NEWS & EVENTS - PERSONNEL
30 May 2013
No money for pilots
Personnel
By Graeme hoskinBudgetary allocations for the crucial training of air force pilots and navigators have been frozen - but the government plans to splurge billions on a VVIP aircraft for President Jacob Zuma.The purchase is planned despite the Inkwaz...
12 May 2013
Crash pilot almost failed
Personnel
The airforce pilot that crashed an Agusta helicopter in the Kruger National Park in March had a volatile history as a pilot.
10 May 2013
Air force wings clipped
Personnel
The SA Air Force is in crisis. Its pilot and navigator recruitment programmes have been shut down and there are plans to shelve other projects.
3 May 2013
Airforce cancels new pilot courses
Personnel
The South African Air Force (SAAF) has cancelled all new recruitment initiatives for the year, including that for pilots and navigators.
3 May 2013
Five senior government officials suspended in first “Guptagate” fall-out
Personnel
Government’s bureaucratic machine has moved into top gear for both damage limitation and the hunt for culprits after the unauthorised arrival of a chartered jetliner at AFB Waterkloof earlier this week.
23 April 2013
SAAF affirmative action report slated
Personnel
A report stating the SAAFs affirmative action policy will result in nothing more than higher aircraft crash statistics has been trashed by sections of the wider community of aviation enthusiasts, writers and observers.
22 April 2013
AA could affect crash stats - think-tank
Personnel
The international military think-tank website, Strategypage, believes the SAAF's affirmative action policy will result in nothing more than higher plane crash statistics.
18 March 2013
Crisis upon crisis at AFB Makhado
Personnel
Some 50 families from Air Force Base Makhado’s Braambos residential area will be left virtually destitute at the end of this month as a result of massive retrenchment action at the base.
1 March 2013
SAAF to lose maintenance technicians
Personnel
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.
27 February 2013
Some AMG specialists will move to the SAAF
Personnel
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
Personnel
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
Personnel
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.
4 February 2013
SAAF personnel welcome new book
Personnel
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
Personnel
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
AMG contract cancellation will knock SAAF – Deputy
Personnel
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.
14 December 2012
SAAF maintenance contract cancellation costing jobs at Denel
Personnel
More than 500 maintenance specialists at Denel Aviation will be out of work following the SAAF’s cancellation of a maintenance contract with the company.
12 December 2012
Dakota crash victims honoured
Personnel
A suitably sombre Memorial Service was held at AFB Ysterplaat on Wednesday 12 December in memory of the victims of the South African Airforce aircraft that crashed last week.
28 November 2012
Lieutenant grounded for 'borrowing' plane
Personnel
A SAAF pilot has been grounded for "borrowing" a plane to visit a friend in neighbouring Botswana and an officer has been reprimanded for spicing up her uniform with hot pink slippers, the defence ministry said on Wednesday.
14 November 2012
Air Force cuts contract wings
Personnel
A decision that could compromise the airworthiness of the Air force's aircraft, including the VIP aircraft, hit the military aviation ranks this week like a bomb.
31 October 2012
SAAF flying hours not achieved
Personnel
The SAAF did not meet the required number of flight hours during 2011/2012, according to the annual Department of Defence report, flying around 4 000 fewer hours than required.
17 October 2012
Airforce hit by uniform shortage
Personnel
Airforce members have been told that they will not be issued with new ‘blue’ uniforms for the next two years.
1 October 2012
Gagiano hands over command of SAAF
Personnel
Lt Gen Carlo Gagiano has handed over command of the SAAF to Lt Gen “Zakes” Fabian Zimpande Msimang, during an impressive ceremony at Swartkop Air Force Base on Friday.
28 September 2012
Tribute to the Chief
Personnel
As a tribute to the outgoing CAF, he was flown to AFB Waterkloof during the AAD airshow on Sunday as part of a two-ship Vampire formation.
7 September 2012
Artisan training a top priority for the SA Air Force
Personnel
On 22 August 2012, 68 Air School hosted a reclassification, commission and passing out parade of the SA Air Force’s newly qualified artisans.
