Whangarei woman steps up to challenge in Timor

Operations Officer Natalie McDonald in Timor Leste

14 March 2008

Whangarei woman Natalie McDonald performs a vital role in helicopter operations in Timor-Leste, but her job is a world away from her regular trade in the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF).

Natalie normally works as a Flight Steward on the RNZAF Boeing 757 transport aircraft.  When those planes were sent to America for upgrades she volunteered for a role in Timor-Leste with the RNZAF helicopter detachment providing transport support to the Australian led International Security Force (ISF).

Natalie now works as the Operations Officer for the RNZAF detachment, flying Iroquois helicopters in Dili, capital city of Timor-Leste, and says that while she knew what job she would have in Timor-Leste, it is vastly different from that which she is used to.

“Another Flight Steward held this position before me and I had comprehensive on the job training when I arrived in Dili.  Now the role is second nature to me.

“I'm the primary point of contact between a variety of different parts of the ISF and other organisations here in Timor-Leste who may wish to use our helicopters. 

“One of our key roles here is to provide helicopters for aero-medical evacuations (AME) and I'm the first point of contact for anyone initiating a request for an AME flight.

“I'm really enjoying the challenge of a very different job to what I am used to. I have not worked with the helicopter squadron before and it is great to be learning so much and getting an insight into a different part of the Air Force.  I also enjoy the professionalism of the team I work with which really comes out in the AME work we do.”

ENDS

Currently 425 New Zealand Defence Force personnel are deployed on 17 operations, UN missions and defence exercises around the world.

For further information please contact Nicole Munro-Johnson, Defence Public Relations, on 04 529 6033 or 021 569 148.

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