Top Instructor Bows Out

After 25 years as Chief Flying Instructor (and 27 actually attended) GPCAPT John Neal has led his final National Aviation Course for ATC cadets.

Image right: Front and centre is GPCAPT John Neal and L-R ATC Aviation Course members F/S Neale Thomson, No. 3 Squadron; W/O Kirstyn Rolfe, No.14 Squadron; U/O Ben Snalam, No. 27 Squadron, and SGT Caleb Jaquet, No.6 Squadron. WN 08-0052-14-fw.jpg

While GPCAPT Neal has done his last stint as Chief Flying Instructor he says he will still be available to help out in the future, ’I am more than happy to continue to attend as an ordinary instructor,’ he said.

‘This year's course comprised 35 pilot trainees with their seven aircraft and seven flight instructors plus one extra instructor who ran the ground school. The Navigator trainees, who joined us part-way through the course numbered 18 and they were taught by a pair of instructors and the three pilots of the three 4-seater aircraft who flew them on their cross-country navigation exercises.’ The course was one of the more successful ones, with 20 pilot students achieving their ‘first solo’ and 14 navigation students passing the CAA Private Pilot’s Licence Navigation exam.

GPCAPT Neal, who is also the Principal Chaplain of NZDF, said this year's course was special for several reasons:

• ‘We lost no time due to bad weather, a first for at least the 27 years I have been attending (although three or four days of nor-west gales did make flying rather uncomfortable.’
• ‘A No.5 Squadron Orion paid a very enthusiastic visit, primarily for the navigation trainees' benefit, and it took about half of them for a flight.’
• ‘The Red Chequers also came on the last day to meet the pilot students, take one lucky pilot trainee for a flight, and to turn on an aerobatic display for both the ATC cadets and Base Woodbourne personnel.’
• ‘COFTW, WGCDR Darryn Webb, announced the resumption of the RNZAF Flying Scholarship which will take six ATC cadets to Ohakea next January (09) for ten hours flight instruction in the CT-4E Airtrainer. This RNZAF support is additional to the heavy sponsorship already provided to the National Aviation Course.’

GPCAPT Neal was honoured with a CAF Commendation at the end of the course.

‘I was honoured with a CAF Commendation for 25 years' service as CFI to the course. My duties included obtaining the aircraft and instructors each year, the maintenance of the flying training programme and the overall safety of the course both on the ground and in the air. I was also honoured by presentations from the ATC Association, from NZ Cadet Forces (a Commandant's Medallion) and the students who decorated my plane's cockpit cover with appropriate lettering and who also gave me a traditional 'bath' that is usually awarded to first solo students.’ The course presentation ceremony was rounded off with all 53 students singing a rousing tribute to “Padre John and his Yellow Tomahawk”.

Many Air Force pilots and aircrew owe the genesis of their career with the RNZAF to GPCAPT Neal. Equally we are sure that his wealth of experience and patience in teaching young and nervous pilots will continue in some way at future Aviation Schools. He is after all an extraordinary flying instructor.