29 June 2007
A combined 115 years of Royal New Zealand Air Force trade tradition comes to an end this week with the merging of the navigator and air electronics trade branches into a new Air Warfare Branch.
The new branch will ensure personnel maintain the skills required to continue operating military aircraft that have significantly evolved in complexity since the creation of the 75-year-old navigator trade and 40-year-old electronics trade.
This milestone in RNZAF history was recognized at a function for air electronics operators and navigators at Whenuapai Air Force Base last night.
Air Warfare Officer Trade Leader Squadron Leader DJ Hunt said the creation of the Air Warfare Branch was important because many RNZAF aircraft were undergoing modernization and upgrade projects.
“The C-130 Hercules and the P-3K Orions are both undergoing modernization projects which will significantly improve their capabilities.
“The Air Warfare Branch will ensure current personnel continue to build on the great training they have received in the past and new personnel are trained in the best way to effectively utilise our upgraded aircraft, wherever in the world they may be.”
The RNZAF Hercules are undergoing a life-extension upgrade to extend their usability until at least 2017 while the P-3K is undergoing a systems overhaul which will improve its surveillance capability over both land and sea.
The creation of the Air Warfare Branch coincides with the retirement of the Air Force’s Master Aircrew rank, which reverts to Warrant Officer in line with the rest of the New Zealand Defence Force.
ENDS
For further information please contact James Heffield, Defence Public Relations, on 04 496 0286 or 021 676 338.