Founded by Max Farndale 1947 - 2018
The program will provide advanced training to smooth the path between the end of pilot training courses and taking up positions, Ardmore Flying School CEO Mike Newman said regarding the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed with Batam-based FlyBest Flight Academy on fixed-wing flight training.
"What we find happens is often students are only buying the minimum training course that gets them past the legal requirement, and there tends to be an enormous gap between that training program and what the industry is looking for in terms of giving employment outcomes," Newman said. The partnership looks to give several hundred pilots high-standard skills in the 18-month long professional course, he added.
The Indonesian academy is planning to cooperate with its New Zealand counterpart on redesigning the training course by also improving student resources, including providing quality instructors, FlyBest Flight Academy CEO Karin Item said.
"What's interesting is that New Zealand has something we don't have in our program here, which is special training for mountainous areas," Karin said.
She said the course could possibility be designed to be partly carried out in New Zealand, adding that scholarships would hopefully be available in the future. The details of the partnership are still being discussed, Karin continued, unable as yet to provide the monetary value of the deal.
At its current rate, the Indonesian academy produces 30 pilots per year, she said, but the number could be increased through the cooperation. Karin said some graduates of the school have gone on to work in AirAsia Indonesia, adding that internationally recognized skills gained through the renewed program would increase the graduates competitiveness even more.
According to Boeing, from 2014 to 2034, Indonesia will require an average 900 pilots per year, with only 400 graduates from the current aviation schools.
Source: The Jakarta Post
Increasingly awkward national role as US foreign policy cheerleader
US Vice President Joe Biden’s “touchdown” this week in New Zealand presents New Zealand premier John Key with the problem of having to enthuse over several issues that he knows are actually or potentially damaging to the economy, or are being viewed as unlikely to happen.
They are:-
Mr Key will have to keep his mouth shut on the now distinct possibility of a President Donald Trump who has pledged to cancel all such trade treaties on being elected.
From the MSCNewsWire reporters' desk, Tuesday 19 July 2016
Increasingly awkward national role as US foreign policy cheerleader
US Vice President Joe Biden’s “touchdown” this week in New Zealand presents New Zealand premier John Key with the problem of having to enthuse over several issues that he knows are actually or potentially damaging to the economy, or are being viewed as unlikely to happen.
They are:-
Mr Key will have to keep his mouth shut on the now distinct possibility of a President Donald Trump who has pledged to cancel all such trade treaties on being elected.
From the MSCNewsWire reporters' desk, Tuesday 19 July 2016
The Reserve Bank has today released a consultation paper proposing changes to loan-to-value restrictions (LVRs) to further mitigate risks to financial stability arising from the current boom in house prices.
“The banking system is heavily exposed to the property market with residential mortgages making up 55 percent of banking system assets. Investor lending has been increasing rapidly and is a significant contributing factor to the current market strength. The proposed restrictions recognise the higher risks associated with such lending,” Governor Graeme Wheeler said.
Under the proposed new restrictions:
· No more than 5 percent of bank lending to residential property investors across New Zealand would be permitted with an LVR of greater than 60 percent (i.e. a deposit of less than 40 percent).· No more than 10 percent of lending to owner-occupiers across New Zealand would be permitted with an LVR of greater than 80 percent (i.e. a deposit of less than 20 percent).· Loans that are exempt from the existing LVR restrictions, including loans to construct new dwellings, would continue to be exempt.These proposed new restrictions would take effect on 1 September 2016 and simplify the LVR policy by removing the current distinction between lending in Auckland and the rest of the country.
Mr Wheeler said: “The drivers of the housing market strength are complex and action is required on many fronts that extend well beyond financial policy. Broad initiatives to reduce the underlying housing sector imbalances need to remain a top priority.
“A sharp correction in house prices is a key risk to the financial system, and there are clear signs that this risk is increasing across the country. A severe fall in house prices could have major implications for the functioning of the banking system and cause long-lasting damage to households and the broader economy.
“LVR restrictions to date have improved the resilience of bank balance sheets by reducing banks’ exposure to riskier mortgages. This policy initiative is intended to further improve the resilience of bank balance sheets, and it will assist in restraining credit and housing demand.
“We expect banks to observe the spirit of the new restrictions in the lead-up to the new policy taking effect.”
Consultation concludes on 10 August.
Mr Wheeler said that the Bank is progressing its work on potential limits to high debt-to-income ratio lending, which would be a potential complement to LVR restrictions.
“We have had positive initial discussions with the Minister of Finance on amending the Memorandum of Understanding on Macro-prudential policy to include this instrument.”
