SA air force future plans for maintenance a concern for Solidarity

Imogen Vollenhoven
30 January 2013
 

 Today Solidarity has raised its concerns regarding South African Air Force plans for the future maintenance of its aircraft. 

 This is after one of air force’s aircraft had to make an emergency stop due to engine problems. 

 The SAAF’s contract for aircraft with maintenance Denel Aviation/AMG ends on the 31^st of March. 

Solidarity said the termination of the contract and the loss of aircraft specialist is a concern. 

 Jack Loggenberg, spokesperson of Solidarity, said that the SAAF’s termination of its contract for aircraft maintenance with Denel Aviation/AMG and the resultant loss of 523 aircraft specialists is cause for concern since various cases of air force aircraft’s experiencing difficulties have occurred in the past few months.

Loggenberg adds that many of the air force’s aircraft are already old and must be serviced frequently.

Loggenberg furthermore at the moment there are still aircraft specialists who can do this.

However, the morale of these specialists is affected very negatively by the continuing uncertainty and lack of transparency regarding matters relating to the termination of the maintenance contract, Loggenberg said.