Air Force move to hold men

Press, 6 July 1977, Page 30

Air Force move to hold men

PA Wellington The Air Force would not accept resignations from tnrec categories of aircrew for up to two years because of a critical shortage of staff, the Minister of Defence (Mr McCready) said. However the regulations allow the Minister to deciare categories critical, thus put-

ting a halt to resignations for a period considered necessary.

The announcement affects pilots, navigators and air electronics officers in the rank of squadron leader and below.

■ Mr McCready said that the! planned capabilities of the I Air Force had in no way | been reduced, nor was it a case of sudden exodus of personnel. Rather it was a situation in which relatively small num- , bers of experienced aircrew ■ had taken their releases, and ’ critical manning levels had • been reached. •| The whole purpose of the! ' I action taken was to preserve| inessential Air Force capabilities at the planned level and: 'i prevent more serious prob-! > lems arising. F Mr McCready said that i similar action had been con-’ i sidered in tackling recent nava' manpower problems, 'but*it had not been taken ijbecause critical shortages ini '' that service had been spread | far more widely across a: “number of trades and cate-! gories. I “In the case of the Air; ; Force. the critical problem is .confined essentially to' 'specialist flying personnel,: and it is precisely for the, : purpose of dealing with such i i clearly-defined problem areas ; that appropriate provisions! jhad been made in new condi-i jtions of service policy,” Mr McCready said. i The situation would bej i kept under review, and! restrictions would be eased! or lifted as soon as possible. I ihe said. I