Air NZ forced the Govt into an embarrassing admission this week over the $234m project to update the RNZAF’s fleet of 45-year-old Hercules transport aircraft. The programme is stalled, forcing Air NZ to cut 100 jobs at Blenheim-based Safe Air. The disclosure is the latest chapter in a saga of botched defence projects running from the inshore and offshore patrol vessels through the multi-role HMNZS Canterbury, not to mention the Army’s LAV vehicles. Defence Minister Wayne Mapp says the Govt inherited the Hercules (and Orion) upgrade decisions from the Clark Govt. In December 2004 a contract was signed with L-3 Communications Spar Aerospace in Canada for the Hercules work which involves structural modernisation and the installation of modern avionics and “glass” cockpits. Mapp says a “bespoke” option was chosen.

Engineering authorities say other companies offered less risky options but the air force went “gold-plated.” Spar Aerospace says the programme is “indefinitely” postponed as the company tries to resolve software problems with the flight management systems. Last year the MoD appointed Des Ashton, a respected aircraft engineer (and former Safe Air boss) as a Deputy Secretary to revamp the acquisition process. One of his first steps was to send a project director to the US to look at the Hercules project. The first Hercules is back at Safe Air and a second is still in the US (Spar shifted the project to its Texas facility). With the programme stalled until the issues are resolved, the air force is left with just 3 Hercules, only one which is said to be airworthy at present.

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