183 air force personnel to lose their jobs

11.00 am

Cost cutting in the air force hit home this morning when 183 RNZAF personnel received letters confirming they were being discharged or, in the case of civilians, being made redundant.

The air force said all of those losing their jobs had been consulted and had indicated they were willing to leave the air force.

The air force will cut 350 staff this financial year, and another 350 staff over the next four years, mostly as a result of scrapping the air combat wing including the Skyhawk jets.

The 350 positions being cut this year comprise the 183 discharges or redundancies, a reduction in recruitment of 52, the non-renewal of 61 personnel whose engagements expire by January 31, and 54 extra personnel taking normal release at short notice.

The air force has approved a total of 109 applications for normal release at short notice between June 1 and September 1. They included 21 pilots, 13 logistics officers, 25 in aircraft trades, 8 in armaments and 42 in avionics.

The head of the air force, Air Vice-Marshal Don Hamilton, said the positions were in "targeted trades."

He said recruitment for those trades would be limited over the next few months to the level needed to ensure there were personnel in training to replace others who would eventually move out of the trades as they advanced.

Uniformed personnel being discharged would get career transition assistance and financial assistance towards an alternative career.

An aircraftman/woman with three years service would receive approximately $4500. A warrant officer with 19 years service could receive as much as $43,000.

Civilian staff would be eligible for redundancy compensation.

nzherald.co.nz/defence