COMMISSIONS FOR AIR CREW

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26078, 3 April 1950, Page 3

COMMISSIONS FOR AIR CREW

CHANGE IN R.N.Z.A.F. POLICY

"The Press" Special Service WELLINGTON, April 2.

The granting of short-service commissions to pilots and navigators on completing their flying training with the R.N.Z.A.F., is envisaged by the Air Board. This new policy for aircrew entrants into the regular Air Force replaces the scheme by which entrants trained as cadets and served as uncommisisoned aircrew for several years before being considered for appointment to short-service and permanent commissions.

Announcing this change of policy in a supplied statement to-day, the Air Board said the R.N.Z.A.F.’s future requirement will be for pilots and navigators with the educational and personal qualifications necessary to ensure appointment to a short-service commission at the end of the training period. Youths selected for these duties will be trained as cadets.

Those who cait satisfy the selection board that they are up to the required standard on entering the service will be told at that stage that they will be granted short-service commissions on completing their training satisfactorily. As their training will include initial, basic, and applied flying instruction together with a period of instruction at the R.N.Z.A.F. Officers’ School, commissioning should take place from to 20 months after they enter the service.

Applicants for pilot or navigator training who cannot be guaranteed commissions on entering the service may still be granted them on completion of their flying training or subsequently if they attain the necessary standard.

Selection for appointments to permanent commissions will be made from officers granted short-service commissions.

The system now replaced by the new scheme was introduced by the R.A.F. after the war, the R.N.Z.A.F. falling into line with its sister service. Tiie R.A.F. and the R.N.Z.A.F. have already amended their aircrew conditons of service to provide for early commissioning of suitable pilots and navigators. The Royal Canadian Air Force did not accept the uncommissioned, aircrew scheme, however, as it took the view that all peacetime trainees should be commissionable after training.

Young officers are urgently needed for flying duties in the regular Air Force, and it is hoped that the new conditions will attract a greater number of suitable applicants.