AIR EXPERT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 160, 8 July 1937, Page 10

AIR EXPERT.

BRITISH ENGINEER. ARRIVAL THIS WEEK. GOVERNMENT'S PLANS. (By Telegraph.—Special to "Star.") WELLINGTON, this day. Flying men are eagerly awaiting the arrival by the liner Arawa thie month of an engineering expert from the British Air Ministry, who, it is understood, is to work with Wing-Comniander the Hon. R. A. Cochrane, chief of air staff to the Government, in strengthening the ground engineering side of the Xew Zealand Air Force. This will be the first step taken by the Government to strengthen the ground service side of the Air Force. It i<s, anticipated that the second step will be an announcement that the Government proposes to enlist 150 men as ground engineers. 'Tho details of the training of these men is still uncertain. It is pointed out that in Britain ground engineers have to undergo a two years' course, and that it is desirable that the work in New Zealand should begin at the earliest possible moment. Jt is also pointed out that while the Government has embarked on a campaign to strengthen the Air Force by purchasing additional machines and by building up a reserve of pilots, both by training in the Dominion ami by nomination for .-hort service commissions with the Jioyal Air Force, so far nothing has been done to strengthen the equally important side of an air fleet—the ground organisation.