DURBAN - COLONEL Lennon Marcus Atchanna, 38, is now in charge of Air Force Base (AFB) Durban, following an official Change of Command parade on Thursday.
Atchanna replaces Colonel Barend Johannes Jurie Fourie, 58, who takes over as commander of AFB Hoedspruit.
Fourie, in his 40-year career, held management positions at the various units where he was stationed, including flight commander positions. He currently holds an A1 category flying instructor rating and also has an air transport pilot qualification, the highest civil flying academic qualification.
During the parade, Fourie said that Durban was a unique experience that challenged him physically, mentally and spiritually.
“Atchanna is taking charge of a highly-skilled, well-trained specialised group of people. During our interactions I have come to know you as a capable and spirited individual and well-qualified pilot and the right person to take the base into the future.”
Atchanna, he said, would receive a capable team of experts who would enable the smooth running of AFB Durban.
Atchanna will continue to maintain the relationship that was established, by supporting and collaborating with civilian aviation entities which extinguish fires and conduct search-and-rescue operations.
Donning the wing as a qualified Oryx helicopter pilot, Atchanna was born and grew up in oThongathi, north of Durban in KwaZulu Natal. He now lives in Phoenix.
He joined the SA Air Force in May 2000 and successfully completed his basic military training and officers’ course in the same year. On September 1, 2005, he began his operational helicopter tour at 15 Squadron AFB Durban.
Atchanna prides himself for being a recipient of the Royal Air Force (RAF) training award, silver and gold category (first place). He also achieved the commandant’s award for best research paper in 2020, while he was enrolled for junior-senior command and staff course at the SA National Defence Force’s War College.
Major highlights in Atchanna's career include representing the SAAF at the military symposium held in London in 2007.
He said a rescue operation that stood out for him was when he was stationed at 15 Squadron and was involved in the rescue of 132 people who were stranded in severe snowstorms in the Underberg area in August 2002.
Atchanna, a husband and father of two, matriculated from Greenbury Secondary School in Phoenix and said he developed an interest in the air force when he was young. Together with the motivation of his teachers, he accomplished his dreams. He advised children and students to dream big.
Atchanna said he was ready to lead and face some challenges like combating illegal border crossings, and run patrols, together with ground forces. His base covers the province.
DAILY NEWS