Refuellers' Trade Meeting

Refuellers' Trade Meeting. WB-07-0223-01-tn.jpg.

The 2007 Aviation Refueller Trade Meeting was hosted at RNZAF Woodbourne over 23-25 October.

This meeting, the third since the trade was formed in 2003, aimed to address a number of strategic, operational, and training issues that have arisen since the Motor Trade (MT) Driver trade became obsolete four years ago. In addition, it provided an appropriate forum where all issues raised could be discussed in detail with the result being clear action outcomes devised by harnessing the expertise of the trade’s senior personnel.

Since 2003, many Air Force personnel have not noticed significant changes in Base MT Units. However many subtle changes have been made behind the scenes with the trade focus now on Deployable Bulk Fuel operations, other deployed aviation fuel delivery tasks, aviation fuel quality control, and ensuring that all NZDF aviation fuel meets RNZAF airworthiness requirements.

The transformation to aviation refuelling as the primary trade role has not been straightforward with many stalwarts favouring transport operations as a primary focus. Progress has already been achieved with many new initiatives to look forward to.

Senior members of the AVRFLR trade were present as were CO GTW, and representatives from DAS(F), DAE, TGHQ and Base MT Flights. Many issues were worked through in detail during the group workshop sessions and the task ahead for SO ARLTP is to lead the resulting recommendations from the meeting to command, gain endorsement and implement a number of improvements throughout the trade.

Watch this space.