Downturn helping air force to retain staff

The current economic downturn has given the South African Air Force an unlikely benefit, far fewer staff members than expected have left the force for greener pastures.

The air force routinely loses pilots and technicians to the private sector, including in the Middle East and Australia.

However, chief of the air force Lt Gen Carlo Gagiano said yesterday that the organisation is experiencing a decline in the rate of skills loss. So far this year, the air force has lost less than a third of the staff normally lost during a financial year.

While recent salary improvements have helped, much of this is due to the tough job market, where the effects of the recession are still being felt. This has also affected the air force's forecast on staff losses.

"In terms of budgeting for personnel this year, we were caught by surprise: at this stage we have 400 more people than we anticipated," Lt-Gen Gagiano said.

But he said the fear is that economic recovery will again hinder the air force's ability to retain staff.

"You will understand that there are job losses across the country; jobs are not that readily available, so people do tend to hang on a little bit," he said.

Brig-Gen Wiseman Mbambo blamed the skills demand on the closure of many US private flight schools after the terrorist attacks of 2001. That forced Middle Eastern states dependent on those schools to look elsewhere for skills.

Lt-Gen Gagiano said the air force also needs to replace its ageing transport aircraft, many of which are decades old.

That includes the two Falcon 50 executive jets used as VIP transport aircraft, which were acquired second-hand.

A needs assessment is under way and will be presented to the government. But due to financial constraints, the air force's strategy is to replace aircraft in "twos and threes", rather than attempting to replace an entire fleet.

Although in November the government cancelled an order for eight Airbus A400M aircraft due to cost overruns, the air force still requires a "strategic lifter".

Various options are under consideration, including going the second-hand route.

The ageing transport fleet is already drawing sales agents to the air force.

"We are basically overwhelmed by companies that want to speak to us, that want to show us their products," Lt-Gen Gagiano said.

Source: Business Day