“It is a fleet leader, and what that means is it is the highest-flying aircraft in the NH90 fleet worldwide,” Johnston said. “I guess the number 3000 has got a nice ring to it, but we’ve had, I think, the top one or two high flyers for a couple of years now.”
The helicopters were designed for 10,000 hours’ flight time.
“Here on the squadron, we’re typically made up of aircrew, pilots and helicopter load masters who do the flying. And otherwise it’s the maintenance team, the logistics team who put it all together. We are supported by a team of Airbus contractors who support us in our deeper maintenance.”
The helicopters are subject to a robust maintenance programme to keep them airworthy.
The RNZAF first received the aircraft in 2012, and Johnston said it quickly started making an impact.
The crews helped out after February 2016’s Cyclone Winston in Fiji, the Kaikōura earthquake in November that year, and more recently with the aftermath of Cyclone Gabrielle in early 2023.
“I’ve been lucky enough to spend a bit of time overseas in the last couple of years with the NH90 – high-level military engagement exercises or activities or providing support to other government agencies.”
One recent task was a response earlier this year to Cyclone Maila, which hit Papua New Guinea, Bougainville and the Solomon Islands.
He’s been in the Defence Force for 20 years after joining from school, and has flown multiple aircraft and worked with highly skilled professionals.
As Otago rescue helicopter pilot Clayton Girven recently told the Herald, pilots with Air Force experience are highly sought-after in the civilian aviation world.
“The job market for both helicopter pilots and fixed wing is incredibly attractive right now,” Johnston said.
One benefit of Defence Force training was not racking up a student debt.
“There’s a 10-year return of service tied to pilot training, which is where the individuals are bonded to the organisation for that period.”
That decade might go faster than a loan repayment, he said, plus recruits were paid while studying.
“So it’s quite a different set-up from your conventional, not just university, but even a private flight school. And the quality of training here is a real point of pride as well. We have an obligation to ensure that [we] train in an economical fashion.”
Johnston said the NH90 gave Air Force pilots expertise in flying a modern twin-engine helicopter capable of operating in a wide variety of weather conditions.
Rapid response required
No 3 Squadron of the RNZAF operates helicopters including the NH90. Photo / Airbus, Ned Dawson.
If an emergency happens, New Zealand’s No 3 Squadron has to be ready to respond fast.
“The requests will typically come from the other government agencies, but the decision will be made at the highest level, by the Chief of Defence Force and orchestrated, I guess, from the joint forces in Trentham, our higher headquarters.
“We’re there to respond on other people’s worst days. We hold a varying degree of notice to move, which could be one aircraft airborne, and within a few hours, to two to three aircraft.”
The Air Force has an aircraft crew and maintenance team on standby all day, every day.
Sometimes the squadron can help search and rescue teams or other operators if a local civilian helicopter lacks the resources.
“Earlier this year, we assisted in the aeromedical transport of a patient, which they weren’t able to make … by other means.”
And what if the Prime Minister calls up and says he wants to hitch a ride?
“Well, the response would be well above my pay grade, you know.
“We are but humble servants, and that discussion would ultimately be had at the high levels. If there was an appropriate use of resource, we’d do what’s required.”
Flooding during Cyclone Gabrielle. Photo / Kaipara District Council
If you need to be ready to deploy at short notice, it’s helpful living close to base.
When Johnston started in the Air Force, there was cheap Defence housing on base or close to the base for most people.
“Probably 15-plus years ago, there were policy changes that enabled and better supported people to go and buy their own home.
“I’ve got people on my team who live across the whole region – Whanganui, Marton, Feilding, Palmerston North … so it is quite different to say when I came through.”
But if they need to deploy at short notice, team members can still get to where they need to be pretty quickly.
“Earlier in the year, we recognised that there could be potential flooding in the area, and we made sure that people stayed on base, in case there was a callout in support of that flooding response.”
He said the NZDF was aware that extreme weather events might be getting more frequent.
“We do what we can when these things do kick off. Gabrielle, as an example: the response from the squadron there was above and beyond anything that was otherwise mandated. We’ll just put everything into it that we can.”
Johnston said New Zealand was an outlier for NH90 operations. The Australians did not use it, having decided to withdraw their variant called the MRH-90 Taipan three years ago.
“I’m lucky I get to turn up as aircrew and do all the fun stuff, do all the flying.”
But he said the NH90’s success is a testament to the maintenance and logistics teams.
Johnston said they had done some “pretty typically Kiwi sort of clever planning” to ensure the RNZAF could have multiple aircraft available at any time.
“Our strategy has been to have a larger supply of spares, which would be the envy of most other nations, and yeah, that means when the aircraft do break, we can turn them around in a lot quicker time.”
John Weekes is a business journalist covering aviation. He also has experience covering consumer affairs, crime, politics and courts.
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