New facility brings RNZAF training home
The opening of a new facility on 26 February 2010 at Royal New Zealand Air Force Base Woodbourne, by the Minister of Defence, the Hon Dr Wayne Mapp, will enable RNZAF personnel to obtain specialist training in New Zealand.
Dr Wayne Mapp unveiling the Plaque at the New NMIT Building
The new facility was paid for by the Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology’s (NMIT) and will cater to both RNZAF and NMIT students. Chief of Air Force, Air Vice-Marshal Graham Lintott said the RNZAF’s relationship with NMIT has reached new heights.
“NMIT have been contracted and are now delivering specialist training to the RNZAF’s Engineering Officers at Woodbourne—training that has historically been delivered overseas. NMIT now also delivers the Aeronautical Fundamentals Course. This course used to be conducted by the RNZAF and remains a pre-cursor for any student wishing to enter the RNZAF in a technical trade,” CAF, AVM Lintott said.
NMIT Chief Executive Tony Gray said, “The RNZAF should be congratulated for its visionary yet prudent and cost saving decision to jointly provide programmes of common interest.”
The RNZAF has recently upgraded training technologies and purchased new training aircraft, helicopters and engines. The new facility workshops will accommodate this new training equipment.