South Africa Appoints New Air Force Chief

The South African National Defence Force, has appointed Maj-Gen Fabian Msimang as a new chief of the Air Force, The Tide source said.

Msimang is expected to move into the new seat as Air Force chief on October 1  taking over from  Lt. Gen. Carlo Gagiano who has been the chief of the Air Force since March, 2005.

He was the fifth chief of the Air Force since the democratic government was established in 1994, and 21st since the South African Air Force was founded in 1920.

As an operational pilot with inland and maritime helicopter squadrons, he has a rich experience of flying helicopters of Soviet-made Mi-8 and Mi-25.

Msimang once received his training for the helicopter flying in the former Soviet Republic of Kyrgyzstan from 1986 to 1991.

As a cadet of the senior staff course, he studied at Italian Air Force War College in 2002, followed by attending the joint senior command and staff program course at South African National War College in the administrative capital of Pretoria.

He once saw combat in Angola in 1986. In November 2010, he was appointed as Chief Director of Air Policy and Plans with the promotion to the rank of major general, responsible for planning the air strategy and policies.

The South African Air Force is the world’s second oldest air force, consisting of fighters, attackers, transport aircraft and helicopters.