Core function

Air Publication Service Centre (APSC) is the custodian for the master and key copies of all SAAF documentation and publications in terms of aviation regulations and acts. The immediate availability of this information to all users in the aviation environment is crucial to flight safety.

APSC is the Force Structure Element (FSE) with the mandate to provide the South African Air Force (SAAF) with an air publication capability. APSC is a SAAF unique FSE that directly supports SAAF weapon system managers with regards to documentation and publication support.

APSC is responsible to ensure the integrity of all air publication and documentation for hard copies, as well as electronic documentation in close co-operation with the various SAAF weapon system groups.

This also entails the enforcement of SAAF as well as required aviation standards for publications and documentation. Item Identification and Codification also forms an integral part of APSC and is carried out under the auspices of the National Codification System.

Codification and cataloguing are essential elements of the overall SAAF logistics system. While satisfying SAAF requirements, these functions are conducted in compliance with the National Codification Bureau regulations aimed at providing for, and operating an efficient supply system.

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 Historical overview

Air Publication Store, as it was known until 1968, was established in 1946 at Air Force Base Waterkloof where the then South African Air Force (SAAF) College was based. Air Publication Store was utilised as a library for SAAF College.
During 1952 Air Publication Store was relocated to a building, which at present houses the Central Procurement Service Centre at General Support Base (GSB) Garrison. In 1969 the name changed to Air Publication Depot (APD).

On the 5th of September 1973 a large section of APD was destroyed in a fire. In an attempt to re-stock the Depot, an amendment and reproduction section was established at APD in 1977.

In 1992 the SAAF Command Council decided to amalgamate APD, the Logistic Information Service (LIS) and a support function of LIS which was situated at Air Force Headquarters – all under the name APD.

Upon transformation requirement investigations in 2000, APD’s capabilities were expanded. Its mandate was to provide the SAAF with a comprehensive air publication capability that not only included the procurement, accounting and storage of key publications, the distribution of, and configuration control of all SAAF publications, but also the management and distribution of all SAAF relevant publications in digital format.

The name was changed to APSC in November 2000. Due to the additional functions, the post of Officer Commanding APSC was upgraded from Major to Colonel.

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 Unit emblem

Description: A blue shield with its royal blue background shows four arrows in the directions of the compass and between these arrows an eight toothed industrial gear with a globe in the background.

Motto: Scienta Vis Est means Knowledge is power.

Symbolism: The globe indicates that documentation and publications are received from all over the world. The industrial gear indicates that most of the publications are of a technical nature. The four arrows show that publications and documents are distributed in all directions, wherever they may be needed. The gold colour depicts the quality service APSC strives to achieve and the blue background indicates that the Service Centre stands in the service of the SAAF for the SAAF.

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 Aspirations

Vision
We will be the leader in promoting information integrity to ensure air power excellence.

Mission
Through continuous improvement APSC provides information capabilities, which satisfies customer requirements by delivering current, reliable, accurate and validated information for the SAAF and other stakeholders to achieve airpower excellence.

Motto
Knowledge is Power