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Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 15, 2006 13:07:50 GMT 12
Does the New Zealand Army still train and maintain its own pilots? I know they used to in the days when No. 3 (Battlefield Support) Squadron was virtually attached to the Army with its Sioux and Auster aircraft, but what about now?
If not, when was the practice of training Army pilots dropped?
I recall Hoani Hipango of the 1993 Red Checkers team was ex-Army pilot who transferred to the RNZAF from memory. Did the RNZAF absorb all the Army pilots?
Also, did they train other Air Force trades, like Army Helo crewmen?
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Post by phil on Nov 15, 2006 17:25:13 GMT 12
They certainly don't train them any more, nor do they train army crewman, although some army guys service change to become RNZAF crewman. We do of course train Navy aircrew, both pilots and crewmen.
There are army officers around wearing wings, we had a COL review a pilot grad parade a couple of years ago that was (or had been) a pilot, but I can't remember his name.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 15, 2006 20:05:08 GMT 12
Cheers Phil. I thought it was a thing of the past.
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Post by caromeg on Nov 28, 2006 6:27:23 GMT 12
Not totally Army has 4 X Pilots under training at Massey Aviation for their UAV project
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Post by tibor on Nov 28, 2006 12:10:53 GMT 12
Not totally Army has 4 X Pilots under training at Massey Aviation for their UAV project That's very interesting Caromeg. Do you have any more info about this? Are these regular force troops? Are they doing the full Bachelor of Aviation degree, or just a portion? Are they going to CPL level? |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 28, 2006 12:49:58 GMT 12
What does UAV stand for?
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Post by tibor on Nov 28, 2006 12:59:58 GMT 12
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Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 28, 2006 13:28:55 GMT 12
I see. Thanks. I missed your earlier thread while I was away.
So, if unmanned, why do they need to train pilots at Massey?
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Post by caromeg on Nov 28, 2006 18:24:25 GMT 12
This is the info I have - 4 troops incl 1 officer, 4 papers only - mainly focusing on met, av law, systems etc that are applicable for uavs. I understand they are doing only a small amount of flight time to help with understanding the way things operate in aviaition in general. Seems like a sensible plan, otherwise we have potential for serious problems.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 28, 2006 18:37:38 GMT 12
Thanks caromeg. Sure does sound sensible.
Welcome to the forum by the way.
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Post by flyjoe180 on Nov 29, 2006 8:30:00 GMT 12
Could the Air Force not have provided this training?
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Post by caromeg on Dec 1, 2006 6:03:21 GMT 12
I understand the RNZAF will be providing some training but it made sense from a logistics perspective to buy training from Massey.
The Army I think are also keen on an ICAO qualification of some sort to help operate these in civilian airspace overseas on operations such as civil defence and disaster relief.
I understand that there is also an NZ first of a UAV danger area for UAV test flying (military and civilian) being established in the manawatu. Maybve these guys have something to do with it? There must be a significant investment by the Army in UAV. I wonder when it will hit the news?
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Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 1, 2006 9:45:38 GMT 12
Interesting stuff. I can imagine that for disaster relief stuff the UAV will provide very useful film and data in seeing where relief is needed. Plus the footage could be sold to the TV networks too I guess. I think the whole thing sounds very worthwhile.
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possum
Leading Aircraftman
Posts: 1
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Post by possum on Apr 24, 2007 11:27:05 GMT 12
Hoani was a Navy Pilot. He finished his military career by transferring from Navy to Air Force and flying Transports.
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