Air NZ's engineering booms

By DANIEL RIORDAN aviation writer

Air New Zealand is preparing to advertise for 150 new engineers as its contract work for international airlines, including Qantas, booms.

But existing engineers say they are worried a proposed $60 million maintenance project may be canned.

They believe US engine maker Pratt & Whitney has decided not to set up a new engine line at the companies' Christchurch Engineering Centre joint venture.

The new line would overhaul the V2500 engines used on Airbus aircraft but Pratt & Whitney has been holding off committing itself to the investment following September 11.

Air NZ spokesman David Beatson said Pratt & Whitney had given the airline no indication of its plans.

"We don't have a firm commitment from them to proceed with the project but neither do we have a firm refusal."

Pratt & Whitney could not be reached for comment.

However, some engineers say Pratt & Whitney has decided to invest its money in its home market.

Beatson could not confirm the proposed extra staff numbers, but said a recent upsurge in contract and third-party work meant the engineering business was expanding rapidly.

It is a far cry from late last year when 40 staff at the Engine Centre, including 25 engineers, were laid off following September 11.

Beatson said that all the airline's engineering centres had managed to weather the downturn, thanks to their strong international reputations.

"When it all slowed right down, they went out and hustled in the international marketplace and pulled off some very good work, despite the conditions," he said.

Air NZ this month won a major contract, worth up to $16 million through to March next year, to carry out heavy maintenance and reconfiguration work on up to 15 Boeing 747-400 aircraft owned by Qantas. This work will be done in Auckland.

Among current clients are military aircraft from Brazil and Chile at Blenheim, and Virgin Blue aircraft in Christchurch.

Work from Argentina has been offered, but there is no room to squeeze it into the schedule.

Longer term, however, some kind of servicing alliance with Qantas is seen by engineers as the best way of ensuring that they stay busy.

Qantas owns a major engineering facility in Sydney but does not want to keep it, which gives Air NZ an opportunity to cement its reputation as the Southern Hemisphere's servicing base.

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