NEWS & EVENTS - PERSONNEL
13 May 2020
Two more Gripen pilots for the SAAF
Personnel
The South African Air Force (SAAF) is getting two more pilots for its Gripen fighters, including the first South African-born Indian Gripen pilot.
11 December 2019
Newly minted SAAF pilots get their wings
Personnel
The South African Air Force (SAAF) has 12 new pilots in its ranks, after a Wings Parade at Air Force Base Langebaanweg in the Western Cape last week.
26 August 2019
SAAF graduates 44 new maintenance technicians
Personnel
The South African Air Force (SAAF) has graduated 44 new artisans, who will help address the skills shortage facing the airborne arm of service.
28 May 2019
19 Squadron Oryx pilot nominated for top UN peacekeeping medal
Personnel
The phrases "remarkable courage" and "extraordinary threat" written by no less a person than the UN Secretary-General do not affect the man they were written for. Just the opposite, he was doing his job and that it meant coming under enemy fire was part o
21 May 2019
Former SAAF Chief Denis Earp dies
Personnel
A former chief of the SA Air Force (SAAF), retired Lieutenant General Denis Earp, died in 1 Military Hospital on Sunday night hours after attending two memorial services.
12 February 2019
ThoroughTec delivering more simulators to the SANDF
Personnel
South African simulation house ThoroughTec Simulation is delivering simulators to the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) as part of several broader equipment acquisition programmes. These include Tactical Crew Training Simulators forthe Army's B
10 December 2018
SAAF pilot numbers boosted by 17
Personnel
The SA Air Force (SAAF) has 17 newly minted pilots in its ranks, along with 10 new navigators and flight engineers.
1 November 2018
Reserves to be "classified" for better utilisation
Personnel
The revamp of the Reserve Force service system will see changes for South Africa's part-time soldiers with among others, a classification system creating different levels of soldier.
2 October 2018
SANDF officer falls to his death during training demonstration
Personnel
An investigation has been launched into the circumstances leading up to the death of a Sergeant who fell out of a helicopter during a roping demonstration at the weekend.
27 September 2018
SAAF CHU medal parade in DR Congo
Personnel
The cloud hanging over the future of the SAAF composite helicopter unit (CHU) deployed in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) was nowhere to be seen during a medal parade this month addressed by the MONUSCO Force Commander.
11 July 2018
SANDF denies suspension of SAAF Chief - Media Statement
Personnel
The Chief of the South African Air Force, Lieutenant General Fabian Zimpande Msimang is not on suspension.
10 July 2018
SAAF Chief apparently suspended – no comment from SANDF
Personnel
SA Air Force (SAAF) Chief Lieutenant General Zakes Msimang is apparently on special leave after being suspended from duty.
13 April 2018
SAAF adds new maintenance technicians
Personnel
The South African Air Force (SAAF) has added new aircraft maintenance technicians to its ranks, with 65 artisans being reclassified during a passing out parade this morning.
8 February 2018
DRC Rooivalks notch up a first
Personnel
Now in its fifth year of deployment with the UN Force Intervention Brigade (FIB) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a pair of Rooivalk combat support helicopters notched up a first when manned by all-black crews on an escort mission.
9 January 2018
New leadership at Cape airbases and squadrons (Updated)
Personnel
Two of the three South African Air Force bases located in the Western Cape province have received new commanding officers: AFB Overberg and AFB Ysterplaat.
15 November 2017
Silver Falcons 50th anniversary getting ever closer
Personnel
Silver Falcon number one, Commandant (Colonel) Chris Prins, is no longer alive and sadly, cannot be part of the SA Air Force (SAAF) aerobatic team's 50th anniversary at AFB Langebaanweg on November 24.
29 September 2017
Final Western Cape medal parade of 2017 held
Personnel
The third and final Chief of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) medal parade held in the Western Cape during 2017 took place at the Naval Base Simon's Town Martello Sports Grounds on Friday September 29, 2017.
18 August 2017
Passing out parade at 68 Air School
Personnel
What is now termed an "artisan reclassification passing out parade" is today seeing the ranks of the SA Air Force's technical staff boosted by 50.
21 May 2017
SAAF salutes its heroes at annual memorial
Personnel
The South African Air Force and the Air Force Association have paid tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice at the annual memorial service on Bays Hill at Valhalla outside Pretoria.
7 May 2017
Ysterplaat honours the fallen
Personnel
AFB Ysterplaat held its annual Air Force Memorial Service on 5 May at which the Airforce Base not only recalled those serving members who lost their lives during the previous year, but the memory of thousands of SAAF members who made the ultimate sacrific
4 April 2017
Transformation amongst highlights of 28 Squadron
Personnel
The qualifying of the first black female C-130 Hercules commander is one of the transformation highlights emphasised by the SAAF regarding 28 Squadron.
8 March 2017
Women rule at AFB Zwartkop
Personnel
A change of command parade at AFB Zwartkop means the SA Air Force's oldest base now has a woman officer commanding for the first time with another woman taking charge of the base's lone operational squadron.
7 February 2017
SAAF sending members to military academy in the United States
Personnel
The South Africa Air Force (SAAF) will send 60 of its members to the United States every year to train at the military academy there.
4 February 2017
Makhado pilot celebrates his 1 000 hour milestone
Personnel
One of AFB Makhado's fighter pilots recently celebrated a special milestone in his career.
