RNZAF skills on show

An RNZAF Hercules carrying out a low parachute drop - which will be part of the tactical training carried out in Hawke's Bay during Exercise Skytrain in January. Photo / RNZAF

A major Royal New Zealand Air Force exercise, which will feature the arrival of an aircraft from the French Air Force, will be staged in Hawke's Bay next January.

It will be the first time in nine years that Exercise Skytrain, which is staged to develop tactical skills, will be set up at Hawke's Bay Airport. About 150 personnel from the Air Force, Army and the French Air Force will take up residence at what Group Captain Tim Walshe has described as "a forward operating base".

An initial group of engineers and ground crew will arrive to set up the military tent city on January 13, with the exercise scheduled to kick off on January 18 and go through to January 29.

On Saturday, January 23 a public open day will be staged for people to get up close to the two Whenuapai-based No40 Squadron C-130 Hercules aircraft, which will operate out of Napier for the exercise.

"We will open the ramps of the Hercules for people to come and take a close look," said Group Captain Walshe.

He said there were also plans to bring through one of the RNZAF's new NH90 helicopters from Ohakea airfield, as well as training aircraft for the open day.

The French military technology to arrive is a Casa CN-235 transport aircraft, which is based in New Caledonia.

"The French are one of our Pacific partners and we carry out a lot of activities with them," said Captain Walshe.

While the RNZAF stages ongoing tactical skill operations, the major exercise camps were only staged about every two years. Group Captain Walshe said Hawke's Bay offered good, unfamiliar and therefore challenging terrain for the air crews, and the climate was usually reliable.

"It'll be good to get back," he said, explaining that he was born in Dannevirke and joined the Air Force 31 years ago.

Part of the exercise will see the crews of C-130s engaged in night-flying runs.

The Air Force has only recently introduced night-vision goggles to the squadron, and the exercise would "consolidate that capability".

For Hawke's Bay residents, however, it will be a case of hearing the big four-engined aircraft but not seeing them as "they will be showing no lights at all".

The runway lighting at the airport will also shut down when the aircraft depart for their flights, and only otherwise unseen markers, as well as stars and moonlight, will be used.

The crews will also carry out low-level runs, down to just 76m, over designated rural areas. There will also be low-level parachute drops of cargoes from 315kg up to two tonnes. "We are negotiating with farmers down that way for the use of some of their fields."

Group Captain Walshe said the military flights, of up to six a day, would work around commercial flight schedules to prevent disruption to passenger services.