Gunship
5th Dec 2002, 21:50
News 24 (http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/News/0,1113,2-7-1442_1294271,00.html)
Cape Town - The SA Air Force's corps of pilots are becoming demographically representative of the general population, SAAF chief Lieutenant General Roelf Beukes said on Thursday.
Addressing the 100th air force "wings parade" since World War II at the Central Flying School (CFS) at Langebaanweg, north of Cape Town, Beukes told his audience they were seeing the results of steps taken two years ago.
"The Air Force Board decided two-and-a-half years ago that the training of our air force members would receive the highest priority, and today, we are starting to see the results, with well trained, representative, quality youngsters emerging from our training institutions," Beukes told the 23 new pilots on parade.
"Furthermore, the Air Force Board decided during January this year that the flying instructors at the CFS had to be more representative. Two African instructors qualified in September this year and are currently on the staff."
Beukes said the United Sates and Algerian air forces had also offered to train a number of pilots as instructors.
Black flying instructors
"Between now and June 2003, these pilots will return to South Africa, which will bring the complement of black flying instructors at CFS Langebaanweg to a total of nine, including the first ever :eek:African female flying instructor :eek:in the history of the air force."
Beukes said another innovative idea was the introduction of a parallel tracking concept in flying training.
"Last year a student encountered difficulty right at the end of his flying training programme and he was selected for this pilot project.
"This year he followed this programme and he qualified above 80 percent in all his advanced flying aspects, and he achieved 82 percent for his final wings test.
"Today, Second Lieutenant Tim Mokoena is with us on parade, and he is commended for his hard work and perseverance," Beukes told an audience that included several foreign defence attaches.
"It is initiatives like these that are proof of the fact that the air force is serious in its objective to become fully representative in the flying environment.
"The pilot wings course that starts in January 2003 is even more representative. Out of 25 candidates, 12 are African, two Asian, two coloured and nine white, with six of the 25 candidates being females."
Intensive training
The SAAF was recently severely criticised in an internal SA National Defence Force (SANDF) Inspector General's report for its apparent lack of commitment to transformation.
SAAF spokesperson Major Hugo Weichs said it took two-and-a-half years to train a pilot to a basic level of proficiency.
The first three months consisted of basic training at the SAAF Gymnasium in Pretoria followed by another three months of officers' training at the SAAF College, also in Pretoria.
Next followed a year of theoretical and academic training at the SANDF's Military Academy at Saldanha, near Cape Town. Only the final year was actually spent learning to fly.
However, the training of pilots did not end once the pilots received their wings.
After a short break the graduates would next report for specialised training as fighter, transport or helicopter pilots.
This training could last another two-and-a-half years.
Cape Town - The SA Air Force's corps of pilots are becoming demographically representative of the general population, SAAF chief Lieutenant General Roelf Beukes said on Thursday.
Addressing the 100th air force "wings parade" since World War II at the Central Flying School (CFS) at Langebaanweg, north of Cape Town, Beukes told his audience they were seeing the results of steps taken two years ago.
"The Air Force Board decided two-and-a-half years ago that the training of our air force members would receive the highest priority, and today, we are starting to see the results, with well trained, representative, quality youngsters emerging from our training institutions," Beukes told the 23 new pilots on parade.
"Furthermore, the Air Force Board decided during January this year that the flying instructors at the CFS had to be more representative. Two African instructors qualified in September this year and are currently on the staff."
Beukes said the United Sates and Algerian air forces had also offered to train a number of pilots as instructors.
Black flying instructors
"Between now and June 2003, these pilots will return to South Africa, which will bring the complement of black flying instructors at CFS Langebaanweg to a total of nine, including the first ever :eek:African female flying instructor :eek:in the history of the air force."
Beukes said another innovative idea was the introduction of a parallel tracking concept in flying training.
"Last year a student encountered difficulty right at the end of his flying training programme and he was selected for this pilot project.
"This year he followed this programme and he qualified above 80 percent in all his advanced flying aspects, and he achieved 82 percent for his final wings test.
"Today, Second Lieutenant Tim Mokoena is with us on parade, and he is commended for his hard work and perseverance," Beukes told an audience that included several foreign defence attaches.
"It is initiatives like these that are proof of the fact that the air force is serious in its objective to become fully representative in the flying environment.
"The pilot wings course that starts in January 2003 is even more representative. Out of 25 candidates, 12 are African, two Asian, two coloured and nine white, with six of the 25 candidates being females."
Intensive training
The SAAF was recently severely criticised in an internal SA National Defence Force (SANDF) Inspector General's report for its apparent lack of commitment to transformation.
SAAF spokesperson Major Hugo Weichs said it took two-and-a-half years to train a pilot to a basic level of proficiency.
The first three months consisted of basic training at the SAAF Gymnasium in Pretoria followed by another three months of officers' training at the SAAF College, also in Pretoria.
Next followed a year of theoretical and academic training at the SANDF's Military Academy at Saldanha, near Cape Town. Only the final year was actually spent learning to fly.
However, the training of pilots did not end once the pilots received their wings.
After a short break the graduates would next report for specialised training as fighter, transport or helicopter pilots.
This training could last another two-and-a-half years.