Royal New Zealand Air Force

[Gibbo]

yep this is an excuse but if correct why are they not being paid for out of the Antarctic's budget, perhaps form a government flight run by Air NZ and give the money back to defence.

Because the RNZAF will still get plenty of use out of them and AirNZ has enough on their plate so are likely very unwilling to committing resources to what is after all a seasonal, part-time operation.

 

[Rob c]

Because the RNZAF will still get plenty of use out of them and AirNZ has enough on their plate so are likely very unwilling to committing resources to what is after all a seasonal, part-time operation.

True but they still don't contribute to our defence when we are missing so many capabilities and the government flight is an option. AirNZ would do it if it was proffitable just as the service RNZAF aircraft for a proffit and have done so for decades. To me the oversized roundel speaks of ego being involved.
Something like the Kawasaki C2 would be more useful, can carry cargo and is reputed to have low levels of noise in the cabin similar to an airliner, so palletised seating could be used. the down side is that the PM arriving on an official in a C2 visit does not look as good..

 

[swerve]

The C-2 would have higher operating costs, probably quite a lot higher.

 

[StevoJH]

True but they still don't contribute to our defence when we are missing so many capabilities and the government flight is an option. AirNZ would do it if it was proffitable just as the service RNZAF aircraft for a proffit and have done so for decades. To me the oversized roundel speaks of ego being involved.
Something like the Kawasaki C2 would be more useful, can carry cargo and is reputed to have low levels of noise in the cabin similar to an airliner, so palletised seating could be used. the down side is that the PM arriving on an official in a C2 visit does not look as good..

There is no reason why you couldn’t fit palletised seating to a C-130J and give any passengers noise cancelling headsets if they don’t already own their own.

Does a ski setup exist for the C130J that could be fitted when necessary?

There is no reason why Government ministers couldn’t fly on Chartered Air NZ aircraft when going overseas. It might cost more per trip, but probably save money overall.

How often do ministers travelling inside New Zealand need the seating capacity of an A320 size airliner?

 

[Aluminium Hail]

There is no reason why you couldn’t fit palletised seating to a C-130J and give any passengers noise cancelling headsets if they don’t already own their own.

Does a ski setup exist for the C130J that could be fitted when necessary?

There is no reason why Government ministers couldn’t fly on Chartered Air NZ aircraft when going overseas. It might cost more per trip, but probably save money overall.

How often do ministers travelling inside New Zealand need the seating capacity of an A320 size airliner?

Ministers traveling within NZ do not use the 757. They normally travel economy like the rest of us (no airline offers domestic business class in NZ). So does the Governor General.

Occasionally they use the King Airs for domestic travel.

 

[Aluminium Hail]

The C-2 would have higher operating costs, probably quite a lot higher.

The purchase price would also probably be higher. It also needs to be remembered that Japan has not exported military equipment before, and considering how risk averse our procurement has become I doubt proposals for either the C-2 or A400m would get past the decision makers due to risk.

Having said that both aircraft would offer NZ a lot.

 

[swerve]

Japan's exported some secondhand landing craft, used US-made King Air trainers modified for maritime patrol, & new lightly-armed coastguard patrol vessels (with more being built), to the Philippines, but nothing major.