MoD responds to Citizen article
Date: 19 August 2009
Media statement on Citizen newspapaer article titled "SAAF CAN'T FLY PRESIDENT"
The Citizen newspaper today (19 August 2009) published a sensational story about a perceived ‘shortage' of pilots to fly the presidential jet. In this quest, they ignored a series of crucial facts relating to use of pilots in the South African Air Force that were sent to them.
The Defence Force has two essential components: the core force and the Reserve Force. Both are used by the Department of Defence for fulfilling the functions and mandates of Defence. The Reserves may take up other employment but when required, the Department of Defence has first right of call up. The example of reserve force in action would be in the Air Force, deployment of the reserve force during the recent medical doctors strike. The reserve force will also be the first one to be deployed to perform border patrol when the SANDF returns to duty patrolling our borders.
Pilots who have been trained and licensed by the South African Air Force are among the best in the world. It is for this reason that the aviation industry across the world recruits actively from our ranks. It is our view that to maintain our safety records, all pilots should start their training in the South African Air Force before they join the civilian flight operations.
In her recent Budget Vote speech, the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Lindiwe Sisulu, said the Defence Force is the best training ground for pilots.
"An example of the skills that we have been able to provide over the years is the pilot training. SAA has one of the highest standards of aviation safety in the world. This is because the bulk of the pilots they have, were trained by the Defence Force," Minister Sisulu said.
"Our partnership with the aviation sector is in line with our reserve force policies, and contributes to national and international aviation safety. In the permanent employment, of the Defence Force we have enough pilots for all our needs.
"However we do call on the reserves as an when we need them, in most of the cases they actually ask us to provide them with necessary flying hours for their necessary experience. The reserve force pilots started their career at the Air Force; they have the necessary security clearance and remain available to the Air Force and the country at all times."
