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he Defence Force conducts patrols in cooperation with Pacific nations, National Maritime Coordination Centre, the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency and other agencies as part of New Zealand’s efforts to detect and deter illegal fishing and sustain fisheries for future generations. Recent missions by P-3K2 Orions included maritime surveillance flights to the Cook Islands, and Port Vila in Vanuatu, where they supported the 40th Anniversary of Independence, Flight Lieutenant (FLTLT) Jack Barnett said. While patrolling the Cook Islands, aircrew were able to stay overnight at a hotel that met all the guidelines outlined by the Ministry of Health.
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P-3K2 Orion RIGHT
No. 5 Squadron pilot FLTLT Stuart Glendinning
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“We’ve put in place procedures to mitigate the health risk to both our people and pacific partners. These mitigation measures determine how we get to and from the airport, what Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) we wear and what we do once we get to the hotel,” FLTLT Barnett said.
“New Zealand obviously tries to be a good Pacific partner, so it’s a good opportunity to step up and fly more in the Pacific and assist them in looking after their resources.”
“We minimise exposure by reducing interactions with local staff where possible, following social distancing advice and enhancing the cleaning of aircraft and equipment. We’re following all the guidelines set out by the Directorate of Air Force Safety and Health.”
“We can still achieve a significant amount of patrolling without landing in these countries. We never stopped patrolling during the first Covid lockdown, we just altered them to provide the same effect where possible. If we did need to land, it would just be to refuel and there would be minimal exposure to anyone on the ground.”
One of the most important reasons for keeping up the surveillance flights was because of the stress on the islands caused by the Covid pandemic, resulting in them being unable to do as much of the patrolling themselves, he said.
Even if New Zealand has a second wave of Covid, that would not mean the flights would cease, he said.
The first extended surveillance mission following the Covid lockdown was a three-day mission by a P-3K2 Orion aircraft over Solomon Islands’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), a task coordinated by the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA).
