NEWS & EVENTS - GENERAL
19 November 2020
SAAF helicopter squadrons top the Sword of Peace recipient list
General
Recent recipients of the SA Air Force's (SAAF) highest operational honour – the Sword of Peace – are largely confined to the force's helicopter squadrons.
13 November 2020
The SA Air Force Contributes To Exercise UKUTHULA
General
The SAAF is currently participating in Exercise UKUTHULA, with the purpose to provide support to the SA Army Students who are undergoing the Junior Command and Staff Course at the SA Army Combat Training Centre (CTC) Lohatla in the Northern Cape.
29 October 2020
Acting CAF officiates at Young Falcons awards event
General
A Young Falcons development awards ceremony in KwaZulu-Natal was the first public appearance by Major General Mzayifani Buthelezi since being named acting SA Air Force (SAAF) chief.
8 October 2020
SAAF acquisition of SAA aircraft was on the table
General
More information on the now denied sale or transfer of three South African Airways (SAA) aircraft to the SA Air Force (SAAF) indicates what can be termed "exploratory talks" did take place.
6 October 2020
SAA denies SAAF will be getting three of its aircraft
General
South African Airways (SAA) denies reports the South African Air Force (SAAF) is getting three ex-SAA Airbus aircraft, although this may be a possibility in future.
1 October 2020
SAAF chief bows out
General
Lieutenant General Fabian Zimpande Msimang has officially retired as the Chief of the South African Air Force (SAAF), with a parade and flypast held at Air Force Base Swartkop on Wednesday afternoon to mark the end of his eight years in office as the...
30 September 2020
Msimang to retire on Wednesday
General
Chief of the South African Air Force (SAAF), Lieutenant General Fabian Zimpande Msimang, is due to retire on Wednesday after eight years in the position. His successor has not been announced.
28 September 2020
South African Air Force commissions Cuban graduates
General
Chief of the SA Air Force, Lieutenant General Zimpande Msimang, bestowed commissions on South African Air Force (SAAF) candidate officers who completed various courses in Cuba at the Air Force College in Pretoria on Friday
24 September 2020
Ysterplaat celebrates Heritage Day
General
South Africa celebrates Heritage Day on September 24 each year, a day in which the cultural heritage of the many cultures that make up the population of South Africa is commemorated.
14 September 2020
Airforce Chief Salutes Local Aircraft Maintainers
General
Chief of the South African Air Force (SAAF), Lt Gen Zimpande Msimang, has celebrated his 60th birthday by expressing his appreciation and support to the men and women who keep the airforce's aircraft flying.
17 August 2020
Long distance rescue by 15 Squadron, 22 Squadron also in action
General
Treacherous weather and several hundred kilometres of rough flying did not stop the SA Air Force (SAAF) in the form of a 15 Squadron Oryx from executing a successful maritime medevac off Port Elizabeth.
28 July 2020
Crashed C-130BZ in DR Congo coming back to SA
General
The 28 Squadron C-130BZ Hercules (tail number 403) involved in a runway excursion in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in January will be brought back to South Africa.
5 July 2020
Hercules in runway excursion at AFB Ysterplaat
General
A South African Air Force (SAAF) C-130BZ Hercules taxied off the runway at AFB Ysterplaat on Sunday morning.
30 June 2020
AAD postponed to 2022
General
This year's edition of the Africa Aerospace and Defence (AAD) show has been "deferred" to 2022 due to the coronavirus pandemic, the exhibition organisers have announced.
25 June 2020
SANDF facing another tough defence budget vote
General
The South African Department of Defence is facing more bad news in terms of its budget allocation. Although it has been granted an additional R2.8 billion for 2020/21, R1.2 billion has been suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic and R4 billion of the d
25 June 2020
Silver Falcons take a pause
General
The South African Air Force's Silver Falcons aerobatic display team is taking a break from all air shows and events primarily due to the coronavirus pandemic, and will resume training at a later date.
19 June 2020
Aerial component of Op Corona border safeguarding totally neglected
General
The South African National Defence Force's (SANDF's) Joint Operations division has stated that safeguarding South Africa's air borders has been totally neglected due to insufficient funding, and called for more to be done under Operation Corona.
12 June 2020
15 Squadron moving to King Shaka International Airport
General
According to the Defence Works Formation (DWF) annual management plan presentation to Parliament, the relocation of 15 Squadron will happen, but it is still not clear when this will take place.
10 June 2020
Coronavirus puts SAAF HQ temporarily out of service
General
The Chief of the South African Air Force (SAAF), Lieutenant General Fabian Msimang, has temporarily withdrawn SAAF headquarters in Dequar Road, Pretoria, from service due to coronavirus cases being recorded there.
27 May 2020
44 Squadron working with what's available
General
As with other SAAF units, 44 Squadron is faced with what is euphemistically termed "challenges" and in its particular case this is having to perform up to nine different taskings with only two aircraft at its disposal and with only one serviceable.
22 May 2020
SAAF Herc still languishing outside at Goma
General
Hercules C-130BZ (registration 403) is currently a coronavirus victim and has not been moved from where it unceremoniously stopped after a runway excursion in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) early in January.
14 May 2020
Bleak medium transport status at SAAF
General
This is an important year for the SA Air Force (SAAF), which marks its centenary. However, the SAAF is currently facing a shortage of airlift capacity.
13 May 2020
Two more Gripen pilots for the SAAF
General
The South African Air Force (SAAF) is getting two more pilots for its Gripen fighters, including the first South African-born Indian Gripen pilot.
8 May 2020
SAAF Oryx rescues another seafarer off KZN coast
General
A South African Air Force (SAAF) Oryx helicopter from Durban's 15 Squadron has medically evacuated a sick passenger off a ship along the Durban coastline.
