NEWS & EVENTS - GENERAL
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.
5 July 2020
Hercules in runway excursion at AFB Ysterplaat
General
A South African Air Force (SAAF) C-130BZ Hercules taxied off the runway at AFB Ysterplaat on Sunday morning.
30 June 2020
AAD postponed to 2022
General
This year's edition of the Africa Aerospace and Defence (AAD) show has been "deferred" to 2022 due to the coronavirus pandemic, the exhibition organisers have announced.
25 June 2020
SANDF facing another tough defence budget vote
General
The South African Department of Defence is facing more bad news in terms of its budget allocation. Although it has been granted an additional R2.8 billion for 2020/21, R1.2 billion has been suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic and R4 billion of the d
25 June 2020
Silver Falcons take a pause
General
The South African Air Force's Silver Falcons aerobatic display team is taking a break from all air shows and events primarily due to the coronavirus pandemic, and will resume training at a later date.
19 June 2020
Aerial component of Op Corona border safeguarding totally neglected
General
The South African National Defence Force's (SANDF's) Joint Operations division has stated that safeguarding South Africa's air borders has been totally neglected due to insufficient funding, and called for more to be done under Operation Corona.
12 June 2020
15 Squadron moving to King Shaka International Airport
General
According to the Defence Works Formation (DWF) annual management plan presentation to Parliament, the relocation of 15 Squadron will happen, but it is still not clear when this will take place.
10 June 2020
Coronavirus puts SAAF HQ temporarily out of service
General
The Chief of the South African Air Force (SAAF), Lieutenant General Fabian Msimang, has temporarily withdrawn SAAF headquarters in Dequar Road, Pretoria, from service due to coronavirus cases being recorded there.
27 May 2020
44 Squadron working with what's available
General
As with other SAAF units, 44 Squadron is faced with what is euphemistically termed "challenges" and in its particular case this is having to perform up to nine different taskings with only two aircraft at its disposal and with only one serviceable.
22 May 2020
SAAF Herc still languishing outside at Goma
General
Hercules C-130BZ (registration 403) is currently a coronavirus victim and has not been moved from where it unceremoniously stopped after a runway excursion in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) early in January.
14 May 2020
Bleak medium transport status at SAAF
General
This is an important year for the SA Air Force (SAAF), which marks its centenary. However, the SAAF is currently facing a shortage of airlift capacity.
13 May 2020
Two more Gripen pilots for the SAAF
General
The South African Air Force (SAAF) is getting two more pilots for its Gripen fighters, including the first South African-born Indian Gripen pilot.
8 May 2020
SAAF Oryx rescues another seafarer off KZN coast
General
A South African Air Force (SAAF) Oryx helicopter from Durban's 15 Squadron has medically evacuated a sick passenger off a ship along the Durban coastline.
21 April 2020
SAAF Hercules suffers nose wheel collapse (Updated)
General
The South African Air Force (SAAF) has confirmed that one of its C-130 Hercules aircraft stationed at AFB Waterkloof was involved in an incident today whilst the aircraft was stationary.
21 April 2020
SAAF Hercules in nose wheel collapse?
General
Unconfirmed reports indicate a SAAF C-130BZ Hercules having suffered a nose wheel collapse.
16 April 2020
Airforce and Navy support COVID-19 lockdown efforts
General
The South African Air Force (SAAF) and the SA Navy (SAN) is playing a vital role in assisting the efforts to combat and contain the spread of COVID-19 Coronavirus during the national lockdown.
1 April 2020
SAAF rescues aviation enthusiasts with virtual airshows
General
The South African Air Force (SAAF) has come to the rescue of aviation enthusiasts throughout South Africa who, whilst in Covid-19 lockdown, are suffering withdrawal symptoms.
19 March 2020
SAAF Museum airshow is a coronavirus casualty
General
This year's SA Air Force (SAAF) Museum airshow is a major casualty – defence-wise – of the coronavirus pandemic.
17 March 2020
AFB Ysterplaat fire section helps stop Table Mountain blaze
General
Cape Town's SA Air Force (SAAF) base at Ysterplaat put in extra effort at the weekend as fire hit Table Mountain with a team from the base's fire section putting down more than 30 000 litres of water in a nine hour period.
13 March 2020
Crash-landed SAAF C-130 remains on edge of Goma runway
General
The C-130BZ Hercules transport aircraft of the South African Air Force (SAAF) that crash-landed at Goma airport in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in January remains on the edge of the runway nearly three months after the incident.
12 March 2020
SA pilots and aircraft continue to dominate DRC airspace
General
South African air support for the FIB comes in the form of C-130 Hercules transport aircraft, three Oryx transport helicopters and three Rooivalk attack helicopters.
26 February 2020
Gate guards are part of military aviation history and tradition
General
The deployment of gate guards in the form of aircraft no longer in service is a time-honoured tradition in air forces around the world and the SA Air Force (SAAF) is no different.
7 February 2020
SAAF Heli Systems is worthy Sword of Peace recipient
General
This year's recipient of the Sword of Peace, the highest operational award in the SA Air Force (SAAF), is the Directorate: Helicopter Systems.
