Headhunters out to snap up NZ pilots

By PATRICK GOWER

The British Royal Air Force is about to step up its recruitment drive for New Zealand fighter pilots after the scrapping of New Zealand's air combat wing.

British Ministry of Defence spokesman Simon Wren said yesterday that the RAF was still waiting on a formal response from its New Zealand counterpart after an initial approach to try to headhunt pilots when it heard the combat wing would be scrapped by the end of the year.

He said negotiations from the RAF end had slowed because of the British election, but it was now ready to ratchet up its chase for the New Zealand pilots, as the RAF was about to take delivery of 230 new Eurofighter aircraft and in need of pilots able to fly them.

"We are not trying to steal your pilots, but if there are some surplus to requirements then we really are keen to get our hands on them," said Mr Wren.



Defence publication Jane's Defence Weekly believes the RNZAF pilots would be well qualified to fill Britain's shortage of fighter pilots.

It has said RNZAF pilots were regarded as well trained and extremely capable, and would have no problem moving up from Skyhawks to the latest, state of the art fighter aircraft.

The new planes were easier to fly than the Skyhawks as they had the latest in high-tech equipment.

New Zealand pilots would earn twice as much in the RAF - a local fighter pilot is paid between $35,000 and $65,000, while an RAF flight lieutenant's starting pay is between £27,000 ($89,000) and £32,000 ($105,000).

The Government wants to sell 17 RNZAF Skyhawk fighters and 17 Aermacchi jet trainers, leaving the pilots with a future in only transport or surveillance.

RNZAF spokesman Ric Cullinane said they were still a long way from any concrete deals, but were working through how individuals would break their service, or if they could fill other roles with the armed forces here.

He said they were aware how keen the RAF was, and said there had also been similar interest from the Royal Australian Air Force and other air forces, but it was their first priority to find new positions for "surplus" personnel.