18 July 2012
SAAF plagued by ill-discipline
Personnel
The SAAF has acknowledged that there is \"rampant ill-discipline among members of the SAAF at most of the bases.\"
No money for pilots
Personnel
By Graeme hoskinBudgetary allocations for the crucial training of air force pilots and navigators have been frozen - but the government plans to splurge billions on a VVIP aircraft for President Jacob Zuma.The purchase is planned despite the Inkwaz...
Crash pilot almost failed
Personnel
The airforce pilot that crashed an Agusta helicopter in the Kruger National Park in March had a volatile history as a pilot.
Air force wings clipped
Personnel
The SA Air Force is in crisis. Its pilot and navigator recruitment programmes have been shut down and there are plans to shelve other projects.
Airforce cancels new pilot courses
Personnel
The South African Air Force (SAAF) has cancelled all new recruitment initiatives for the year, including that for pilots and navigators.
Five senior government officials suspended in first “Guptagate” fall-out
Personnel
Government’s bureaucratic machine has moved into top gear for both damage limitation and the hunt for culprits after the unauthorised arrival of a chartered jetliner at AFB Waterkloof earlier this week.
SAAF affirmative action report slated
Personnel
A report stating the SAAFs affirmative action policy will result in nothing more than higher aircraft crash statistics has been trashed by sections of the wider community of aviation enthusiasts, writers and observers.
AA could affect crash stats - think-tank
Personnel
The international military think-tank website, Strategypage, believes the SAAF's affirmative action policy will result in nothing more than higher plane crash statistics.
Crisis upon crisis at AFB Makhado
Personnel
Some 50 families from Air Force Base Makhado’s Braambos residential area will be left virtually destitute at the end of this month as a result of massive retrenchment action at the base.
SAAF to lose maintenance technicians
Personnel
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.
Some AMG specialists will move to the SAAF
Personnel
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
Personnel
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
Personnel
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.
SAAF personnel welcome new book
Personnel
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
Personnel
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.
AMG contract cancellation will knock SAAF – Deputy
Personnel
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.
SAAF maintenance contract cancellation costing jobs at Denel
Personnel
More than 500 maintenance specialists at Denel Aviation will be out of work following the SAAF’s cancellation of a maintenance contract with the company.
Dakota crash victims honoured
Personnel
A suitably sombre Memorial Service was held at AFB Ysterplaat on Wednesday 12 December in memory of the victims of the South African Airforce aircraft that crashed last week.
Lieutenant grounded for 'borrowing' plane
Personnel
A SAAF pilot has been grounded for "borrowing" a plane to visit a friend in neighbouring Botswana and an officer has been reprimanded for spicing up her uniform with hot pink slippers, the defence ministry said on Wednesday.
Air Force cuts contract wings
Personnel
A decision that could compromise the airworthiness of the Air force's aircraft, including the VIP aircraft, hit the military aviation ranks this week like a bomb.
SAAF flying hours not achieved
Personnel
The SAAF did not meet the required number of flight hours during 2011/2012, according to the annual Department of Defence report, flying around 4 000 fewer hours than required.
Airforce hit by uniform shortage
Personnel
Airforce members have been told that they will not be issued with new ‘blue’ uniforms for the next two years.
Gagiano hands over command of SAAF
Personnel
Lt Gen Carlo Gagiano has handed over command of the SAAF to Lt Gen “Zakes” Fabian Zimpande Msimang, during an impressive ceremony at Swartkop Air Force Base on Friday.
Tribute to the Chief
Personnel
As a tribute to the outgoing CAF, he was flown to AFB Waterkloof during the AAD airshow on Sunday as part of a two-ship Vampire formation.
Artisan training a top priority for the SA Air Force
Personnel
On 22 August 2012, 68 Air School hosted a reclassification, commission and passing out parade of the SA Air Force’s newly qualified artisans.
SAAF plagued by ill-discipline
Personnel
The SAAF has acknowledged that there is \"rampant ill-discipline among members of the SAAF at most of the bases.\"
