NEWS & EVENTS - GENERAL
12 March 2013
A dozen SAAF Gripens in long-term storage
General
Twelve of the SAAF’s 26 Gripen fighter jets are in long-term storage as the Air Force does not have the funding to fly them.
1 March 2013
SAAF to lose maintenance technicians
General
The SAAF’s air servicing units will lose 389 skilled maintenance technicians on April 1 but will retain the services of 139 specialists following the expiration of the contract with Denel’s AMG.
28 February 2013
Defence budget up, but not by much
General
Its track record of getting the job done in spite of the shortage of resources does not appear to have overtly influenced Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan in allocating funds to the South African National Defence Force.
27 February 2013
Some AMG specialists will move to the SAAF
General
About 200 aircraft maintenance specialist engineers and technicians who have been ensuring continued airworthiness of many SAAF will find themselves in the employ of the Department of Defence.
27 February 2013
New Deputy Chief of the Airforce appointed
General
Major General Wiseman Simo Mbambo has taken over the reigns as the new Deputy Chief of the South African Air Force.
7 February 2013
New Ysterplaat boss returns home
General
It was a welcome home for Col Christo Stroebel, the new OC of AFB Ysterplaat, when he took over command of the picturesque Cape Town airbase at a Change of Command Parade on Thursday.
5 February 2013
Sword of Peace for 35 Squadron
General
The SAAF's 35 Squadron based at Air Force Base Ysterplaat in Cape Town has won the SAAF Sword for Peace award for 2012/13.
4 February 2013
SAAF personnel welcome new book
General
Long-time military aviation enthusiast Dean Wingrin’s first foray into book publishing has been welcomed by retired and serving members of the South African Air Force.
2 February 2013
Ninety years of memories of the SAAF captured in new book
General
A new book on the SAAF has captured the personal history and many of the previously untold tales and experiences of dozens of airmen who served in both war and peace-time during the Air Force's first ninety years.
1 February 2013
SAAF in “good shape”
General
Financial and other resource constraints have not prevented the SAAF from successfully completing each and every task assigned to it.
1 February 2013
Drakensberg crash board of enquiry still underway
General
While the Minister might want speedy delivery of the preliminary report into the Drakensberg C-47TP crash the SAAF will be as “thorough as possible” in its investigations Deputy Chief Major General Jerry Malinga said.
1 February 2013
AMG contract cancellation will knock SAAF – Deputy
General
The SAAF will take some serious knocks due to the end of its maintenance contract with AMG, but the Deputy Chief of the Air Force is confident that the SAAF will retain maintenance capability.
29 January 2013
Mthatha airport claims another aircraft
General
In the space of two months, the small provincial airport has been associated with three incidents involving SAAF aircraft.
28 January 2013
SAAF CASA 212 a write-off
General
The SAAF has to all intents and purposes lost a quarter of its medium transport capability following a hard landing by a CASA 212.
28 January 2013
SAAF rhinos' horns treated to deter poachers
General
The SANDF effort in ending rhino poaching has moved into its own backyard, with the horns of all rhinos on and in the vicinity of Air Force Base Hoedspruit now treated with chemicals to make them unusable.
25 January 2013
Tempe accident aircraft to be written-off?
General
The exact extent of the damage caused to the SAAF transport aircraft that was involved in the hard landing incident near Bloemfontein last week has yet to be determined.
23 January 2013
Airforce defends cancelation of AMG contract
General
The SAAF has defended the cancellation of their contract with Aero Manpower Group (AMG), a Denel business unit and has hinted that a new contract may be negotiated.
21 January 2013
Air Force to put best face forward
General
The annual Air Force Day Parade taking place next week will be an opportunity for the new Chief of the Airforce to put some pride back into the airforce.
18 January 2013
Chopper crew brave elements in Berg rescue
General
WITH swirling winds battering the Air Force Oryx helicopter, Lt-Col Graham Chisholm kept a steady hand on the controls as he descended into the steepsided valley near the Sani Pass in the Drakensberg.
17 January 2013
Airforce aircraft in landing accident
General
A South African Air Force transport plane was involved in a landing incident at Bloemfontein this morning.
17 January 2013
Media release: SAAF CASA 212 involved in hard landing incident
General
Media release issued by the Department of Defence relating to the CASA 212 hard landing incident today.
16 January 2013
Air Force Day parade back on track
General
After four months at the helm of the SA Air Force (SAAF), Lieutenant General Zakes Msimang will maintain tradition and host his first Air Force Day parade on the first Friday in February. It was earlier announced the parade, one of the SAAF&rsq...
15 January 2013
SAAF has “miniscule” maritime capability
General
The SAAF's miniscule airborne maritime capability has become even more miniscule, according to defence analyst Helmoed Römer Heitman.
15 January 2013
Denel/AMG retrenchments look to be inevitable
General
The writing appears to be finally on the wall for the 528 aircraft specialists at Denel Aviation/AMG as thereis no contract or order cover beyond March 31 this year.
