NEWS & EVENTS - PERSONNEL
3 October 2022
SAAF MSD passing out parade
Personnel
The SA Air Force (SAAF) is for the next 18 months better off personnel-wise thanks to 200 plus additional members officially joining its ranks following a passing out parade at the Air Force Gymnasium outside Hoedspruit.
19 September 2022
Lest we forget
Personnel
In a poignant ceremony on Sunday this week, the South African Air Force (SAAF) and the SAAF Association paid tribute to all South African air personnel who died in service of their country
27 July 2022
Air Force Base Swartkop hosts Mach Plus function
Personnel
New members have been inaugurated into the SAAF’s Mach Plus club, which comprises an elite band of aviators who have all broken the sound barrier while in SAAF service.
26 July 2022
From Russia with Three Degrees
Personnel
Candidate Officer Phuti Calvin Moloto, a 29 years old pilot looks forward to fully enjoying the South African weather when he finally takes leave after just coming back from a lengthy military exchange programme in Russia.
19 July 2022
The SAAF Qualifies New Instructor Pilots
Personnel
Over the period 24 June to 05 July 2022 six pilots of the SAAF qualified as Category C Pilot Instructors, after having completed a grueling, 18 month training programme at the Central Flying School, AFB Langebaanweg.
12 July 2022
CAF expounds on his “free the eagle” vision
Personnel
Current SA Air Force (SAAF) Chief Lieutenant General Wiseman Mbambo’s stated intent for the year is to “free the eagle” a reference to the fish eagle which graces the official SAAF badge.
6 June 2022
SAAF welcomes “aviation artisans”
Personnel
The injunction earlier this year by CAF Lieutenant General Wiseman Mbambo to “set the eagle free” as part of his vision for a rejuvenated SAAF found further expression at what an air force communications officer termed “a reclassification parade.”
25 May 2022
21 new pilots at SAAF wings parade
Personnel
The South African Air Force has 21 new pilots in its ranks, after they were awarded their wings at a parade at Air Force Base Langebaanweg last week.
16 May 2022
SA Air Force holds Memorial after two-year break
Personnel
The South African Air Force (SAAF) has held its first memorial service in three years as a result of the relaxed Covid-19 regulations, remembering their dead in both accidents and the pandemic.
8 March 2022
Broke SANDF spends millions to bring eight pilot trainees home from Cuba
Personnel
The cash-strapped SA National Defence Force (SANDF) forked out millions of rand on a chartered Air Zimbabwe flight to bring home eight trainee pilots who had failed their eye tests in Cuba.
24 February 2022
Defence union threatens action over 'unacceptable' conditions at air force HQ
Personnel
The SA National Defence Union (Sandu) has urged the top management of the defence force (SANDF) to fix the dilapidated infrastructure at air force headquarters in Pretoria, or face legal action.
15 February 2022
SAAF crews in the DRC receive United Nations medals
Personnel
The South African Composite Helicopter Unit deployed in the Democratic Republic of Congo held a United Nations Medal Parade.
3 February 2022
SAAF Prestige Week parade open to the public
Personnel
The SA Air Force (SAAF) is marking its formation 102 years ago, with three separate events this week.
5 January 2022
SA Air Force Firefighters assist City of Cape Town with Parliament Firefighting efforts
Personnel
Air Force Base Ysterplaat Military Aviation Rescue and Firefighting Services responded to the fire incident at Cape Town Parliament buildings.
16 November 2021
SAAF Chief on goodwill visit to India
Personnel
Chief of the South African Air Force (SAAF), Lieutenant General Wiseman Mbambo, recently completed a goodwill visit to India, meeting with the heads of the Indian defence force and its three services (Army, Navy and Air Force).
2 November 2021
SA Air Force Aviators Qualify in Russia
Personnel
A group of South African Air Force Candidate Officers completed their training and were officially awarded their qualifications on parade at Krasnodar Higher Military Aviation School, Krasnodar in Russia on Saturday, 30 October 2021.
27 October 2021
CAF reflects on successes and challenges during long service medal parade
Personnel
The Chief of the SA Air Force (SAAF), Lieutenant General Wiseman Mbambo, has lauded the SAAF for its contribution to peace and security but sounded a warning over budget cuts and the loss of the state-owned defence industrial base.
7 June 2021
Combat readiness the main priority for new SAAF Chief Mbambo
Personnel
Making sure the South African Air Force (SAAF) is combat ready is the main priority for new Chief, Lieutenant General Wiseman Mbambo.
3 May 2021
Mbambo is fifth SAAF Chief since 1994
Personnel
When he takes up the post of SA Air Force (SAAF) Chief on 1 June, Lieutenant General Wiseman Mbambo becomes the fifth commander of the airborne service of the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) since its establishment on 27 April 1994.
15 April 2021
New SAAF Chief appointed
Personnel
Maj Gen Wiseman Mbambo has been appointed as Chief of the SAAF and promoted to Lt Gen wef 1 June 2021.
18 March 2021
Pilots mourn ex-SAAF colleagues killed in Swartkop air crash
Personnel
The death of two highly experienced former SA Air Force fighter pilots in a light aircraft crash at Swartkop Air Force Base in Pretoria on Wednesday has left the country's close-knit aviation fraternity reeling.
12 February 2021
Joint publication planned to commemorate SAAF 100 and SAAFA 75
Personnel
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
Personnel
Don’t bother applying for next year’s military skills development (MSD) intake " it’s not going to happen.
