Blitz for NZ air combat workers

By FRANCESCA MOLD, LIBBY MIDDLEBROOK and PAULA OLIVER

On the day bombs rained down on Afghanistan, almost 200 of New Zealand's air combat personnel lost their jobs.

And their skills may be permanently lost to New Zealand - many of the newly redundant have decided to take their talents overseas.

The Air Force revealed yesterday that 183 staff, including pilots, armament specialists and a group of civilian workers, had received letters of discharge or redundancy.

The job cuts were the first batch of 350 expected to be slashed from the service this year, rising to 700 over the next four years.

It was unfortunate timing for the defence force announcement, with fear about security running high after the United States retaliation against Afghanistan.

Opposition political parties criticised the Government's decision to continue with the plan to scrap the air combat force.

National's Jenny Shipley said the Government should put a stop to the redundancies and develop plans to restore the country's air strike capability.

At a sombre Ohakea base yesterday, the tough task of handing out redundancy letters was completed by lunchtime.

Though a number of staff had requested voluntary discharges, many who wanted to stay were disappointed to be told that they were no longer required.

"It's a big shock," said Sergeant Shaun Denne.

"I've been here for 16 years, and through the bad times I thought I had a job guaranteed for life.

"I'm going to miss out on the 20-year superannuation payout. It will probably cost me $100,000.

"That was the house we were going to have."

Civilian Paul Seymour, who bought parts for the doomed Aermacchi jet trainers, said he did not feel the Government was taking national security seriously enough.

"I don't want to stay in New Zealand," he said.

"My wife is highly skilled and we'll probably go overseas for better opportunities.

"She gave birth to a baby boy last night, so it's a bittersweet day for me."

Corporal Martin Hedley, a 26-year-old who joined the Air Force in his late teens, said he planned to go with his wife to Australia.

"I volunteered to be discharged because I'd rather make up my own mind about what I end up doing."

The staff cuts came as no surprise to Whenuapai-based aircraft engineers Dave Gilberd and Aaron Schick, who volunteered for redundancy in August.

Mr Gilberd, aged 25, said he saw the restructuring as an opportunity to further his career, studying audio engineering. Mr Schick, 26, opted for redundancy to take advantage of the payouts.

He will collect about $5000 when he leaves the Air Force before November 18.

"I recently spent a couple of weeks contracting in Australia and the money was so much better that I decided to get out," said Mr Schick.

Most of the staff affected were sent home from Whenuapai airbase yesterday to allow the news to sink in.

The Air Force national director of personnel, Neil Hygate, said it had been a difficult day.

Mr Hygate, who visited Whenuapai yesterday, said the Air Force had provided counselling, career transition and medical services to support staff affected by the redundancies.

Yesterday's cull was limited to armament staff, aircraft technicians and avionics staff.

Many pilots have already found work overseas. By the time the full 700 staff are gone, the Air Force will settle at 2300 staff.

It will retain and probably get an upgrade to its Iroquois helicopter wing and its remaining Hercules, Orion and Boeing 727 aircraft.

The future of the Whenuapai base is still under a cloud, as the Air Force's helicopters and other aircraft are to move to Ohakea.

nzherald.co.nz/defence