SAWIA S O U T H E R N A F R I C A N W O M E N I N AV I AT I O N & A E R O S PA C E I N D U S T RY
I N F O R M . C O N N E C T . M O T I VAT E . I N S P I R E
AVIATRIX PROFILES 4 AUGUST 2012 THE SOUTH AFRICAN AIR FORCE
CAPTAIN PHETOGO MOLAWA
CAPTAIN PHETOGO MOLAWA At 21 years old, Phetogo Molawa became the first black female helicopter pilot in the South African National Defence Force (SANDF). SOURCE: http://www.af.mil.za
CAPTAIN PHETOGO MOLAWA The South African National Defense Force has welcomed its first black female helicopter pilot. Captain Phetogo Molawa, 21, hails from the Free State. She displayed her flying prowess in an Oryx army helicopter to guests and defence force members in Centurion at the Third Women’s Conference in Defence on Wednesday. Ms Molawa recently completed her initial helicopter training at the defence force and is now one of only a few women helicopter pilots in the Air Force. Speaking to BuaNews, Captain Molawa said she developed a passion for flying in her school days. “I wanted to show other young women that I can do what men can do.” Asked why she chose to become a pilot at the defence force, she said: “The defence force offers many opportunities, you can be part of the rescue team, medics and many other things by being a pilot.” She urged other young women to follow their dreams.
Ms Molawa’s appointment came after Deputy Defence Minister Mluleki George announced that the SANDF had decided to increase the number of women generals, in order to attain a 30% representation. Addressing the SANDF conference, the deputy minister said the SANDF had set this target for a 30% representation of women in all decision-making structures by 2009.
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“We cannot hope to achieve women’s representation in all decision-making structures of the organisation if women are not represented in the defence management.”We need to create a conducive environment for women to make a meaningful contribution to the objectives of the department,” he said. Comparing South Africa with other countries in the region with regard to representation,Deputy Minister George said the country was “head and shoulders above most countries when it comes to gender equity in the military.””We need to build on this achievement and ensure the number of women generals increases on a yearly basis.” Earlier this year, Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota, announced the appointment of 11 Brigadier Generals and two Rear Admirals.Eight of the new Brigadier Generals were women, bringing the total number of women Generals to 25 in the SANDF. Minister Lekota said at the time that this signalled the intention of his department to speed up the development of women during the second decade of freedom. SOURCE: www.norflyger.no/luftmag/rotorwing/rotorwing200709.pdf
RISING ABOVE LIMITS A nation in the making such as ours tends to throw up unexpected milestones that naturally make the hearts of many swell with pride. These milestones reflect not only the evolution of our society but also the deepening of our democracy. One such milestone is that achieved by the South African Air Force in producing South Africa’s first black female helicopter pilot - Second-Lieutenant Phetogo Molawa. It’s a symbolic feat because it marks the breaking of another barrier that prevented black people from attaining highly specialised skills such as flying multimillion-rand Oryx helicopters. We doff our hats to Second-Lieutenant Phetogo Molawa. SOURCE: http://www.sowetanlive.co.za/sowetan/archive/2007/08/20/rising-above-limits
BELOW: Captain Phetogo Molawa, answering questions from learners at Umzimvubu Sports Ground at Mount Frere, in the Eastern Cape, over the period of 18 to 22 June 2012 - a career exhibition and force capability demonstration call of the South African Air Force (SAAF). SOURCE: www.af.mil.za/fpage_pics/Pics_2008/SAAF_Pics_03.jpg
ABOVE: ORYX HELICOPTER IN THE MOUNTAINS. SOURCE: www.af.mil.za/fpage_pics/Pics_2008/SAAF_Pics_03.jpg
ABOUT THE ATLAS ORYX The Atlas Oryx (named after the Oryx antelope) is a medium-sized utility helicopter manufactured by the Atlas Aircraft Corporation (now Denel Aviation) of South Africa. DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT Outside France, the SAAF was the largest user of AĂŠrospatiale SA 330 Puma and South Africa was the first export customer. The Oryx can trace its origins back to the Bush War. Despite the efforts of the gunship Alouette, the need for a dedicated gunship was recognized. Atlas Aircraft Corporation produced an experimental attack helicopter, the Alpha XH-1. This helicopter was used for feasibility studies and could not serve any practical purpose - this led to the more powerful XTP-1 in April 1987. Two XTP-1s were converted, and based on a Puma J airframe. Various weapons and other systems were tested on XTP-1 and paved the way for Project: Rooivalk. However, the dynamic flight components of the XTP-1 made Atlas realise what advantages an upgraded Puma could have. A 330L Puma, no. 177, was converted to Oryx configuration and used as a prototype and as the results exceeded all expectations the Oryx programme was launched. The sanctions era encouraged the local aviation industry to become self sufficient in producing helicopter components and, with the knowledge to assemble pre-manufactured helicopters, led to the technical skill for producing complete Puma helicopters, should
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the need arise. This included complete airframes and dynamic components such as gearboxes, rotor blades and turbines and hot section parts. The engine intakes are fitted with locally produced dust filters and ensure higher efficiency and reliability. It is an upgraded and remanufactured version of the Aérospatiale Puma, equivalent to the Eurocopter Super Puma, and offers a performance improvement over the original, in addition to cutting the operating costs by 25 to 30%. First examples were fitted with the latest dust filters as were then in use on the SAAF Puma. These units had a moveable auxiliary air intake on the front. A newly designed dust filter was later fitted without the auxiliary air intake. Should one of the engines fail, the remaining powerplant has sufficient power for the Oryx to complete its mission. If an engine fails in flight, the management system automatically advances the power setting on the remaining engine. This ensures the Oryx sustains flight with very little crew input, during such an emergency. The basic airframe is still that of the original Puma, but the structure was modernized by extensive use of locally produced carbon-composite materials. These materials result in an airframe that is lighter and more rugged, which increases the Oryx’s endurance and maneuverability. The obvious external difference is the new modified tailboom which is slightly longer (50 cm), than the Puma. By mid 1991, the SAAF acknowledged that the Oryx was in service, as a replacement for the Puma and Super Frelon. It was shown for the first time to the public at an open day at Potchefstroom in August ‘91. The Oryx is currently in service with several squadrons of the South African Air Force, with about 35 being in service. The Oryx is a multi-role helicopter. Its main uses in the SAAF are: medium to heavy transport and communications flights, task force rapid deployment operations, fire fighting, and search & rescue missions. It can carry up to 20 fully equipped troops, or 6 wounded on stretchers with 4 attendants, or 3,000 kg freight carried in the cabin, or 4,500 kg freight on an external sling. Tasks for the SA Navy include transport, replenishment at sea, force multiplication, reconnaissance, search & rescue, etc. Most Oryx are equipped with a 50m hydraulic hoist, rated for up to 2 personnel, for use in rescue operations. Additionally a large metal A-frame structure can be fitted in the cargo bay which allows up to 4 personnel to rappel or abseil from the aircraft simultaneously. Oryx operating from coastal squadrons are fitted with emergency flotation gear on the sponsons and nose. SOURCE: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlas_Oryx
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