9 January 2013
Air Force Day parade postponed
General
The unavailability of SAAF Chief, Lieutenant General Zakes Msimang, means Air Force Day will not be marked on the first Friday of February this year.
A dozen SAAF Gripens in long-term storage
General
Twelve of the SAAF’s 26 Gripen fighter jets are in long-term storage as the Air Force does not have the funding to fly them.
SAAF to lose maintenance technicians
General
The SAAF’s air servicing units will lose 389 skilled maintenance technicians on April 1 but will retain the services of 139 specialists following the expiration of the contract with Denel’s AMG.
Defence budget up, but not by much
General
Its track record of getting the job done in spite of the shortage of resources does not appear to have overtly influenced Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan in allocating funds to the South African National Defence Force.
Some AMG specialists will move to the SAAF
General
About 200 aircraft maintenance specialist engineers and technicians who have been ensuring continued airworthiness of many SAAF will find themselves in the employ of the Department of Defence.
New Deputy Chief of the Airforce appointed
General
Major General Wiseman Simo Mbambo has taken over the reigns as the new Deputy Chief of the South African Air Force.
New Ysterplaat boss returns home
General
It was a welcome home for Col Christo Stroebel, the new OC of AFB Ysterplaat, when he took over command of the picturesque Cape Town airbase at a Change of Command Parade on Thursday.
Sword of Peace for 35 Squadron
General
The SAAF's 35 Squadron based at Air Force Base Ysterplaat in Cape Town has won the SAAF Sword for Peace award for 2012/13.
SAAF personnel welcome new book
General
Long-time military aviation enthusiast Dean Wingrin’s first foray into book publishing has been welcomed by retired and serving members of the South African Air Force.
Ninety years of memories of the SAAF captured in new book
General
A new book on the SAAF has captured the personal history and many of the previously untold tales and experiences of dozens of airmen who served in both war and peace-time during the Air Force's first ninety years.
SAAF in “good shape”
General
Financial and other resource constraints have not prevented the SAAF from successfully completing each and every task assigned to it.
Drakensberg crash board of enquiry still underway
General
While the Minister might want speedy delivery of the preliminary report into the Drakensberg C-47TP crash the SAAF will be as “thorough as possible” in its investigations Deputy Chief Major General Jerry Malinga said.
AMG contract cancellation will knock SAAF – Deputy
General
The SAAF will take some serious knocks due to the end of its maintenance contract with AMG, but the Deputy Chief of the Air Force is confident that the SAAF will retain maintenance capability.
Mthatha airport claims another aircraft
General
In the space of two months, the small provincial airport has been associated with three incidents involving SAAF aircraft.
SAAF CASA 212 a write-off
General
The SAAF has to all intents and purposes lost a quarter of its medium transport capability following a hard landing by a CASA 212.
SAAF rhinos' horns treated to deter poachers
General
The SANDF effort in ending rhino poaching has moved into its own backyard, with the horns of all rhinos on and in the vicinity of Air Force Base Hoedspruit now treated with chemicals to make them unusable.
Tempe accident aircraft to be written-off?
General
The exact extent of the damage caused to the SAAF transport aircraft that was involved in the hard landing incident near Bloemfontein last week has yet to be determined.
Airforce defends cancelation of AMG contract
General
The SAAF has defended the cancellation of their contract with Aero Manpower Group (AMG), a Denel business unit and has hinted that a new contract may be negotiated.
Air Force to put best face forward
General
The annual Air Force Day Parade taking place next week will be an opportunity for the new Chief of the Airforce to put some pride back into the airforce.
Chopper crew brave elements in Berg rescue
General
WITH swirling winds battering the Air Force Oryx helicopter, Lt-Col Graham Chisholm kept a steady hand on the controls as he descended into the steepsided valley near the Sani Pass in the Drakensberg.
Airforce aircraft in landing accident
General
A South African Air Force transport plane was involved in a landing incident at Bloemfontein this morning.
Media release: SAAF CASA 212 involved in hard landing incident
General
Media release issued by the Department of Defence relating to the CASA 212 hard landing incident today.
Air Force Day parade back on track
General
After four months at the helm of the SA Air Force (SAAF), Lieutenant General Zakes Msimang will maintain tradition and host his first Air Force Day parade on the first Friday in February. It was earlier announced the parade, one of the SAAF&rsq...
SAAF has “miniscule” maritime capability
General
The SAAF's miniscule airborne maritime capability has become even more miniscule, according to defence analyst Helmoed Römer Heitman.
Denel/AMG retrenchments look to be inevitable
General
The writing appears to be finally on the wall for the 528 aircraft specialists at Denel Aviation/AMG as thereis no contract or order cover beyond March 31 this year.
Air Force Day parade postponed
General
The unavailability of SAAF Chief, Lieutenant General Zakes Msimang, means Air Force Day will not be marked on the first Friday of February this year.
