Deanw
3rd Feb 2006, 10:47
25 January 2006: Instructors must make way for Zimbabweans
The following is a (very) rough translation from an Afrikaans article that appeared in Beeld:
South African Air Force flying instructors who were transfered to and live at the Central Flying School at AFB Langebaanweg since the beginning of the year must now look for other accomodation - and pay for it themselves.
The instructors, all Captains, must, at the very least, hire houses because the available housing will be provided to Zimbabwean flighting instructors.
The South Africans, who were transferred to Langebaanweg from bases around the country, were told on Friday that there was no accommodation for them on the base.
Normally, all the instructors live on the base for free because the nearest accomodation, in the town of Langebaan, is a few kimlometers away. The Zimbabwean instructors start work at the base on 1 February.
It is expensive to hire houses because of the popularity of the holiday town. Instructors can now expect to pay around R3 000 monthly, out of their own pocket.
The base is also busy buying new vehicles to the value of R1 million, because the Zimbabweans each have a military vehicle for personal use in Zimbabwe.
Lt. Genl. Carlo Gagiano, Chief of the Air Force, said during the last wings parade at the flighting school that it is an international custom for a pilot or instructor, when seconded for service in another country, to receive the same benefits as at home.
He said that there is nothing wrong with the arrival of the Zimbabweans instructors at Langebaanweg as there was a shortage of senior flight instructors in the airforce. Gagiano said that although there was pressure on the airforce to train representative pilots, it had nothing to do with the use of Zimbabwean instructors.
The five to eight Zimbabwean instructors are all of the rank Major to Lieutenant-Colonel. They must first undergo 30 to 35 hours training on the airforce Astra training aircraft before they can commence training student pilots.
It is not known how active the Zimbabwean instructors were in the period leading up to their transfer.
The Air Force had not reacted to numerous requests for comment on the housing problem before print time.
www.SAairforce.co.za
The following is a (very) rough translation from an Afrikaans article that appeared in Beeld:
South African Air Force flying instructors who were transfered to and live at the Central Flying School at AFB Langebaanweg since the beginning of the year must now look for other accomodation - and pay for it themselves.
The instructors, all Captains, must, at the very least, hire houses because the available housing will be provided to Zimbabwean flighting instructors.
The South Africans, who were transferred to Langebaanweg from bases around the country, were told on Friday that there was no accommodation for them on the base.
Normally, all the instructors live on the base for free because the nearest accomodation, in the town of Langebaan, is a few kimlometers away. The Zimbabwean instructors start work at the base on 1 February.
It is expensive to hire houses because of the popularity of the holiday town. Instructors can now expect to pay around R3 000 monthly, out of their own pocket.
The base is also busy buying new vehicles to the value of R1 million, because the Zimbabweans each have a military vehicle for personal use in Zimbabwe.
Lt. Genl. Carlo Gagiano, Chief of the Air Force, said during the last wings parade at the flighting school that it is an international custom for a pilot or instructor, when seconded for service in another country, to receive the same benefits as at home.
He said that there is nothing wrong with the arrival of the Zimbabweans instructors at Langebaanweg as there was a shortage of senior flight instructors in the airforce. Gagiano said that although there was pressure on the airforce to train representative pilots, it had nothing to do with the use of Zimbabwean instructors.
The five to eight Zimbabwean instructors are all of the rank Major to Lieutenant-Colonel. They must first undergo 30 to 35 hours training on the airforce Astra training aircraft before they can commence training student pilots.
It is not known how active the Zimbabwean instructors were in the period leading up to their transfer.
The Air Force had not reacted to numerous requests for comment on the housing problem before print time.
www.SAairforce.co.za