Private airlines to help SAAF?
Date: 11 June 2007
According to the Fly Africa aviation forum, the Department of Defence (DoD) has held discussion with with the Department of Transport (DoT) regarding the retention and supply of militay-trained pilot to the civilian aviation sector.
The following was noted:
- Pilots are a national resource and should be treated as such.
- The SAAF cannot continuously just supply with the private sector reaping the benefits.
- Pilots are a scarce profession.
In light of this the DoT asked the industry to help the SAAF with this national resource. The only airline that responded was Comair. These pilots will not fly the presidential BBJ, but rather help the SAAF in other pilot shortages, e.g. the new Airbus A400M, etc. The reason for this is that the SAAF urgently require glass cockpit experienced pilots for the A400M programme, and Airbus are dictating the terms and experience of these pilots. No C-130 crew allowed as the A400M cockpit is similar to the other Airbus aircraft.
Further, the SAAF are actively recruiting from their Citizen Force members who is the first that will be used. These individuals will be employed to fly the Falcon 900 and Falcon 50 at 21 Sqn.
