LEON ENGELBRECHT, Pretoria | Wednesday
THE SA National Defence Force on Wednesday said its pilot training standards were as tough as ever.
The statement follows concerns expressed in media reports that on one hand training standards were being dropped in order to qualify more pilots from previously disadvantaged groups, and on the other hand that instructors with apparent racist motives were using standards to keep the SA Air Force white.
It has been reported that several black SAAF generals boycotted a ”wings” or graduation parade at the Central Flying School near Cape Town in December last year because no black pilots graduated.
But in a statement on Wednesday, SANDF representative Colonel John Rolt said two black pilots did graduate at that parade.
A number of other trainee pilots and others of a disadvantaged background had failed, but not for reasons linked to racism. Rolt said the SAAF was committed to transforming the racial profile of its pilot corps.
He said a number of pilots came into the SAAF during the integration process from the previous non-statutory forces (mainly Umkhonto we Sizwe and the Azanian People’s Liberation Army, the defunct military wings of the African National Congress and Pan Africanist Congress of Azania respectively).
Others came from the former Transkei, Ciskei, Bophuthatswana and Venda homeland militaries.
Not all chose to become pilots in the SAAF and some were medically unfit.
Last year the SAAF decided to approach those who had chosen not to become pilots to reconsider in order to speed up the achieving of representivity.
A group of 12 were identified. Some declined and some were medically unfit. Four were eventually selected.
After evaluating their previous training, the SAAF sent them on a private pilot’s course as a refresher before scheduling further training.
Only upon completion of this further training would the four be eligible to wear the SAAF’s coveted ”wings” on their uniforms.
All four passed the private course and two passed a prescribed operational conversion course on the Cessna Caravan light transport aircraft at 42 Squadron.
One of the four failed the course and the fourth became medically unfit to fly military aircraft.
The two, one from the former Bophuthatswana Defence Force and the other from the ex-Transkei Defence Force were then adjudged fit to gain their wings.
Nine other prospective pilots failed their ground training and would repeat it this year, Rolt said. The nine are students at the Military Academy at Saldanha.
Since last year the SAAF sends its prospective pilots and navigators there to take part in a University of Stellenbosch certificate programme.
This can later be built into a degree from that institution.
The university sets 50% as the pass-mark but the SAAF requires a minimum of 60% from its students on the course.
”During this particular course a number of students from all races failed the ground school subjects (i.e. achieved less than the required 60%). Some who had achieved more than 50% finished the course and received their certificates,” Rolt said.
”Others were withdrawn. The SAAF decided to send these nine students back to do their ground school subjects so that they have at least the minimum 60% required to continue with flying training in 2003.” – Sapa