allAfrica.com * Airforce Staff Chief Calls for Proper Use of Equipment Angola Press Agency (Luanda) NEWS 7 January 2008 Posted to the web 7 January 2008 Luanda The chief of Staff of Angola National Airforce (FAN), gen. Francisco Lopes Gonçalves Afonso "Hanga", Sunday in Luanda appealed to all staff of that branch of the armed forces for an appropriate and rational use of the equipment at the disposal of the units and sub-units. Speaking at the ceremony that officially opened the events of commemoration of FAN's 32nd anniversary, on January 21, gen. "Hanga" said this is aimed at the growth and technical modernisation intended for the Angolan Armed Forces (FAA). Gen. Francisco Afonso said only this way can the institution reach the goals set, which includes the control of the national air territory. "We have to grow big to accommodate well our troops, especially the air defence ones, to create good working conditions for the officers and conveniently organise the military specialties, injecting new blood in the Airforce", said the officer. To him, all tasks carried out within FAN are part of the actual context of the country that is currently marching towards the organisation and arrangement of its public institutions, its executive organs and the whole society. Gen. "Hanga" stressed that the main aspect in this stage is the application of the main methods leading to good governance, towards the economic and social development, political stability and deepening of democracy. According to him, FAA can not be an exception, as a process of re-edification of the three branches of the armed forces is currently underway. He said that all elements of structural organisation, concepts and doctrinal principles are being reshaped, in order to make of the airforce more and more modern, capable of facing the new national and international situation. The main event of FAN's 32nd anniversary celebrations will take place at Catumbela airbase, in central Benguela province. The Angola National Aiforce was officially proclaimed on January 21, 1976, by the first and late Angolan president, António Agostinho Neto. FAN was born from the embryo of the then Portuguese Airforce, in view of the need to take over the means left by the colonial troop and thus take control of the situation that followed the proclamation of the national independence on November 11, 1975. The creation of FAN stemmed from the strategic vision of maintaining the inviolability of the national airspace and has had the virtue of reinforcing the armed forces' combative capacity. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright © 2008 Angola Press Agency. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). ---------------------------------------------------------------------------