Pilots still leaving the SAAF

The following is a rough translation from an Afrikaans article that appeared in the Limpopo Informant newspaper:

By Carina Scheepers

The silence by the airforce around the resignations of experienced pilots at AFB Makhado in Louis Trichardt gives the impression that there is something to hide.

It is alleged that almost 40 experienced pilots and technicians from the base have reigned since the end of January and many of them are on the way to Australia. The Australian airforce is apparently taking mainly South African fighter pilots who completed their training before 1998. The pilots are taken into service because of their valuable combat experience (sic).

The salary is so alluring that the airforce personnel are left with no choice but to leave the airforce and the country.

It is a big bonus for any country to obtain trained South African fighter pilots. They don't just obtain years of experience, but they also save millions in training. The picture doesn't look any better elsewhere in the country because, according to information, various commanders of squadrons around the country are also resigning and going to, or have already, emigrated to Australia.

A wall of silence has descended, despite that various officials, officers and pilots commented, but on condition of anonymity. There is a fear that the people will be victimised, as one source put it, "there is a lot of politics involved ..."

INFORMANT has battled for more than a month to obtain information from the Pretoria HQ, which has the sole right to provide official comment over the issue.

The 'politics' spoken about is probably over the racial tension on the base. White members feel that they are being aggressively discriminated against because previously disadvantaged members are apparently appointed without merit above them and/or promoted and trained as pilots.

According to information from various sources, instructors on courses are told to pass pilots from previously disadvantaged communities, even if they are not ready or qualified.

Many of the pilots, according to information from various sources, do not perform in practice and it costs millions to train new members.

The plan for the SAAF is believed to be for 75% of all pilots to be from previously disadvantaged communities. This pressure and the law on promotions are the main reasons why large numbers of white officers are looking at greener pastures - even overseas.

INFORMANT will publish any comment from the airforce should they decide to officially react.