NEWS & EVENTS - GENERAL
7 March 2021
Wingtip damaged as airforce plane grazes building
General
A South African Air Force (SAAF) light transport aircraft damaged its wingtip whilst taxiing at Virginia Airport near Durban this past Saturday, March 6.
3 March 2021
22 Squadron fights Western Cape fires
General
Fire season has arrived in the Western Cape and the SA Air Force (SAAF) via its Air Force Base Ysterplaat–based helicopter squadron is contributing to firefighting efforts.
25 February 2021
Lion's share of defence budget goes to salaries
General
Compensation of employees (CoE) is the largest cost driver in the Department of Defence (DoD), according to the latest Estimates of National Expenditure (ENEs) released as part of Finance Minister Tito Mboweni's national budget on Wednesday.
23 February 2021
SAAF contributing to Op Ligcolo
General
Operation Ligcolo (Swazi for tree bark) is the name of the current national defence force humanitarian and law enforcement deployment with the SA Air Force (SAAF) a contributor of note in the northernmost reaches of the country.
18 February 2021
SA Air Force transports first bulk batch of vaccines to the Western Cape
General
On Wednesday 17 February the South African Air Force's (SAAF's) sole Pilatus PC-12, from 41 Squadron at Air Force Base Waterkloof, delivered the first bulk batch of COVID-19 vaccines to the Western Cape at Air Force Base Ysterplaat.
15 February 2021
SAAF helicopters to the rescue
General
Rotary-winged aircraft from SA Air Force (SAAF) squadrons in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal were major components of recent rescue operations.
12 February 2021
Joint publication planned to commemorate SAAF 100 and SAAFA 75
General
The underwhelming efforts of the SA Air Force (SAAF) to mark its centenary appropriately last year – aided and abetted to a large extent by an unforeseen pandemic and national state of disaster – will partially be offset by a SAAF Association (SAAFA) proj
9 February 2021
MSD now on hold until 2024
General
Don't bother applying for next year's military skills development (MSD) intake – it's not going to happen.
5 February 2021
SA Air Force at Work
General
Today in the Northern Cape, a CASA 212 and an Atlas Oryx have been tasked by the Joint Tactical Headquarters in the Northern Cape to assist in the distribution of eight tons of food parcels.
1 February 2021
SA Air Force Day goes digital
General
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Acting Chief of the South African Air Force (SAAF), Major General Mzayifani Innocent Buthelezi, was forced to deliver his Air Force Day address online, where he urged personnel to fight on through difficult times brou
29 January 2021
Nine Reserve squadrons available to expand SAAF capabilities
General
South African Air Force (SAAF) assets are boosted by the availability of 61 civilian aircraft via nine reserve squadrons.
26 January 2021
No SAAF Prestige Day this year
General
The "new normal" has stymied efforts by the SA Air Force (SAAF) to stage its premier ceremonial event of the year – the Prestige Day parade and flypast.
19 January 2021
SAAF misses flying hour targets
General
The SA Air Force (SAAF) did not meet its own set targets for flying hours in the 2019/20 financial year, with total hours and VVIP hours both less than planned.
19 January 2021
COVID-19 puts paid to Armed Forces Day 2021
General
There will be no Armed Forces Day/Week event this year.
18 January 2021
SAAF assists in rescue of six flood victims
General
The South African Air Force (SAAF) used an Oryx helicopter to assist in the rescue of six people who had been trapped due to flooding close to their property, in Loch Vaal, Vanderbijlpark, along the Vaal river.
12 January 2021
Long delay in 2020 SAAF pupil pilots course caused by COVID-19
General
The "blame", if it can be called that, for the delay in pupil pilots at Central Flying School not finishing their courses last year is due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
4 January 2021
No December wings parade at AFB Langebaanweg
General
The SA Air Force (SAAF) presented a pilot's course last year but those who made it will not be able to say they earned their wings in the year the air force marked its centenary.
4 January 2021
No MSD intake for 2021
General
The ongoing havoc caused by the coronavirus pandemic and the associated national state of disaster has reached as far as the SA National Defence Force's major recruiting effort with no Military Skills Development (MSD) intake for 2021.
31 December 2020
The more things change, the more they stay the same (End of year message and Review)
General
It's not easy writing these year-end reviews. It's a recurring theme over the past decade: Lack of budget, skills shortages, loss of capability, poor media and public relations. Then there is 2020 …
22 December 2020
85 Combat Flying School Conducts Air to Air Training Exercise.
General
At least 48 members of 85 Combat Flying School (CFS), participated on the air-to-air training exercise which was conducted at Air Force Base Overberg from 08 November until 06 December 2020.
14 December 2020
AFB Waterkloof management working hard under difficult circumstances – Marais
General
Air Force Base Waterkloof, once known as the SA Air Force's (SAAF) centre of transport excellence is a title the current base boss is working hard to keep, a Parliamentarian said following an oversight visit to the Centurion base.
11 December 2020
COVID-19 delays new AFB Durban build
General
Another casualty of the coronavirus pandemic in South Africa is the new air force base at Durban's King Shaka International Airport – with occupancy now expected "around the end of 2025".
24 November 2020
Construction of new Durban Air Force Base among Defence Works Formation projects
General
Construction of Air Force Base Durban at King Shaka International Airport is underway and will see 15 Squadron move there once completed.
23 November 2020
Oryx evacuates sick crewmember off West Coast fishing vessel
General
The South African Air Force (SAAF) has once again assisted the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) in evacuating injured or sick crew off vessels along the South African coastline.
