Govt stops rush from Air Force

Press, 2 May 1985, Page 8

Govt stops rush from Air Force

PA Wellington Some Air Force manning levels have been declared critical after “significant” numbers of resignations, said the Minister of Defence, Mr O’Flynn, last evening. Air Force crew in certain areas would now be required to give two years notice of their intention to leave. The situation had been caused by a surge of recruiting by Air New Zealand and other commercial airlines, he said.

The move affected pilots, navigators and air electronics officers holding the rank of squadron leader and below. Master aircrew and below, who were in the air electronics operator category, would also be affected, Mr O’Flynn said. The move was described by the Opposition spokes-

man for defence, Mr Doug Kidd, as “far too late.” “Three months ago I was drawing this matter to the Minister’s attention as to what was going on and he just dismissed the concern that I was expressing then,” he said. Mr O'Flynn said the R.N.Z.A.F. was the obvious place for airlines to look for trained and experienced crew. It had not been possible to determine the future demands that airlines were likely to make for pilots, but it appeared to be significant and likely to continue next year. Numbers as high as 60 to 80 had been mentioned, he said. The Defence Council had used section 54b of the Defence Act, 1971, which gave it the power to declare a state of critical manning in any branch of the Armed Forces when releases reduced manning levels to an unacceptable point.

That point had been reached in those aircrew categories, Mr O’Flynn said. The need to keep a state of critical manning would be subject to review. Individuals who had special grounds for release would be considered. Mr O’Flynn said he regretted making the declaration but the outflow of experienced specialist aircrew had reached a point where action was necesssary if essential Air Force capabilities were to be preserved. The losses were also placing an increasing and unfair burden on those who remained. The Air Force had increased its recruiting campaign some months ago but had been only moderately successful. Similar declarations affecting aircrew categories in the Air Force were made on June 30, 1977, and lifted on July 1, 1979, and for 12 months from April 1, 1980.