4 February 2017
SAAF holds Prestige Day ceremony
Personnel
The South African Air Force (SAAF) hosted its Prestige Day parade at Air Force Base Waterkloof today, during which Air Force Base Bloemspruit was named the most prestigious unit in the SAAF.
Two more Gripen pilots for the SAAF
Personnel
The South African Air Force (SAAF) is getting two more pilots for its Gripen fighters, including the first South African-born Indian Gripen pilot.
Newly minted SAAF pilots get their wings
Personnel
The South African Air Force (SAAF) has 12 new pilots in its ranks, after a Wings Parade at Air Force Base Langebaanweg in the Western Cape last week.
SAAF graduates 44 new maintenance technicians
Personnel
The South African Air Force (SAAF) has graduated 44 new artisans, who will help address the skills shortage facing the airborne arm of service.
19 Squadron Oryx pilot nominated for top UN peacekeeping medal
Personnel
The phrases "remarkable courage" and "extraordinary threat" written by no less a person than the UN Secretary-General do not affect the man they were written for. Just the opposite, he was doing his job and that it meant coming under enemy fire was part o
Former SAAF Chief Denis Earp dies
Personnel
A former chief of the SA Air Force (SAAF), retired Lieutenant General Denis Earp, died in 1 Military Hospital on Sunday night hours after attending two memorial services.
ThoroughTec delivering more simulators to the SANDF
Personnel
South African simulation house ThoroughTec Simulation is delivering simulators to the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) as part of several broader equipment acquisition programmes. These include Tactical Crew Training Simulators forthe Army's B
SAAF pilot numbers boosted by 17
Personnel
The SA Air Force (SAAF) has 17 newly minted pilots in its ranks, along with 10 new navigators and flight engineers.
Reserves to be "classified" for better utilisation
Personnel
The revamp of the Reserve Force service system will see changes for South Africa's part-time soldiers with among others, a classification system creating different levels of soldier.
SANDF officer falls to his death during training demonstration
Personnel
An investigation has been launched into the circumstances leading up to the death of a Sergeant who fell out of a helicopter during a roping demonstration at the weekend.
SAAF CHU medal parade in DR Congo
Personnel
The cloud hanging over the future of the SAAF composite helicopter unit (CHU) deployed in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) was nowhere to be seen during a medal parade this month addressed by the MONUSCO Force Commander.
SANDF denies suspension of SAAF Chief - Media Statement
Personnel
The Chief of the South African Air Force, Lieutenant General Fabian Zimpande Msimang is not on suspension.
SAAF Chief apparently suspended – no comment from SANDF
Personnel
SA Air Force (SAAF) Chief Lieutenant General Zakes Msimang is apparently on special leave after being suspended from duty.
SAAF adds new maintenance technicians
Personnel
The South African Air Force (SAAF) has added new aircraft maintenance technicians to its ranks, with 65 artisans being reclassified during a passing out parade this morning.
DRC Rooivalks notch up a first
Personnel
Now in its fifth year of deployment with the UN Force Intervention Brigade (FIB) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a pair of Rooivalk combat support helicopters notched up a first when manned by all-black crews on an escort mission.
New leadership at Cape airbases and squadrons (Updated)
Personnel
Two of the three South African Air Force bases located in the Western Cape province have received new commanding officers: AFB Overberg and AFB Ysterplaat.
Silver Falcons 50th anniversary getting ever closer
Personnel
Silver Falcon number one, Commandant (Colonel) Chris Prins, is no longer alive and sadly, cannot be part of the SA Air Force (SAAF) aerobatic team's 50th anniversary at AFB Langebaanweg on November 24.
Final Western Cape medal parade of 2017 held
Personnel
The third and final Chief of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) medal parade held in the Western Cape during 2017 took place at the Naval Base Simon's Town Martello Sports Grounds on Friday September 29, 2017.
Passing out parade at 68 Air School
Personnel
What is now termed an "artisan reclassification passing out parade" is today seeing the ranks of the SA Air Force's technical staff boosted by 50.
SAAF salutes its heroes at annual memorial
Personnel
The South African Air Force and the Air Force Association have paid tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice at the annual memorial service on Bays Hill at Valhalla outside Pretoria.
Ysterplaat honours the fallen
Personnel
AFB Ysterplaat held its annual Air Force Memorial Service on 5 May at which the Airforce Base not only recalled those serving members who lost their lives during the previous year, but the memory of thousands of SAAF members who made the ultimate sacrific
Transformation amongst highlights of 28 Squadron
Personnel
The qualifying of the first black female C-130 Hercules commander is one of the transformation highlights emphasised by the SAAF regarding 28 Squadron.
Women rule at AFB Zwartkop
Personnel
A change of command parade at AFB Zwartkop means the SA Air Force's oldest base now has a woman officer commanding for the first time with another woman taking charge of the base's lone operational squadron.
SAAF sending members to military academy in the United States
Personnel
The South Africa Air Force (SAAF) will send 60 of its members to the United States every year to train at the military academy there.
Makhado pilot celebrates his 1 000 hour milestone
Personnel
One of AFB Makhado's fighter pilots recently celebrated a special milestone in his career.
SAAF holds Prestige Day ceremony
Personnel
The South African Air Force (SAAF) hosted its Prestige Day parade at Air Force Base Waterkloof today, during which Air Force Base Bloemspruit was named the most prestigious unit in the SAAF.