20 November 2020
End of the runway for Hercules 403
General
It was, in retrospect, a somewhat ignominious end for a military aircraft that provided yeoman service over a 57-year period.
Wingtip damaged as airforce plane grazes building
General
A South African Air Force (SAAF) light transport aircraft damaged its wingtip whilst taxiing at Virginia Airport near Durban this past Saturday, March 6.
22 Squadron fights Western Cape fires
General
Fire season has arrived in the Western Cape and the SA Air Force (SAAF) via its Air Force Base Ysterplaat–based helicopter squadron is contributing to firefighting efforts.
Lion's share of defence budget goes to salaries
General
Compensation of employees (CoE) is the largest cost driver in the Department of Defence (DoD), according to the latest Estimates of National Expenditure (ENEs) released as part of Finance Minister Tito Mboweni's national budget on Wednesday.
SAAF contributing to Op Ligcolo
General
Operation Ligcolo (Swazi for tree bark) is the name of the current national defence force humanitarian and law enforcement deployment with the SA Air Force (SAAF) a contributor of note in the northernmost reaches of the country.
SA Air Force transports first bulk batch of vaccines to the Western Cape
General
On Wednesday 17 February the South African Air Force's (SAAF's) sole Pilatus PC-12, from 41 Squadron at Air Force Base Waterkloof, delivered the first bulk batch of COVID-19 vaccines to the Western Cape at Air Force Base Ysterplaat.
SAAF helicopters to the rescue
General
Rotary-winged aircraft from SA Air Force (SAAF) squadrons in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal were major components of recent rescue operations.
Joint publication planned to commemorate SAAF 100 and SAAFA 75
General
The underwhelming efforts of the SA Air Force (SAAF) to mark its centenary appropriately last year – aided and abetted to a large extent by an unforeseen pandemic and national state of disaster – will partially be offset by a SAAF Association (SAAFA) proj
MSD now on hold until 2024
General
Don't bother applying for next year's military skills development (MSD) intake – it's not going to happen.
SA Air Force at Work
General
Today in the Northern Cape, a CASA 212 and an Atlas Oryx have been tasked by the Joint Tactical Headquarters in the Northern Cape to assist in the distribution of eight tons of food parcels.
SA Air Force Day goes digital
General
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Acting Chief of the South African Air Force (SAAF), Major General Mzayifani Innocent Buthelezi, was forced to deliver his Air Force Day address online, where he urged personnel to fight on through difficult times brou
Nine Reserve squadrons available to expand SAAF capabilities
General
South African Air Force (SAAF) assets are boosted by the availability of 61 civilian aircraft via nine reserve squadrons.
No SAAF Prestige Day this year
General
The "new normal" has stymied efforts by the SA Air Force (SAAF) to stage its premier ceremonial event of the year – the Prestige Day parade and flypast.
SAAF misses flying hour targets
General
The SA Air Force (SAAF) did not meet its own set targets for flying hours in the 2019/20 financial year, with total hours and VVIP hours both less than planned.
COVID-19 puts paid to Armed Forces Day 2021
General
There will be no Armed Forces Day/Week event this year.
SAAF assists in rescue of six flood victims
General
The South African Air Force (SAAF) used an Oryx helicopter to assist in the rescue of six people who had been trapped due to flooding close to their property, in Loch Vaal, Vanderbijlpark, along the Vaal river.
Long delay in 2020 SAAF pupil pilots course caused by COVID-19
General
The "blame", if it can be called that, for the delay in pupil pilots at Central Flying School not finishing their courses last year is due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
No December wings parade at AFB Langebaanweg
General
The SA Air Force (SAAF) presented a pilot's course last year but those who made it will not be able to say they earned their wings in the year the air force marked its centenary.
No MSD intake for 2021
General
The ongoing havoc caused by the coronavirus pandemic and the associated national state of disaster has reached as far as the SA National Defence Force's major recruiting effort with no Military Skills Development (MSD) intake for 2021.
The more things change, the more they stay the same (End of year message and Review)
General
It's not easy writing these year-end reviews. It's a recurring theme over the past decade: Lack of budget, skills shortages, loss of capability, poor media and public relations. Then there is 2020 …
85 Combat Flying School Conducts Air to Air Training Exercise.
General
At least 48 members of 85 Combat Flying School (CFS), participated on the air-to-air training exercise which was conducted at Air Force Base Overberg from 08 November until 06 December 2020.
AFB Waterkloof management working hard under difficult circumstances – Marais
General
Air Force Base Waterkloof, once known as the SA Air Force's (SAAF) centre of transport excellence is a title the current base boss is working hard to keep, a Parliamentarian said following an oversight visit to the Centurion base.
COVID-19 delays new AFB Durban build
General
Another casualty of the coronavirus pandemic in South Africa is the new air force base at Durban's King Shaka International Airport – with occupancy now expected "around the end of 2025".
Construction of new Durban Air Force Base among Defence Works Formation projects
General
Construction of Air Force Base Durban at King Shaka International Airport is underway and will see 15 Squadron move there once completed.
Oryx evacuates sick crewmember off West Coast fishing vessel
General
The South African Air Force (SAAF) has once again assisted the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) in evacuating injured or sick crew off vessels along the South African coastline.
End of the runway for Hercules 403
General
It was, in retrospect, a somewhat ignominious end for a military aircraft that provided yeoman service over a 57-year period.
