by redkiwi » Thu Apr 02, 2009 8:44 am
For anyone that has followed the proposed move to Ohakea this comes as no surprise. The date for moving has continually been set back, and the price of modifications to Ohakea continually rise, and has already doubled the original planned budget. If I remember correctly the original date was 2005, then 2008, 2012 and the most recent was around 2014.
I believe the runway mentioned is currently not in service, I spent a fair bit of time running a motorcycle skills course on that runway and the surrounding apron. The differences between this area, the other two runways and the main part of the apron is dramatic to say the least - there are pot holes and cracks that would swallow nose wheel of anything smaller than a Kingair.
Truth be told, if the Air Force did consolidate at Ohakea there would be a lot of senior staff at 40sqn/5sqn/6sqn etc that would not be wanting to move, which would probably result in the loss of many experienced service people.