Major General Fabian Msimang has been appointed the new Chief of the South African Air Force, the SA National Defence Force said.

Msimang is expected to start on the job on October 1, the SANDF said on Monday.

"Major General Msimang integrated into the SANDF in 1994 as a qualified pilot on the Mi 8 and Mi 25 helicopters."

He underwent his training for flying in Kirghizstan from 1986 to 1991.

Msimang was also a member of the Armed Wing of the Umkhonto We Sizwe.

He was appointed assistant project officer on Project Flange in Italy where he also completed the Senior Staff Course at the Italian Air Force War School.

On his return from Italy, Msimang was then appointed Officer Commanding of the Helicopter Flying School at Air Force Base Bloemfontein. Msimang completed the Executive National Security Programme at the SANDF College.

Since 2010 he has been serving on the Air Traffic and Navigation Systems Board.

Msimang is taking over from Lieutenant General Carlo Gagiano who has been chief of the air force for the past seven years.

In November last year, Gagiano resigned from his position following the use of "shadow planes" used to accompany President Jacob Zuma to New York but the then Minister of Defence Lindiwe Sisulu rejected the resignation.