runway for Hercules 403
General
It was, in retrospect, a somewhat ignominious end for a military aircraft that provided yeoman service over a 57-year period.
19 November 2020
SAAF helicopter squadrons top the Sword of Peace recipient list
General
Recent recipients of the SA Air Force's (SAAF) highest operational honour – the Sword of Peace – are largely confined to the force's helicopter squadrons.
13 November 2020
The SA Air Force Contributes To Exercise UKUTHULA
General
The SAAF is currently participating in Exercise UKUTHULA, with the purpose to provide support to the SA Army Students who are undergoing the Junior Command and Staff Course at the SA Army Combat Training Centre (CTC) Lohatla in the Northern Cape.
29 October 2020
Acting CAF officiates at Young Falcons awards event
General
A Young Falcons development awards ceremony in KwaZulu-Natal was the first public appearance by Major General Mzayifani Buthelezi since being named acting SA Air Force (SAAF) chief.
8 October 2020
SAAF acquisition of SAA aircraft was on the table
General
More information on the now denied sale or transfer of three South African Airways (SAA) aircraft to the SA Air Force (SAAF) indicates what can be termed "exploratory talks" did take place.
6 October 2020
SAA denies SAAF will be getting three of its aircraft
General
South African Airways (SAA) denies reports the South African Air Force (SAAF) is getting three ex-SAA Airbus aircraft, although this may be a possibility in future.
1 October 2020
SAAF chief bows out
General
Lieutenant General Fabian Zimpande Msimang has officially retired as the Chief of the South African Air Force (SAAF), with a parade and flypast held at Air Force Base Swartkop on Wednesday afternoon to mark the end of his eight years in office as the...
30 September 2020
Msimang to retire on Wednesday
General
Chief of the South African Air Force (SAAF), Lieutenant General Fabian Zimpande Msimang, is due to retire on Wednesday after eight years in the position. His successor has not been announced.
28 September 2020
South African Air Force commissions Cuban graduates
General
Chief of the SA Air Force, Lieutenant General Zimpande Msimang, bestowed commissions on South African Air Force (SAAF) candidate officers who completed various courses in Cuba at the Air Force College in Pretoria on Friday
24 September 2020
Ysterplaat celebrates Heritage Day
General
South Africa celebrates Heritage Day on September 24 each year, a day in which the cultural heritage of the many cultures that make up the population of South Africa is commemorated.
14 September 2020
Airforce Chief Salutes Local Aircraft Maintainers
General
Chief of the South African Air Force (SAAF), Lt Gen Zimpande Msimang, has celebrated his 60th birthday by expressing his appreciation and support to the men and women who keep the airforce's aircraft flying.
17 August 2020
Long distance rescue by 15 Squadron, 22 Squadron also in action
General
Treacherous weather and several hundred kilometres of rough flying did not stop the SA Air Force (SAAF) in the form of a 15 Squadron Oryx from executing a successful maritime medevac off Port Elizabeth.
28 July 2020
Crashed C-130BZ in DR Congo coming back to SA
General
The 28 Squadron C-130BZ Hercules (tail number 403) involved in a runway excursion in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in January will be brought back to South Africa.
SAAF misses flying hour targets
General
The SA Air Force (SAAF) did not meet its own set targets for flying hours in the 2019/20 financial year, with total hours and VVIP hours both less than planned.
COVID-19 puts paid to Armed Forces Day 2021
General
There will be no Armed Forces Day/Week event this year.
SAAF assists in rescue of six flood victims
General
The South African Air Force (SAAF) used an Oryx helicopter to assist in the rescue of six people who had been trapped due to flooding close to their property, in Loch Vaal, Vanderbijlpark, along the Vaal river.
Long delay in 2020 SAAF pupil pilots course caused by COVID-19
General
The "blame", if it can be called that, for the delay in pupil pilots at Central Flying School not finishing their courses last year is due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
No December wings parade at AFB Langebaanweg
General
The SA Air Force (SAAF) presented a pilot's course last year but those who made it will not be able to say they earned their wings in the year the air force marked its centenary.
No MSD intake for 2021
General
The ongoing havoc caused by the coronavirus pandemic and the associated national state of disaster has reached as far as the SA National Defence Force's major recruiting effort with no Military Skills Development (MSD) intake for 2021.