12 January 2021
Long delay in 2020 SAAF pupil pilots course caused by COVID-19
Personnel
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
Personnel
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.
SAAF MSD passing out parade
Personnel
The SA Air Force (SAAF) is for the next 18 months better off personnel-wise thanks to 200 plus additional members officially joining its ranks following a passing out parade at the Air Force Gymnasium outside Hoedspruit.
Lest we forget
Personnel
In a poignant ceremony on Sunday this week, the South African Air Force (SAAF) and the SAAF Association paid tribute to all South African air personnel who died in service of their country
Air Force Base Swartkop hosts Mach Plus function
Personnel
New members have been inaugurated into the SAAF’s Mach Plus club, which comprises an elite band of aviators who have all broken the sound barrier while in SAAF service.
From Russia with Three Degrees
Personnel
Candidate Officer Phuti Calvin Moloto, a 29 years old pilot looks forward to fully enjoying the South African weather when he finally takes leave after just coming back from a lengthy military exchange programme in Russia.
The SAAF Qualifies New Instructor Pilots
Personnel
Over the period 24 June to 05 July 2022 six pilots of the SAAF qualified as Category C Pilot Instructors, after having completed a grueling, 18 month training programme at the Central Flying School, AFB Langebaanweg.
CAF expounds on his “free the eagle” vision
Personnel
Current SA Air Force (SAAF) Chief Lieutenant General Wiseman Mbambo’s stated intent for the year is to “free the eagle” a reference to the fish eagle which graces the official SAAF badge.
SAAF welcomes “aviation artisans”
Personnel
The injunction earlier this year by CAF Lieutenant General Wiseman Mbambo to “set the eagle free” as part of his vision for a rejuvenated SAAF found further expression at what an air force communications officer termed “a reclassification parade.”
21 new pilots at SAAF wings parade
Personnel
The South African Air Force has 21 new pilots in its ranks, after they were awarded their wings at a parade at Air Force Base Langebaanweg last week.
SA Air Force holds Memorial after two-year break
Personnel
The South African Air Force (SAAF) has held its first memorial service in three years as a result of the relaxed Covid-19 regulations, remembering their dead in both accidents and the pandemic.
Broke SANDF spends millions to bring eight pilot trainees home from Cuba
Personnel
The cash-strapped SA National Defence Force (SANDF) forked out millions of rand on a chartered Air Zimbabwe flight to bring home eight trainee pilots who had failed their eye tests in Cuba.
Defence union threatens action over 'unacceptable' conditions at air force HQ
Personnel
The SA National Defence Union (Sandu) has urged the top management of the defence force (SANDF) to fix the dilapidated infrastructure at air force headquarters in Pretoria, or face legal action.
SAAF crews in the DRC receive United Nations medals
Personnel
The South African Composite Helicopter Unit deployed in the Democratic Republic of Congo held a United Nations Medal Parade.
SAAF Prestige Week parade open to the public
Personnel
The SA Air Force (SAAF) is marking its formation 102 years ago, with three separate events this week.
SA Air Force Firefighters assist City of Cape Town with Parliament Firefighting efforts
Personnel
Air Force Base Ysterplaat Military Aviation Rescue and Firefighting Services responded to the fire incident at Cape Town Parliament buildings.
SAAF Chief on goodwill visit to India
Personnel
Chief of the South African Air Force (SAAF), Lieutenant General Wiseman Mbambo, recently completed a goodwill visit to India, meeting with the heads of the Indian defence force and its three services (Army, Navy and Air Force).
SA Air Force Aviators Qualify in Russia
Personnel
A group of South African Air Force Candidate Officers completed their training and were officially awarded their qualifications on parade at Krasnodar Higher Military Aviation School, Krasnodar in Russia on Saturday, 30 October 2021.
CAF reflects on successes and challenges during long service medal parade
Personnel
The Chief of the SA Air Force (SAAF), Lieutenant General Wiseman Mbambo, has lauded the SAAF for its contribution to peace and security but sounded a warning over budget cuts and the loss of the state-owned defence industrial base.
Combat readiness the main priority for new SAAF Chief Mbambo
Personnel
Making sure the South African Air Force (SAAF) is combat ready is the main priority for new Chief, Lieutenant General Wiseman Mbambo.
Mbambo is fifth SAAF Chief since 1994
Personnel
When he takes up the post of SA Air Force (SAAF) Chief on 1 June, Lieutenant General Wiseman Mbambo becomes the fifth commander of the airborne service of the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) since its establishment on 27 April 1994.
New SAAF Chief appointed
Personnel
Maj Gen Wiseman Mbambo has been appointed as Chief of the SAAF and promoted to Lt Gen wef 1 June 2021.
Pilots mourn ex-SAAF colleagues killed in Swartkop air crash
Personnel
The death of two highly experienced former SA Air Force fighter pilots in a light aircraft crash at Swartkop Air Force Base in Pretoria on Wednesday has left the country's close-knit aviation fraternity reeling.
Joint publication planned to commemorate SAAF 100 and SAAFA 75
Personnel
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
Personnel
Don’t bother applying for next year’s military skills development (MSD) intake " it’s not going to happen.
Long delay in 2020 SAAF pupil pilots course caused by COVID-19
Personnel
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
Personnel
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.
