NZFF

by **Alex** » Fri Jan 30, 2009 5:21 pm

3 News wrote:Defence Minister Wayne Mapp confirmed today the National Government had scrapped the previous government's plans to move the Air Force from Whenuapai to Ohakea in the middle of the North Island.

Full Story.

Alex

by **greaneyr** » Fri Jan 30, 2009 7:47 pm

Alex wrote:
QUOTE (Alex @ Jan 30 2009, 06:21 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Full Story.

Alex

Looks like I'm not gonna be able to see the 757 on display at an airshow at Ohakea anytime soon then!

It's good news for all who work on the base. I hate any kind of job uncertainty, and really feel for them. There have been talks about scrapping Whenuapai as an airbase for a very long time now, and it's great that someone has finally had the guts to stand up and say "It won't happen".

Richard

by **ronwestnz** » Sat Jan 31, 2009 10:00 am

greaneyr wrote:
QUOTE (greaneyr @ Jan 30 2009, 08:47 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
It's good news for all who work on the base. I hate any kind of job uncertainty, and really feel for them. .

Richard

What about those that just lost their contracts at Ohakea and are now laying off all their staff cause they have no work ?

by **greaneyr** » Sat Jan 31, 2009 11:31 am

ronwestnz wrote:
QUOTE (ronwestnz @ Jan 31 2009, 11:00 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
What about those that just lost their contracts at Ohakea and are now laying off all their staff cause they have no work ?

What kind of contracts?

by **ronwestnz** » Sat Jan 31, 2009 8:29 pm

greaneyr wrote:
QUOTE (greaneyr @ Jan 31 2009, 12:31 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
What kind of contracts?

Mainly the ones for the expansions to the base and on going services later.

the added services are a catch 22 as they're lost in one area and gained in another.

I know the firm i work for have been pricing for the expansion work, as well as have our competitors, if none of us get it then some of us are in a right pickle.

by **creator2003** » Sat Jan 31, 2009 11:54 pm

I was pretty happy ether way with what mite of happened as long as it didnt turn into a park ,so this out come is pretty good and i still get to look at mil choppers going back and forth every now and again ...

by **Nunner** » Sun Feb 01, 2009 7:02 am

Alex wrote:
QUOTE (Alex @ Feb 4 2009, 05:21 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Full Story.

Alex

Air Force ?

Nunner

by **greaneyr** » Sun Feb 01, 2009 8:58 am

ronwestnz wrote:
QUOTE (ronwestnz @ Jan 31 2009, 09:29 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Mainly the ones for the expansions to the base and on going services later.

the added services are a catch 22 as they're lost in one area and gained in another.

I know the firm i work for have been pricing for the expansion work, as well as have our competitors, if none of us get it then some of us are in a right pickle.

I didn't realise the plans to relocate Whenuapai's ops to Ohakea were ever more than pie-in-the-sky stuff. It just seemed to be one of those things that you'd read about every few years:

"Defence Minister xyz has initiated a review of the Whenuapai airbase to consider its future" ....

followed a few months later by

"Defence Minister xyz has advised that Whenuapai will be expected to close and relocate all services to Ohakea by x+4 (where x is the current year)" ...

followed some time later by

"Defence Minister xyz has announced that the proposed closure of Whenuapai will not take place as expected in x+4 because of some new excuse"

And then they'd loop through it again and again every few years.

I agree, it's rough if companies have staffed themselves to take on contracts at Ohakea then have to deal with this situation.

by **Trev** » Sun Feb 01, 2009 10:06 am

The building for the new 3 Sqn hanger at Ohakea is underway at the moment. Predictions are that it will be fininshed by the end of this year.
They are also supposed to be also building new general engineering workshops ( welding, woodwork/composites and safety equipment) in the same area. This is to make way for a new airmovements facility.
The current Ohakea air movements build (which is the main military entry point into NZ) is the size of a small house and tucked away down the back of the base and is no longer satisfactory for the amount of overseas deployments and travel the NZDF undertakes.
The plan is to build a much bigger facility closer to the front of the base / main gate, so that people dont have to drive thru the whole base to get to it. Once that was built they were proposing to bring the boeings to Ohakea. The Boeing move may not happen.

Trev

by **FlyingKiwi** » Mon Feb 02, 2009 7:30 pm

Well, as someone who actually enjoys the Orions, Hercs, 757s etc. flying low over my house on approach to Whenuapai I'm quite happy at this.

by **ardypilot** » Tue Feb 03, 2009 2:13 pm

FlyingKiwi wrote:
QUOTE (FlyingKiwi @ Feb 2 2009, 08:30 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Well, as someone who actually enjoys the Orions, Hercs, 757s etc. flying low over my house on approach to Whenuapai I'm quite happy at this.

Far out, you must have to travel along way to Ardy each day!

It takes me 60 minutes, there and back, which is a far too longer commute considering high-school used to be five minutes down the road

by **FlyingKiwi** » Wed Feb 04, 2009 6:33 pm

It's not too bad seeing as most of the journey is on the motorway and I can generally time it to avoid the traffic, usually takes about 40 minutes.

NZFF

Air Force to stay at Whenuapai

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