Boeing P-8 - the P3K2 Orion Replacement

[ErrolC]

Two delivered, and two more to go! 🇳🇿

The @nzairforce’s second Washington-made P-8 Poseidon multi-mission maritime patrol aircraft is on its way home.

This #P8 joins a global fleet of 156 aircraft that have collectively logged more than 500,000 flight hours

[machina]

ETA?

[camtech]

tonight - Hawaii
Tomorrow - Fiji
Saturday - Ohakea?

[Deleted]

And I'm working Saturday, of course!

[ErrolC]

Didn't they have a rest day for 01?

[ErrolC]

Expected 3pm. I assume at Ohakea.

[camtech]

Just passing North Cape, track appears to be for Ohakea eta about 1500.

[hardyakka]

Coming past Great Barrier island and heading down the Firth of Thames now...

[hardyakka]

Looks to be tracking overhead Hamilton, but we have a solid low overcast here... :-(

Feet dry, over Hunua Ranges.

[delticman]

Mar 20, 2023 13:43:41 GMT 12 hardyakka said:

Looks to be tracking overhead Hamilton, but we have a solid low overcast here... :-(

Feet dry, over Hunua Ranges.

Landed 1521.

[machina]

Wonder if we’ll get a nationwide fleet flyby to mirror the Orions’ sign off, once all 4 have arrived?

[ErrolC]

More on timetable at the link

www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2023/03/new-zealand-to-field-mark-54-torpedoes-aboard-p-8a-poseidon/

New Zealand To Field Mark 54 Torpedoes Aboard P-8A Poseidon
New Zealand's second P-8A Poseidon arrived home on March 20th. Meanwhile the New Zealand Ministry of Defence confirmed MK 54 Torpedoes are included in the P-8A Poseidon purchase.
...
Sarah Minson, Deputy Secretary, Capability Delivery at the New Zealand Ministry of Defence told Naval News that “operational sensitivity” prevents them from discussing details, including quantity and timeframe, of the previously undisclosed purchase.

[Deleted]

Her arrival was reported on in the Whanganui Chronicle newspaper...unfortunately using a photo of (and captioned as) NZ4801.
Second Poseidon arrives by Zac Yates, on Flickr
Second Poseidon arrives by Zac Yates, on Flickr

[machina]

Even with the error it’s nice to see decent coverage.

[ErrolC]

www.beca.com/about-us/news-and-awards/march-2023/beca-to-develop-rnzaf-p-8a-poseidon-training-courses

Beca to Develop RNZAF P-8A Poseidon Training Courses
Beca is proud to have been selected by Manatū Kaupapa Waonga - New Zealand Ministry of Defence to develop P-8A Poseidon training courses for the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF).
Based on Royal Air Force (RAF) and United States Navy training material, we have teamed with Copernicus Technology Limited (UK), Aquila Learning (UK), and Catalyst Cloud (NZ) to deliver the training solution.

Copernicus Technology Limited bring their experience in developing the RAF P-8A training courses using the Aquila ALaRMS™ Learning Management System. Catalyst Cloud will provide the sovereign hosting solution for the training development environment.

Business Director – Major Programmes, at Beca Applied Technologies, Brian Fearnley, states that, “We are delighted to continue our support of NZDF Air Surveillance Reconnaissance Force capability. Following a 15-year association in the upgrade and support of the recently retired P-3K2 Orion, Beca are again engaged in a critical support and enabling role for the newly acquired RNZAF P-8A Poseidon fleet.”

Beca is proud to be supporting the Manatū Kaupapa Waonga - Ministry of Defence and the New Zealand Defence Force to bring the RNZAF P-8A Poseidon capability into service

[Dave Homewood]

Good grief. The RNZAF used to have the best training system in New Zealand, for any and every trade that they employed. It was all run by the RNZAF itself, with incredibly thorough syllabus and highly experienced instructors who were all people that actually worked in the trade, not just mere career teachers.

Every trade course, whether it was flying or engineering or a support trade, was built upon generations of corporate knowledge and experience built up since the 1920s to make their training second to none.

So sad that the RNZAF is no longer capable of running its own training courses. And that civilian contracted companies have to be brought in. Some claim it is to save money. If your defence force hasn't the funding for training it's staff, find more funding FFS. Treasury can magically find more funding for every other government department but never for the one that really matters, defence.

[skyhawkdon]

Just about everyone at Beca Applied Technologies is ex RNZAF. They jokingly call it an RNZAF Squadron! Brian Fearnley was an Engineering Officer at Ohakea. They are a top company and a very capable team. Your observations about the state of the RNZAF however is pretty true Dave. Hence they have to outsource.

[Dave Homewood]

That is the very problem Don. If they were all still in the RNZAF they would also work on the job, as well as periodically become instructors, and they would develop training based on the real experience. Once they have left the RNZAF they won't ever be back working on the coalface, they will be classroom-bound, surely, so no chance to develop skills on the work front. They are detached with one sole purpose of teaching, that is how training courses and reality become divergent.

I do not know Beca, nor anyone involved, and I mean no disrespect to them. But don't you think the RNZAF would be better off having that much talent and experience rotating back into and out of the actual squadrons from the training school? Had the government paid them better wages they could have had a better result. Now they will be paying contractor rates, and surely that is no cheaper, and likely much dearer.

[machina]

Paying contractor rates, which will likely be more, and yet not attaining/retaining any corporate knowledge.

[Dave Homewood]

That is good to hear Phil.