NEW ZEALAND’S AIR FORCE

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26198, 23 August 1950, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND’S AIR FORCE

REPORT BY CHIEF OF STAFF PROBLEMS OF SUPPLY AND MAINTENANCE (From Our Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, August 22. New Zealand should build up intimate relations with her nearest neighbour, Australia, for the supply and maintenance of aircraft, in the opinion of the Chief of the Air Staff (Air ViceMarshal Sir Arthur Nevill). In a Report on the Royal New Zealand Air Force, which is included in the annual report of the Air Department, tabled in the House of Representatives tor day, Sir Arthur Nevill suggests this course to meet the special problems created by the maintenance of a modern air force in a country with a light industrial backing, such as New Zealand.

Sir Arthur Nevill says that in the past year progress has been made in the administrative organisation ard operational efficiency of the Royal New Zealand Air Force, end both the flying and technical training programmes have been expanded. Much remains to be accomplished before the operational control organisation is fit for war in this theatre, and before any units of the regulsr Air Force reach the minimum strength and operational efficiency necessary for service overseas.

The strength of the Air Force at the end of March this year was 416 officers and 3079 other ranks, which is 446 higher than it was last year. Sir Arthur Nevill says that recruiting has improved since l?st year, but is still unsatisfactory, and the wastage rate of skilled men remains high. Nevertheless. the flying training programme has been doubled, and the total flying has increased by 25 per cent. Insufficient response has been made to various recruiting campaigns to secure men needed for the proper manning of the ground trades. Neither the num’ ers offering nor the general standard of applicant has been satisfory. The most pressing problem in maintaining effective strength is the high release rate, which for the year ended March 31 amounted to 586. m°ny of whom were fully trained. The chief causes of the high wastage are the inability of the Air Force to provide sufficient married quarters, and the need for service reasons to transfer personnel.

Although the aircraft strength of the si ew Zealand...Air,Force at the end ofMarch was 425, the effective strength is very much less, as a considerable number of reserve aircraft are fit only for reduction to spares. Continued use of obsolete aircraft and associated equipment and supplies necessitates the holding of an abnormal quantity of spares and the retention of a disproportionately larce reserve of replacement aircraft. Spares for aircraft operated by the Royal New Zealand Air Force are daily becoming more difficulty to obtain, and the maintenance and storage of reserve aircraft are also a serious burden. The Royal New Zealand Air Force is the only Commonwealth Air Force without some modern types of aircraft.