21 April 2020
SAAF Hercules suffers nose wheel collapse (Updated)
General
The South African Air Force (SAAF) has confirmed that one of its C-130 Hercules aircraft stationed at AFB Waterkloof was involved in an incident today whilst the aircraft was stationary.
SAAF helicopter squadrons top the Sword of Peace recipient list
General
Recent recipients of the SA Air Force's (SAAF) highest operational honour – the Sword of Peace – are largely confined to the force's helicopter squadrons.
The SA Air Force Contributes To Exercise UKUTHULA
General
The SAAF is currently participating in Exercise UKUTHULA, with the purpose to provide support to the SA Army Students who are undergoing the Junior Command and Staff Course at the SA Army Combat Training Centre (CTC) Lohatla in the Northern Cape.
Acting CAF officiates at Young Falcons awards event
General
A Young Falcons development awards ceremony in KwaZulu-Natal was the first public appearance by Major General Mzayifani Buthelezi since being named acting SA Air Force (SAAF) chief.
SAAF acquisition of SAA aircraft was on the table
General
More information on the now denied sale or transfer of three South African Airways (SAA) aircraft to the SA Air Force (SAAF) indicates what can be termed "exploratory talks" did take place.
SAA denies SAAF will be getting three of its aircraft
General
South African Airways (SAA) denies reports the South African Air Force (SAAF) is getting three ex-SAA Airbus aircraft, although this may be a possibility in future.
SAAF chief bows out
General
Lieutenant General Fabian Zimpande Msimang has officially retired as the Chief of the South African Air Force (SAAF), with a parade and flypast held at Air Force Base Swartkop on Wednesday afternoon to mark the end of his eight years in office as the...
Msimang to retire on Wednesday
General
Chief of the South African Air Force (SAAF), Lieutenant General Fabian Zimpande Msimang, is due to retire on Wednesday after eight years in the position. His successor has not been announced.
South African Air Force commissions Cuban graduates
General
Chief of the SA Air Force, Lieutenant General Zimpande Msimang, bestowed commissions on South African Air Force (SAAF) candidate officers who completed various courses in Cuba at the Air Force College in Pretoria on Friday
Ysterplaat celebrates Heritage Day
General
South Africa celebrates Heritage Day on September 24 each year, a day in which the cultural heritage of the many cultures that make up the population of South Africa is commemorated.
Airforce Chief Salutes Local Aircraft Maintainers
General
Chief of the South African Air Force (SAAF), Lt Gen Zimpande Msimang, has celebrated his 60th birthday by expressing his appreciation and support to the men and women who keep the airforce's aircraft flying.
Long distance rescue by 15 Squadron, 22 Squadron also in action
General
Treacherous weather and several hundred kilometres of rough flying did not stop the SA Air Force (SAAF) in the form of a 15 Squadron Oryx from executing a successful maritime medevac off Port Elizabeth.
Crashed C-130BZ in DR Congo coming back to SA
General
The 28 Squadron C-130BZ Hercules (tail number 403) involved in a runway excursion in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in January will be brought back to South Africa.
Hercules in runway excursion at AFB Ysterplaat
General
A South African Air Force (SAAF) C-130BZ Hercules taxied off the runway at AFB Ysterplaat on Sunday morning.
AAD postponed to 2022
General
This year's edition of the Africa Aerospace and Defence (AAD) show has been "deferred" to 2022 due to the coronavirus pandemic, the exhibition organisers have announced.
SANDF facing another tough defence budget vote
General
The South African Department of Defence is facing more bad news in terms of its budget allocation. Although it has been granted an additional R2.8 billion for 2020/21, R1.2 billion has been suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic and R4 billion of the d
Silver Falcons take a pause
General
The South African Air Force's Silver Falcons aerobatic display team is taking a break from all air shows and events primarily due to the coronavirus pandemic, and will resume training at a later date.
Aerial component of Op Corona border safeguarding totally neglected
General
The South African National Defence Force's (SANDF's) Joint Operations division has stated that safeguarding South Africa's air borders has been totally neglected due to insufficient funding, and called for more to be done under Operation Corona.
15 Squadron moving to King Shaka International Airport
General
According to the Defence Works Formation (DWF) annual management plan presentation to Parliament, the relocation of 15 Squadron will happen, but it is still not clear when this will take place.
Coronavirus puts SAAF HQ temporarily out of service
General
The Chief of the South African Air Force (SAAF), Lieutenant General Fabian Msimang, has temporarily withdrawn SAAF headquarters in Dequar Road, Pretoria, from service due to coronavirus cases being recorded there.
44 Squadron working with what's available
General
As with other SAAF units, 44 Squadron is faced with what is euphemistically termed "challenges" and in its particular case this is having to perform up to nine different taskings with only two aircraft at its disposal and with only one serviceable.
SAAF Herc still languishing outside at Goma
General
Hercules C-130BZ (registration 403) is currently a coronavirus victim and has not been moved from where it unceremoniously stopped after a runway excursion in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) early in January.
Bleak medium transport status at SAAF
General
This is an important year for the SA Air Force (SAAF), which marks its centenary. However, the SAAF is currently facing a shortage of airlift capacity.
Two more Gripen pilots for the SAAF
General
The South African Air Force (SAAF) is getting two more pilots for its Gripen fighters, including the first South African-born Indian Gripen pilot.
SAAF Oryx rescues another seafarer off KZN coast
General
A South African Air Force (SAAF) Oryx helicopter from Durban's 15 Squadron has medically evacuated a sick passenger off a ship along the Durban coastline.
SAAF Hercules suffers nose wheel collapse (Updated)
General
The South African Air Force (SAAF) has confirmed that one of its C-130 Hercules aircraft stationed at AFB Waterkloof was involved in an incident today whilst the aircraft was stationary.
