Workshop Opening Marks NMIT–RNZAF Partnership

On the 26th of February, the Minister of Defence, the Hon Dr Wayne Mapp, opened a $1.2 million workshop at RNZAF Woodbourne that will be used by the Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technolgy (NMIT) to train not only its own students, but also RNZAF engineering officers who had previously trained overseas.

In his speech, the Minister said that further developments were underway. He also said that “The proposal for an aviation academy formed through a partnership between Air New Zealand and the RNZAF looks to develop a major centre of excellence’ for aviation-related training. Potentially this will also include NMIT. This would serve not only the local needs, but also be attractive for international partners and students.

He added “Marlborough has a proud history in aviation. Today’s opening is another milestone in shaping the future of the industry. From restoring the warbirds of yesterday, through to training the air experts of tomorrow, this region plays a vital part in keeping New Zealand flying.”

RNZAF engineering tradesmen will undertake NMIT’s pre-trade training fundamentals programme, which prepares aircraft maintenance technicians for their advanced trade training.

NMIT already carries out this programme for industry and the institute says it is pleased to be able to offer its expertise to the RNZAF.

In addition, NMIT also won a tender to jointly deliver a Diploma in Aeronautical Engineering—a technical management training programme to RNZAF Engineering Officers. To do this, the NMIT Aviation School demonstrated it could train potential aviation engineering tradesmen to the same standard, if not higher, than had been provided previously in Australia.

Tony Gray, the CEO of NMIT said that by including the RNZAF’s training with NMIT’s current industry training, it cements the institute’s position as “the country’s leading provider of aircraft maintenance engineering pre-employment training.”

The new joint workshops will complement the existing hangar at Woodbourne and enable both NMIT and RNZAF students to obtain specialist training on gas turbines and aircraft structures.

The RNZAF has recently upgraded training technologies and purchased new training aircraft, helicopters and engines to replace aging training aids. The new workshops will accommodate some of this new training equipment. They will also house NMIT’s School of Aviation administration staff and, this year, will see up to 160 students training at the NMIT/RNZAF shared facility.

Tony Gray praised the Air Force for what he described as “its visionary yet prudent and cost saving decision to jointly provide programmes of common interest” and pointed out that, in one instance, this involved returning a previously internationally outsourced training programme home to New Zealand.

Gray also praised the collaboration between the Marlborough District Council and the government and said this initiative would not have been possible without the proactive support of both. He added, “It’s also a massive pat on the back for NMIT staff. They’ve been entrusted with the task of providing fundamental training for a critically important segment of the Air Force.

“Our main focus is and always has been on providing Kiwi trained aviation engineers for New Zealand’s aviation industry. However the agreement with the Air Force will create more opportunities both nationally and internationally.”

Meanwhile, the Chief of the Air Force, Air Vice-Marshal Graham Lintott, described the RNZAF’s relationship with NMIT as having “reached new heights”.

“NMIT has been contracted and is now delivering specialist training to the RNZAF’s Engineering Officers at Woodbourne. This brings back to New Zealand training that has historically been delivered overseas. NMIT now also delivers the Aeronautical Fundamentals course, which used to be conducted by the RNZAF and remains a pre-cursor for any student wishing to enter the RNZAF in a technical trade.”

The Aviation Engineering course is the only aviation engineering tertiary course in New Zealand to be offered to civilians on an active military base.

The School of Aviation offers several aircraft maintenance engineering pre-employment training packages to Level 4 National Certificate in Aircraft Maintenance. Half of the course is theory related and the other half involves practical hands-on experience.

Recently, the School of Aviation began an on-line qualification—the Level 6 Diploma in Aeronautical Certification. It is for aircraft maintenance engineers already working in the industry to enable them to work towards gaining their New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority examinations and their aircraft maintenance engineer’s licence.

The School provides RNZAF Engineering Officers with the one-year Diploma in Aeronautical Engineering Management.