Gunship
23rd Apr 2005, 10:39
At least old Carlo admits it .. Real Orca .. the way I remember him ?
From the Daily Despatch ..
Media reports that underfunding of the air force had caused the service to run down were correct, SA Air Force chief Lieutenant- General Carlo Gagiano said yesterday.
In view of recent media reports and in line with SAAF Vision 2012, Gagiano confirmed that the continued and prolonged underfunding of operational systems had caused some aircraft systems, logistic support equipment, SAAF air-base infrastructure and operational support equipment to deteriorate.
The deterioration was such that an injection of capital was required to restore these ... to a state where they were fully operational again, he said.
Gagiano told reporters at the Roodewal bombing range that the rehabilitation of the runway and taxiways at Waterkloof air-base was urgent and would cost R126 million, which he did not have in his budget but which he hoped government would provide, considering the national importance and heavy use of the base.
Commenting on the state of the C130 Hercules fleet, he said only two of the nine aircraft would continue flying until this time next year.
Gagiano said he had three Boeing 707s to provide airlift capacity into Africa. Of these only two were usually available.
“These aircraft do not, however, make provision for outsize cargo. The (Airbus) A400M initiative is truly a lifeline for the SAAF and will, together with future decisions on the transport aircraft mix, rejuvenate the SAAF’s transport capacity.”
Turning to helicopters, he said a number of factors impacted negatively on the air force’s operational readiness.
The most important was the high number of ground crews resigning. The mainstay of the helicopter fleet, the Oryx, was due for an in-service upgrade.
The delay in phasing out the Alouette III due to problems with the Agusta A109 delivery, had also resulted in an increased need for maintenance and consequently decreased service ability.
In the combat line, the SAAF currently had 12 Impala aircraft available and were flying them to their full capacity and would be phased out in September. :E (a few more accidents before being scrapped ? Should have been scrapped in 1990 !) :E
The SAAF has 29 Cheetah aircraft and had recently decided to extend their service life to 2010 to ensure a smooth handover between Cheetah and Gripen. :E (what 4 - they are finished) :E
Gagiano referred to a recent accident in which a black trainee pilot was killed. Media reports at the time blamed affirmative action for the accident.
Referring to the fact that the pilot, Second Lieutenant Ramaithe, had failed some tests, he said many other pilots had failed similar tests before and were currently operational pilots in the air force and in the country’s other airlines. :ok:
“He unfortunately got lost on a low level navigation exercise between Bloemfontein and Mafikeng and was unable to regain his bearing. I have been lost as a Second Lieutenant between Pretoria and Polokwane in a Vampire, but was fortunate enough to find my way again,” he said, indicating anyone could get lost and have an accident. — Sapa
From the Daily Despatch ..
Media reports that underfunding of the air force had caused the service to run down were correct, SA Air Force chief Lieutenant- General Carlo Gagiano said yesterday.
In view of recent media reports and in line with SAAF Vision 2012, Gagiano confirmed that the continued and prolonged underfunding of operational systems had caused some aircraft systems, logistic support equipment, SAAF air-base infrastructure and operational support equipment to deteriorate.
The deterioration was such that an injection of capital was required to restore these ... to a state where they were fully operational again, he said.
Gagiano told reporters at the Roodewal bombing range that the rehabilitation of the runway and taxiways at Waterkloof air-base was urgent and would cost R126 million, which he did not have in his budget but which he hoped government would provide, considering the national importance and heavy use of the base.
Commenting on the state of the C130 Hercules fleet, he said only two of the nine aircraft would continue flying until this time next year.
Gagiano said he had three Boeing 707s to provide airlift capacity into Africa. Of these only two were usually available.
“These aircraft do not, however, make provision for outsize cargo. The (Airbus) A400M initiative is truly a lifeline for the SAAF and will, together with future decisions on the transport aircraft mix, rejuvenate the SAAF’s transport capacity.”
Turning to helicopters, he said a number of factors impacted negatively on the air force’s operational readiness.
The most important was the high number of ground crews resigning. The mainstay of the helicopter fleet, the Oryx, was due for an in-service upgrade.
The delay in phasing out the Alouette III due to problems with the Agusta A109 delivery, had also resulted in an increased need for maintenance and consequently decreased service ability.
In the combat line, the SAAF currently had 12 Impala aircraft available and were flying them to their full capacity and would be phased out in September. :E (a few more accidents before being scrapped ? Should have been scrapped in 1990 !) :E
The SAAF has 29 Cheetah aircraft and had recently decided to extend their service life to 2010 to ensure a smooth handover between Cheetah and Gripen. :E (what 4 - they are finished) :E
Gagiano referred to a recent accident in which a black trainee pilot was killed. Media reports at the time blamed affirmative action for the accident.
Referring to the fact that the pilot, Second Lieutenant Ramaithe, had failed some tests, he said many other pilots had failed similar tests before and were currently operational pilots in the air force and in the country’s other airlines. :ok:
“He unfortunately got lost on a low level navigation exercise between Bloemfontein and Mafikeng and was unable to regain his bearing. I have been lost as a Second Lieutenant between Pretoria and Polokwane in a Vampire, but was fortunate enough to find my way again,” he said, indicating anyone could get lost and have an accident. — Sapa