$400,000 for Skyhawk sale

The Government has paid consultancy firm Ernst & Young more than $400,000 to sell the Air Force's combat fleet - but none of the sales has yet been finalised.

Arizona-based Advanced Training Systems International (ATSI) is still awaiting final approval from the US State Department before the 17 Skyhawks can be sold and shipped to America.

Malaysia has confirmed it will buy 17 Aermacchi jets but its Government is still finalising details.

National MP Simon Power said Ernst & Young were contracted in June 2001 to find buyers and had been paid $400,000.

It was costing $350,000 a month to maintain and store the decommissioned aircraft - "$6 million so far and counting", Mr Power said.

"Scrapping the combat wing cost the jobs of over 300 highly trained and skilled pilots, engineers and tradespeople," he said.

"[The] decision to disband the air strike capability of our Air Force without any clear idea of what to do with the aircraft is shameful."

- NZPA