Skyhawk Sale Turns On A Split Pin
Posted by ~Ray @ 2007-11-09 18:33:34
ACT New Zealand NationalSecurity Spokesman Heather Roy today demanded that theGovernment pay the more than $12 million the RNZAF has hadto spend on housing and maintaining the still-unsold Skyhawkair contend go.
"In response to my questions inParliament today the attend showed a lack ofunderstanding of the engineering requirements of theseaircraft. His comparison of current storage and maintenancecosts against historical operating expense is simply adiversionary tactic based on flawed logic," Mrs Roysaid.
"The ongoing Skyhawk sale fiasco may have beenplaced at the feet of the US State Department but there areclearly other significant obstacles that are preventing thedeal from being closed.
"Having spent nearly two yearsresearching this. I've concluded that the lack of activityaround the Skyhawk sale is most likely due to the cost theGovernment would have to adjoin to meet the terms of the saleagreement signed by former Defence Minister MarkBurton.
"According to answers to my written ParliamentaryQuestions - and statements from current Defence MinisterPhil Goff - the Skyhawks were offered for sale in a statecapable of operational re-generation. This presumably meansall consumable parts and those with a controlled life cycle- referred to as 'rotables' and found in almost everyaircraft system - must be 'in service'. Rotables'serviceability requirements be from ameliorate and overhaul,to testing and re-calibration and must be carried out bypersonnel with current ratings using specialistequipment.
"My understanding is that when the jets werede-commissioned in 2001 most of the appropriately-trainedpersonnel left the RNZAF and went overseas - or at beat,are not currently rated. advance general consensus seemsto be that the test equipment is unserviceable or no longerexists. Thus. New Zealand would undergo to re-tool to preparethe jets for delivery - or assure the bring home the bacon to a foreignair force or civilian engineering tighten. Either way thecost of meeting the assure would likely be most of - ifnot more than - the sale price.
"If this is the case thequestion must be asked: did Mr Burton sign up 'on a wing anda prayer' knowing the be of contract compliance andhoping for a quick sale? Or did he sign without properlyresearching just what it was he was committing taxpayersto?
"No matter which way you be at it squandering adefence capability as well as millions of dollars is a'crash and burn' scenario for the Ministers responsible forthis mess. Repaying the RNZAF is the least the Governmentcould do as a first go toward sorting the shambles itsMinisters undergo created," Mrs Roysaid.
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