First Word
I Would Say, Indispensable…
AIRCDRE Gavin Howse, Air Component Commander. (OH-08-0104-03-tn).
AIRCDRE Gavin Howse, Air Component Commander
Many of us serving in the RNZAF today might at one time have had some of our conversations hijacked with endings such as, ‘have we still got an Air Force?’. If you are like me, this has a tendency to annoy, particularly when it is evident to us – and hence them, right? – that the men and women of the RNZAF are out there on a daily basis creating air power effects that contribute to our security and those of others.
The Kiwi roundel on our aircraft fleets is seen at home, throughout our region and wider afield doing Air Force business, and enabling almost everything else we do as a Defence Force. So what story can we tell about ourselves? As I write this First Word, the snapshot of RNZAF operations in April typifies the commitment, professionalism and teamwork we possess as members of the RNZAF. We are about flying aircraft and delivering air power where it is needed, and we all have a role in making sure it happens.
In April, we had one C130 Hercules flying into Afghanistan to rotate NZ forces based at the Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) in Bamyan Province and provided airlift support to our coalition partners within the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) throughout Afghanistan and neighbouring countries. RNZAF maintenance personnel from No.6 Squadron generated two SH2G Seasprite helicopters and maintenance flights, one each for operations aboard HMNZS Canterbury to undertake support tasks in the Pacific Islands and on HMNZS Te Mana to maintain the airborne combat capabilities she will need as she approaches the Arabian Gulf on her operational tour of duty.
Iroquois helicopters and personnel from No. 3 Squadron are 12 months into an 18-month deployment to Timor Leste on Task Group MANU as part of the International Security Force to provide air mobility and aero-medical evacuation support. P3K Orions of No. 5 Squadron keep a watchful eye on the economic and security well-being of our Pacific neighbours through fisheries and surveillance operations. Notably a P3 crew undertaking Orion conversion training cut their teeth by nabbing a few unlicensed fishing vessels in the Tongan EEZ, which demonstrates the considerable operational utility we have even during our training flights. This is an impressive snapshot of our Air Force doing its core military business overseas, and is what we do on a routine basis. Add the additional RNZAF contributions across our fleets to ongoing operations to protect our own borders with Government agencies such as Customs, Ministry of Fisheries and NZ Police (and there are other agencies we provide support to), and you have an indispensable organisation with a reputation to match.
Others might wonder how we are coping with reduced fleet sizes and personnel shortfalls, while at the same time our people are leading and managing projects that will see 30 new or upgraded aircraft being brought into service across six fleets, and growing our Air Force to meet future demands. A fair question! Having just taken up my current position as Air Component Commander, after three years away in Canberra, I have seen many changes in the way the RNZAF does its business.
Conducting current operations and acquiring new capabilities are competing priorities for us that we must also balance alongside our lifestyle choices as members of the RNZAF. In getting through the next 3 or 4 years, there are times when we will need to shed the less important things we are doing if it doesn't contribute directly to delivering air power. To cope we also need to push responsibility lower into our organisation – and trust the talent that exists throughout our team. There is much to be proud of and our performance is there for all to see.
The future is an exciting one and requires us all to step up! In my view, we are well on the way to being the best in all that we do!