Flying high at Waimea
Keely Woolman-Smith is currently the only female crewmate in the Navy and says Monday was her first school trip. Photo: Jo Kent.
Students at the Waimea campus were treated to a visit from a military aircraft on Monday as part of a South Island recruitment drive.
The Royal New Zealand Air Force A109 light utility helicopter circled the campus before landing on the Waimea College rugby fields for the presentation.
Flight lieutenant Jason Anderson says they also visited Nelson College on the same day.
“We went to Nelson first, then later this week we’ll visit Marlborough and Christchurch.”
The tour aims to spark an interest in aviation in younger kids and gives them an opportunity to ask questions and get a close-up look at the equipment.
Keely Woolman-Smith is currently the only female crewmate in the Navy and began her air force career just out of school.
“I got to Year 13 and didn’t know what I wanted to do, so I talked to one of my Deans at school and she said this would be good for me. So I applied and it all worked out.”
The now 21-year-old says recruitment days can play a vital role in highlighting a career doing “something you can’t do anywhere else”.
“We do humanitarian and disaster relief work and this helicopter was recently used during the Hawkes Bay floods. Where else can you do stuff like this?”
Students from Henley School, Waimea Intermediate School and Waimea College spent an hour with the crew, with some asking for autographs.
“This must be what it feels like to be a Royal,” Keely says, while signing one boy’s hand.
The lightweight, twin-engine aircraft is one of five A109LUH that make up the Defence Force helicopter training system which includes computer-based training, a virtual interactive trainer, and a top-of-the-line simulator.
This provides the Defence Force with a comprehensive and cost-effective means of training aircrew prior to operational conversion on to the larger NH90 or Seasprite helicopters.
“In addition to its training role,” Keely says, “it’s utilised in various operational tasks including counter-terrorism and personnel transport. It’s available to be employed in support of various government departments in a light utility role.”
Go here for career information.