Underfunding hurts airforce

2005-04-22 18:16

Roodewal - 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 on Friday.

"In view of recent media reports and in line with SAAF Vision 2012, I would like to state that the continued and prolonged underfunding of operational systems has caused some aircraft systems, logistic support equipment, SAAF air base infrastructure and operational support equipment to deteriorate to the point where an injection of capital is required to restore these... to a state where they are fully operational again."

Gagiano told reporters at an air tower demonstration at the Roodewal bombing range in Limpopo that the rehabilitation of the runway and taxiways at Waterkloof air force base was now urgent and would cost R126m.

This was money he did not have in his budget, but funds he hoped government would provide, considering the national importance and heavy use of the base.

Only two Hercules airborne

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.

"This is a setback for the SAAF in its endeavours to maximally support peace operations and its efforts to increase representivity at our senior transport squadrons."

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, he said.

- SAPA