2 February 2020
When the past collides with the present
General
The SAAF is generally accepted as having been formed on 1 February 1920. But celebrating the centenary of its founding is under intense debate. Not the actual date of formation, but whether something
31 January 2020
South Africa lacking in maritime search and rescue capabilities
General
South Africa is one of six signatories to a multilateral agreement to improve maritime search and rescue operations in Southern African waters.
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.
Hercules in runway excursion at AFB Ysterplaat
General
A South African Air Force (SAAF) C-130BZ Hercules taxied off the runway at AFB Ysterplaat on Sunday morning.
AAD postponed to 2022
General
This year's edition of the Africa Aerospace and Defence (AAD) show has been "deferred" to 2022 due to the coronavirus pandemic, the exhibition organisers have announced.
SANDF facing another tough defence budget vote
General
The South African Department of Defence is facing more bad news in terms of its budget allocation. Although it has been granted an additional R2.8 billion for 2020/21, R1.2 billion has been suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic and R4 billion of the d
Silver Falcons take a pause
General
The South African Air Force's Silver Falcons aerobatic display team is taking a break from all air shows and events primarily due to the coronavirus pandemic, and will resume training at a later date.
Aerial component of Op Corona border safeguarding totally neglected
General
The South African National Defence Force's (SANDF's) Joint Operations division has stated that safeguarding South Africa's air borders has been totally neglected due to insufficient funding, and called for more to be done under Operation Corona.
15 Squadron moving to King Shaka International Airport
General
According to the Defence Works Formation (DWF) annual management plan presentation to Parliament, the relocation of 15 Squadron will happen, but it is still not clear when this will take place.
Coronavirus puts SAAF HQ temporarily out of service
General
The Chief of the South African Air Force (SAAF), Lieutenant General Fabian Msimang, has temporarily withdrawn SAAF headquarters in Dequar Road, Pretoria, from service due to coronavirus cases being recorded there.
44 Squadron working with what's available
General
As with other SAAF units, 44 Squadron is faced with what is euphemistically termed "challenges" and in its particular case this is having to perform up to nine different taskings with only two aircraft at its disposal and with only one serviceable.
SAAF Herc still languishing outside at Goma
General
Hercules C-130BZ (registration 403) is currently a coronavirus victim and has not been moved from where it unceremoniously stopped after a runway excursion in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) early in January.
Bleak medium transport status at SAAF
General
This is an important year for the SA Air Force (SAAF), which marks its centenary. However, the SAAF is currently facing a shortage of airlift capacity.
Two more Gripen pilots for the SAAF
General
The South African Air Force (SAAF) is getting two more pilots for its Gripen fighters, including the first South African-born Indian Gripen pilot.
SAAF Oryx rescues another seafarer off KZN coast
General
A South African Air Force (SAAF) Oryx helicopter from Durban's 15 Squadron has medically evacuated a sick passenger off a ship along the Durban coastline.
SAAF Hercules suffers nose wheel collapse (Updated)
General
The South African Air Force (SAAF) has confirmed that one of its C-130 Hercules aircraft stationed at AFB Waterkloof was involved in an incident today whilst the aircraft was stationary.
SAAF Hercules in nose wheel collapse?
General
Unconfirmed reports indicate a SAAF C-130BZ Hercules having suffered a nose wheel collapse.
Airforce and Navy support COVID-19 lockdown efforts
General
The South African Air Force (SAAF) and the SA Navy (SAN) is playing a vital role in assisting the efforts to combat and contain the spread of COVID-19 Coronavirus during the national lockdown.
SAAF rescues aviation enthusiasts with virtual airshows
General
The South African Air Force (SAAF) has come to the rescue of aviation enthusiasts throughout South Africa who, whilst in Covid-19 lockdown, are suffering withdrawal symptoms.
SAAF Museum airshow is a coronavirus casualty
General
This year's SA Air Force (SAAF) Museum airshow is a major casualty – defence-wise – of the coronavirus pandemic.
AFB Ysterplaat fire section helps stop Table Mountain blaze
General
Cape Town's SA Air Force (SAAF) base at Ysterplaat put in extra effort at the weekend as fire hit Table Mountain with a team from the base's fire section putting down more than 30 000 litres of water in a nine hour period.
Crash-landed SAAF C-130 remains on edge of Goma runway
General
The C-130BZ Hercules transport aircraft of the South African Air Force (SAAF) that crash-landed at Goma airport in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in January remains on the edge of the runway nearly three months after the incident.
SA pilots and aircraft continue to dominate DRC airspace
General
South African air support for the FIB comes in the form of C-130 Hercules transport aircraft, three Oryx transport helicopters and three Rooivalk attack helicopters.
Gate guards are part of military aviation history and tradition
General
The deployment of gate guards in the form of aircraft no longer in service is a time-honoured tradition in air forces around the world and the SA Air Force (SAAF) is no different.
SAAF Heli Systems is worthy Sword of Peace recipient
General
This year's recipient of the Sword of Peace, the highest operational award in the SA Air Force (SAAF), is the Directorate: Helicopter Systems.
When the past collides with the present
General
The SAAF is generally accepted as having been formed on 1 February 1920. But celebrating the centenary of its founding is under intense debate. Not the actual date of formation, but whether something
South Africa lacking in maritime search and rescue capabilities
General
South Africa is one of six signatories to a multilateral agreement to improve maritime search and rescue operations in Southern African waters.
