SAAF Grounds Oryx due to Budget Restrictions

Lieutenant-General Roelf Beukes, Chief of the Air Force, ordered the grounding this week after the Air Force had tried in vain to get hold of the promised compensation from other State departments, donor countries and world aid organisations for emergency hours flown during recent emergency rescues.

The loss of the Oryx helicopters, which will stop flying for an indefinite period from July 1, means that South Africa has no rescue capabilities if crises such as veld fires or ocean disasters arise.

The only other Air Force helicopters are the Alouettes, of which most are grounded due to a lack of spares, and the BKZ117's, which are stationed in Durban and Port Elizabeth. Not one of these helicopters can perform the same role as the Oryx.

All 50 Oryx helicopters stationed at 17 Squadron outside Pretoria, 22 Squadron in Cape Town, 19 Squadron in Louis Trichardt and at the helicopter flying school at Bloemfontein, will be withdrawn from duty.

This means that the Air Force will no longer be able to assist the police with crime prevention operations. They will also not be able to assist in emergency situations such as accidents, where large numbers of injured must be transported from inhospitable areas to hospitals.

An Air Force spokesperson said on Tuesday night that due to budget stringencies the Air Force could currently not renew its service contracts or the necessary servicing of the Oryx helicopters.

"The Air Force will request the necessary funding during the supplementary budget (which will be considered in August). The Department of Defence is currently prioritising its funds to see if money can be supplied from somewhere else for the Oryx deficit".

Beeld