Inkwazi

Inkwazi
Boeing 737-BBJ "Inkwazi" at Zurich-Kloten Airport in Switzerland
General information
Type	Boeing Business Jet
Manufacturer	Boeing
Status	Operational with 21 Squadron SAAF
Owners	South African Government
Registration	ZS-RSA
Radio code	LMG1
History
In service	2001 - Current

Inkwazi is a Boeing Business Jet (BBJ / Boeing 737) aircraft that serves as the primary mode of air transportation for the President of South Africa. Operated by 21 Squadron South African Air Force, the aircraft has a seating capacity for six ministers and ten additional passengers. ^[1] It cost 300 million rand to acquire and another 108 million rand to fit and decorate the interior which can accommodate up to 15 passengers. ^{[2] [3]} The jet's name means "fish eagle" in Zulu. ^[4]

Replacement tender

In November 2015, Armscor issued a tender for the replacement of the Boeing 737 aircraft. ^[2] The estimated cost of the new aircraft was between 2 billion and 4 billion rand. ^{[5] [3]} Some of the specific set of criteria included a range of 13,800 km, seating for 30 passengers, a conference room for 8, and a private bedroom and bathroom suite.

The potential replacements include: ^{[6] [2]}

• The Airbus A330
• The Airbus A340
• The Boeing 777
• The Boeing 787

However, in October 2016, Armscor announced, "none of the bids achieved a full score satisfactorily in the overall evaluation, thus prompting the cancellation of the tender." ^{[7] [8]} The company stated it would review the tender process and continue searching for a suitable replacement. ^[8]

Current arrangement

The current aircraft continues to be used for regional trips. However, when the ageing aircraft has been grounded for repairs, other private aircraft have been chartered. ^{[9] [10]} When an intercontinental aircraft with a range of 13,300 km is required, an aircraft has been leased from Fortune Air for almost 2 million rand a month. ^{[11] [12] [13]} The aircraft returned to service as of 2018 ^[update] . ^[14]

References

1. "SAAF Aircraft". South African Air Force. 9 June 2014. Archived from the original on 13 February 2012. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
2. Nhlabathi, Hlengiwe; Gibson, Erika (8 November 2015). "R4 billion VIP jet for Zuma?". Citypress. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
3. News24, Lizeka Tandwa. "New presidential jet will make Nkandla seem like child's play - Maimane". News24. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
4. Laing, Aislinn (29 June 2012). "Jacob Zuma 'to buy presidential jet despite South Africa's poverty'". The Daily Telegraph . Retrieved 6 December 2015.
5. "Presidency requests info about Zuma's 'new jet' | eNCA". www.enca.com. Retrieved 29 January 2021.^{[ permanent dead link ]}
6. "This is what Zuma's R4 billion plane could look like". 9 November 2015. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
7. Wakeford, Kevin (25 October 2016). "STRICT TENDER COMPLIANCE KEY TO ARMSCOR'S SUCCESS" (PDF). ARMSCOR. ARMSCOR. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
8. "Armscor cancels intercontinental jet tender for South African Air Force". www.polity.org.za. 25 October 2016. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
9. "Abuse of power: African leaders and their flying machines". France 24. 23 April 2016. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
10. Ramaphosa, Cyril (4 March 2018). "Arrived to a very warm reception in Gaborone". Twitter.
11. Serrao, Angelique (6 March 2018). "Ramaphosa uses controversial businessman Zunaid Moti's private jet for official trip". News24. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
12. "Zuma's R500m backup Boeing is on its way". TimesLIVE. 11 September 2016. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
13. "Zuma ditches presidential plane for a rental that costs R2 million a month". Business Tech. 25 July 2016. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
14. Helfrich, Kim (21 November 2018). "Inkwazi flying again". defenceWeb. Retrieved 14 November 2022.

See also

• 21 Squadron SAAF
• Air transports of heads of state and government