From:
www.saiarforce.co.za ( saaf unofficial website)
5 August 2002:
SA Air Force may lease bases for civilian use
IN THE face of increasing budgetary pressure, the SA Air Force is considering extensive plans to partly lease some of its bases for civilian use. Under the plans, prompted by the rising cost of spares and fuel, the Air Force base at Hoedspruit, would become the port of entry for foreign tourists visiting the game parks in the lowveld. Should Hoedspruit obtain a license, this would dash the hopes of Polokwane, previously known as Pietersburg, and Nelspruit, which have been vying to become the gateway to the lowveld.
The chief of the Air Force, Lt. Gen Roelf Beukes gave indications of the plans at a briefing in Louis Trichardt on Friday. He said a "mindset" change was required in the organisation on the "couse" of facilities. The Air Force will ask for proposals from the private sector for the use of its Ysterplaat base, near Cape Town International Airport, within a month. With traffic at the airport expected to triple over the next five to ten years, it could become the city's airport for domestic flights, while larger planes on longer distance flights would use the international airport.
Talks are underway with SA Airways on the use of air bases at Langebaanweg and Bredasdorp in the event of flights having to be diverted from Cape Town International, and the use of Waterkloof in the case of the temporary closure of Johannesburg International Airport. Due to opposition from the local community, the use of Waterkloof as a civilian airport has been ruled out. The Air Force is also considering the joint-training of traffic controllers and mechanics with those from the private sector.
Brig- Gen Themba Ntsimande, the Air Force's director of logistics, who has headed the planning effort, says private sector partnerships could partially cover maintenance costs. The Air Force currently shares facilities with civilian airports in Durban and Bloemfontein, and use of Hoedspruit for selected charter flights.
Business Day
