THE AIRFORCE - SQUADRONS
Bushveld Airspace Control Sector
"Caeli Dominatores" (Rulers of the Sky)
This unit is based at Air Command, Airforce Headquarters.
Roles and Functions
- Execute excellent in-flight Command and Control services
- To provide a Recognised Air Picture
- Co-ordination of Military Air Traffic Control Services and the provision of Flight Information Service within designated airspaces
- To provide Combat Search and Rescue Services
- To co-ordinate the effective execution of Air Operation:
- Air Defence
- Air Mobility
- Surveillance
- Strike Participation
- Flight Following
- Flight Authorisation
Systems in use at BACS
APDS: Air Picture Display Systems are used to view radar feeds from radars situated all over the country.
GCCS: Ground Command and Control Systems are used to task and monitor aircraft schedules.
CURIS: Current Intelligence Systems are used to disseminate intelligence.RSN: Radio Switching Network provides users with the necessary radio communications.
Unit History
The design, development and establishment of BACS were the responsibly of Project Bedmaker, under the leadership of Lt Col Steve Nienaber. The Sector Control Centre (SCC ) at BACS was to be of similar design to the one at Lowveld Airspace Control Sector (LASS), with the exception of being much smaller in scale and incorporating a more technologically advanced system.
In June 1992, Lt Col Nienaber and Phillip Pretorius had the first discussions regarding the design and development of the new SCC. Due to immense costs involved with establishing BACS at AFB Makhado (the original site), it was decided in November 1992 to incorporate it into the new SAAF Headquarters building in Pretoria. In January 1993 a suitable location for BACS within the new building was found.
During the period February 1993 to May 1994, the area was modified to cater for the SCC and the Technical workshop area, as well as office space for BACS.
The installation phase of the project commenced in August 1994, with the installation of the Air Picture Display workstations. Over the period August 2004 and October 1994, 96 workstations modules were installed in their appropriate positions in the various complexes and cells of the SCC. Installations of the Radio Switching Network (RSN) took place between September and November 1994.
Other Squadrons based at Other:
516 Squadron, Combined Auction Centre, Ellisras Reporting Post, Rapid Deployment Air Operations Team 43, Rapid Deployment Air Operations Team 46, SA Air Force College, SAAF Police
Other Current Squadrons:
1 Air Servicing Unit, 10 Air Depot, 10 Squadron, 101 Squadron, 102 Squadron, 104 Squadron, 105 Squadron, 106 Squadron, 107 Squadron, 108 Squadron, 110 Squadron, 111 Squadron, 140 Squadron, 142 Squadron, 15 Squadron, 15 Squadron - 'C' Flight, 16 Squadron, 17 Squadron, 18 Deployment Support Unit, 19 Squadron, 2 Air Servicing Unit, 2 Squadron, 21 Squadron, 22 Squadron, 28 Squadron, 3 Air Servicing Unit, 35 Squadron, 41 Squadron, 44 Squadron, 5 Air Servicing Unit, 500 Squadron, 501 Squadron, 502 Squadron, 503 Squadron, 504 Squadron, 505 Squadron, 506 Squadron, 508 Squadron, 514 Squadron, 515 Squadron, 516 Squadron, 525 Squadron, 526 Squadron, 6 Air Servicing Unit, 60 Squadron, 68 Air School, 80 Air Navigation School, 85 Combat Flying School, 87 Helicopter Flying School, 92 Tactical Airfield Unit, Air Force Command and Control School, Air Force Gymnasium, Air Publications Service Centre, Airspace Control Unit, Central Flying School, Central Photographic Institute, Combined Auction Centre, Command and Control School, Electronic Warfare Centre, Ellisras Reporting Post, Joint Air Reconnaissance Intelligence Centre, Lowveld Airspace Control Sector, Mobile Communications Unit, Rapid Deployment Air Operations Team 43, Rapid Deployment Air Operations Team 46, SA Air Force College, SAAF Band, SAAF Museum Historic Flight, SAAF Police, SAAF Procurement Unit, SAAF Telecommunications Centre, School of Cookery, Test Flight and Development Centre
