NZDF's Hercules planes all grounded for maintenance, faults

Thursday, 13 June 2019, 5:26 pm
Article: RNZ

New Zealand Defence Force's Hercules planes all grounded for maintenance, faults

Jane Patterson, Political Editor

All New Zealand's Hercules C-130s have been grounded because of the need for maintenance or other faults.

Defence Force Hercules aircraft Photo: Supplied to RNZ

Defence Minister Ron Mark made the surprising revelation at select committee this morning, although the Defence Force said it was only temporary and would be rectified within days.

"I've just been informed by the Chief of Defence Force that as of today we have no serviceable C-130s - they're all offline.

"One broken down in Australia, and this is what happens when successive governments defer decisions, defer decisions."

The Hercules are the work horses of the Defence Force, and are deployed in a range of situations including for humanitarian crises and natural disasters.

They are also used to transport political delegations, including Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's upcoming trip to Tuvalu.

When the Hercules are finally retired they will be 55 years old.

"That's ten year's younger than me, and I'm getting on," Mr Mark said.

The coalition government will spend $1 billion on a fleet of so-called Super Hercules, but they will not be in service until 2023.

Defence Force chief Air Marshal Kevin Short, left, and Defence Minister Ron Mark. Photo: RNZ / Jane Patterson

Mr Mark told the committee that while politicians had been responsible for allowing the current fleet to get into the state it is in, it was Defence Force personnel who have to deal with the consequences.

"Today, there's a certain amount of embarrassment and I keep saying to the CDF [Chief of Defence Force] - it's not your fault.

"It's not the fault of our engineers, it's not the fault of our crews, it's not the fault of our ground support people, it's the fault of successive governments to pick up the tab and do what was right."

CDF Air Marshal Kevin Short said at any time there were usually two Hercules available, but today was a result of the age of the fleet.

"Manufactured in 1965, given a life extension which started in 2003, that was meant to be 18 years ... and we're going to fly these aircraft until 2023."

That posed two main risks, Mr Short said.

"One is failure that could ground the whole fleet and the cost of maintenance, we're spending more than $20 million a year extra to keep the old airplanes going."

National Party defence spokesperson Mark Mitchell said he wanted to know whether the Defence Ministry could speed up the arrival of the new Super Hercules.

Defence Ministry deputy secretary capability delivery Mike Yardley said they were already in touch with the US to see if the delivery date could be brought forward.

"We have sought assistance from the United States Airforce at the highest levels to speed up the process of turnaround, the minister talked to the President of Lockheed Martin ... to understand and ask their team as well to turnaround this request as soon as possible".

Mr Short said having no Hercules available today was a temporary situation which should be remedied within days.

It was a highly unusual situation, he said, that no one in recent memory could recall having happened.

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