New Zealand is set to open a tender for advanced trainers in 2008, with the country planning to bring the programme directly under its operations after having outsourced it since 1998.
"A tender is being prepared for release next year seeking submissions from industry to supply aircraft, a training package - including a simulator and other modern training devices - and maintenance and support," says defence minister Phil Goff.
The aircraft chosen will replace the Royal New Zealand Air Force's leased Beechcraft King Air B200 trainers. A decision has not been made on the number and type of aircraft required, and the cost will depend on the final choice. The aircraft, however, are likely to be purchased outright.
"A wide range of potential options for providing the required capability has been considered and the government has directed that the capability be provided through a training system managed and run by the New Zealand Defence Force rather than through outsourcing training to other military forces or civilian training organisations," says Goff.
"This will ensure that we continue to provide the right number of pilots, at the right time, trained to the right level and provide a flexible and cost-effective solution."
Pilot training will cover new and upgraded aircraft that will be in service with the air force in the future. These include five upgraded Lockheed Martin C-130 transports, two Boeing 757s used for fast air transport, eight NH Industries NH90 helicopters that will be inducted from 2010, and six Lockheed Martin P-3 Orion maritime patrol aircraft.
The service no longer has any strike capability after the government cancelled the purchase of Lockheed Martin F-16s in 2001, and later retired its Douglas A-4 Skyhawks and Aermacchi MB-339s. Auckland considered, and then rejected, a plan to use the MB-339s for training purposes.
"They are not suitable for providing full training capabilities," says Goff. "Another factor was the cost of the package of training aircraft that would have included the Aermacchis, which was three times the operating cost of purpose-specific aircraft."
Plans to sell the Skyhawks and the MB-339s are still in place, although New Zealand says that this is being frustrated by delays in getting approvals from the USA. The US government has to ratify any sale of Skyhawk aircraft under the original purchase agreement and it has yet to give the green light for this transaction.
Source: FlightGlobal.com