The more things change, the more they stay the same (End of year message and Review)
General
It's not easy writing these year-end reviews. It's a recurring theme over the past decade: Lack of budget, skills shortages, loss of capability, poor media and public relations. Then there is 2020 …
85 Combat Flying School Conducts Air to Air Training Exercise.
General
At least 48 members of 85 Combat Flying School (CFS), participated on the air-to-air training exercise which was conducted at Air Force Base Overberg from 08 November until 06 December 2020.
AFB Waterkloof management working hard under difficult circumstances – Marais
General
Air Force Base Waterkloof, once known as the SA Air Force's (SAAF) centre of transport excellence is a title the current base boss is working hard to keep, a Parliamentarian said following an oversight visit to the Centurion base.
COVID-19 delays new AFB Durban build
General
Another casualty of the coronavirus pandemic in South Africa is the new air force base at Durban's King Shaka International Airport – with occupancy now expected "around the end of 2025".
Construction of new Durban Air Force Base among Defence Works Formation projects
General
Construction of Air Force Base Durban at King Shaka International Airport is underway and will see 15 Squadron move there once completed.
Oryx evacuates sick crewmember off West Coast fishing vessel
General
The South African Air Force (SAAF) has once again assisted the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) in evacuating injured or sick crew off vessels along the South African coastline.
End of the runway for Hercules 403
General
It was, in retrospect, a somewhat ignominious end for a military aircraft that provided yeoman service over a 57-year period.
SAAF helicopter squadrons top the Sword of Peace recipient list
General
Recent recipients of the SA Air Force's (SAAF) highest operational honour – the Sword of Peace – are largely confined to the force's helicopter squadrons.
The SA Air Force Contributes To Exercise UKUTHULA
General
The SAAF is currently participating in Exercise UKUTHULA, with the purpose to provide support to the SA Army Students who are undergoing the Junior Command and Staff Course at the SA Army Combat Training Centre (CTC) Lohatla in the Northern Cape.
Acting CAF officiates at Young Falcons awards event
General
A Young Falcons development awards ceremony in KwaZulu-Natal was the first public appearance by Major General Mzayifani Buthelezi since being named acting SA Air Force (SAAF) chief.
SAAF acquisition of SAA aircraft was on the table
General
More information on the now denied sale or transfer of three South African Airways (SAA) aircraft to the SA Air Force (SAAF) indicates what can be termed "exploratory talks" did take place.
SAA denies SAAF will be getting three of its aircraft
General
South African Airways (SAA) denies reports the South African Air Force (SAAF) is getting three ex-SAA Airbus aircraft, although this may be a possibility in future.
SAAF chief bows out
General
Lieutenant General Fabian Zimpande Msimang has officially retired as the Chief of the South African Air Force (SAAF), with a parade and flypast held at Air Force Base Swartkop on Wednesday afternoon to mark the end of his eight years in office as the...
Msimang to retire on Wednesday
General
Chief of the South African Air Force (SAAF), Lieutenant General Fabian Zimpande Msimang, is due to retire on Wednesday after eight years in the position. His successor has not been announced.
South African Air Force commissions Cuban graduates
General
Chief of the SA Air Force, Lieutenant General Zimpande Msimang, bestowed commissions on South African Air Force (SAAF) candidate officers who completed various courses in Cuba at the Air Force College in Pretoria on Friday
Ysterplaat celebrates Heritage Day
General
South Africa celebrates Heritage Day on September 24 each year, a day in which the cultural heritage of the many cultures that make up the population of South Africa is commemorated.
Airforce Chief Salutes Local Aircraft Maintainers
General
Chief of the South African Air Force (SAAF), Lt Gen Zimpande Msimang, has celebrated his 60th birthday by expressing his appreciation and support to the men and women who keep the airforce's aircraft flying.
Long distance rescue by 15 Squadron, 22 Squadron also in action
General
Treacherous weather and several hundred kilometres of rough flying did not stop the SA Air Force (SAAF) in the form of a 15 Squadron Oryx from executing a successful maritime medevac off Port Elizabeth.
Crashed C-130BZ in DR Congo coming back to SA
General
The 28 Squadron C-130BZ Hercules (tail number 403) involved in a runway excursion in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in January will be brought back to South Africa.
