M A Y 2 0 1 2 • S A S O L D I E R - Department of Defence

2012 review of defenceS A S O L D I E RABOVE: Fltr: Maj Catherine Labuschagne, Lt Col Lancelot Wellington, Lt Col Gys van der Walt and LtCol Frans Labuschagne from the SA Air Force landed with their Gripens at the Ronneby F17 Air Base inSweden.exercise could be measured in terms ofthe high morale of the staff. The flyingpart of the exercise was well plannedand the willingness of the Swedesto assist us was much appreciated.We are among the best in the worldin terms of operating the Gripen.The preparations for this exercise inMakhado helped 2 Squadron to dowell.”Col Venter concluded: “The SA AirForce flew everyday during ExerciseLion Effort 2012 while the groundcrew made sure that the fighter jetswere ready to be flown. We did notknow what to expect, but we cameback having acquired a lot of expertise.We will be able to plough this back athome (SA).”Maj John Matlou, one of three fightercontrollers of the SA Air Force in theexercise, said: “My work was to controlthe fighters.” He added: “I gainedexperience in controlling large fightsduring the war. The Swedish ArmedForces operate differently: they functionon slots, whereas at home we operateon single. Operating on slots can assistair traffic controllers because if onemakes a mistake, it can be correctedimmediately. We must be realistic; wecannot copy everything on account ofenvironmental differences. I learnedsomething of value, viz airspacemanagement, which we can applyin 2018 when South Africa will bethe host country for Exercise LionEffort 2018.”Lt Col Gys van der Walt, ActingOfficer Commander of 2 Squadron,who led the SA Air Force contingenton the operational side, said thatthe SA Air Force did very well. Hesaid: “The ground crew made surethat we were airborne everyday.The Gripen Users Group bondedwell during this exercise. We flew40 hours. Although the systems ofthe different countries differed, itwas not a major issue. We benefitedgreatly from the exercise.”M A Y 2 0 1 2 • 43