A RBNZ press release July 19, 2016
Imagine Carless Days For Auckland?
They did little to reduce consumption and were scrapped in May 1980. But in saying that just maybe the principal behind this could help make Aucklanders lifes a little easier on the highways and byways of the city. And as far as business is concerned anything that will help with improving productivity has to be looked at. You would think.
It would have its difficulties for sure, for some the car is an appendage so a day without the car would be just unthinkable! But think of the good it could do. A great way to meet new people. Uber drivers would love it, car pooling would become a must do activity, fuel stations could be gathering points for pick-ups and then throw in the odd Pokemon. So why shouldn't it work?
As in the 70's you would get to nominate your carless day and for this receive a colourful windscreen sticker. There would even be "X" for exempt sticker available for those who qualifed. Campervans and the like you would think.
It is local body election year afterall so maybe it's a platform for one of the Mayoral hopefuls. Don't think it would have suited Len though.
Source: A readers whim.
Hyundai Motor Co. and its affiliate Kia Motors Corp. will seek to push sales of environment-friendly vehicles as part of efforts by the South Korean automakers to meet increasingly stringent global emission standards and fuel economy requirements.
Hyundai Motor Group chairman Chung Mong Koo, who presided over a meeting of executives heading overseas offices, directed them to expand production and sales of such vehicles globally, according to an e-mailed statement. Hyundai plans to introduce its Ioniq gasoline-electric hybrid in the U.S. and Europe, after starting sales in January in South Korea. Kia plans to sell the Niro hybrid in the U.S., Europe and China.
Chung’s push for eco-friendly cars comes as Tesla Motor Inc. prepares for its debut in South Korea, where such models comprise less than 1% of 21 million vehicles. Automakers are expanding their lineup of alternative-energy vehicles with companies such as Toyota Motor Corp. as they come under pressure to improve fuel economy and meet increasingly stringent emission rules.
“We need to expand (the) eco-friendly car lineup and strengthen sales, production capabilities to lead the eco-friendly car industry,” Chung, who heads both Hyundai and Kia, said in the statement.
Hyundai and Kia have said they plan to have 28 environment-friendly vehicles in their lineups by the end of the decade, including electric cars and hybrids.
The automaker will accelerate the introduction of its Genesis luxury brand globally, according to the statement. Hyundai spun off its luxury marque into a standalone brand as it seeks to move upscale and compete against the likes of Toyota’s Lexus.
Hyundai plans to start sales of the G80 mid-sized sedan and the bigger G90 sedan in the U.S. this year, while the G90 will be introduced in the Middle East, the company said without providing a time frame.
Source: Industry Week
The consumers price index (CPI) rose 0.4 percent in the June 2016 quarter, Statistics New Zealand said today. This follows a 0.2 percent rise in the March 2016 quarter.
“Higher petrol and housing-related prices were countered by lower prices for meat and domestic air fares,” consumer prices manager Matt Haigh said.
Petrol prices showed the largest upward contribution, up 5.3 percent in the June 2016 quarter. This follows falls of 7.7 percent in the March 2016 quarter and 7.0 percent in the December 2015 quarter.
Annual CPI remains at 0.4 percent
The CPI inflation rate remained stable, at 0.4 percent, in the year to the June 2016 quarter.
Housing-related prices continued to be the main upward contributor, up 3.3 percent in the year. This increase was influenced by higher prices for newly built houses, excluding land (up 5.6 percent), and rentals for housing (up 2.3 percent).
Transport prices made the largest downward contribution, down 5.3 percent in the year as prices for petrol and domestic air fares fell.
"Petrol prices were 8.1 percent lower than a year ago, despite the increase this quarter as international crude oil prices recovered from their February low," Mr Haigh said. "Petrol makes up around 5 percent of the CPI basket."
Excluding petrol, the CPI showed a 0.8 percent increase in the year to the June 2016 quarter.
The CPI measures the rate of price change of goods and services purchased by New Zealand households. See the interactive CPI visualisation for further information.
Download: Consumers Price Index: June 2016 quarter – media release (PDF, 1 page, 145kB)
Spirit AeroSystems Inc. is installing one of the world’s largest autoclaves at its Wichita, Kan., facility. The new autoclave is 120 feet long, has a 30-foot diameter and an internal volume of more than 78,000 cubic feet.
The autoclave, which is one of nearly 40 at Spirit’s Wichita location, in part of a 94,000 square-foot expansion to Spirit’s Composite Fuselage Facility, where the company makes the carbon-fiber nose section for Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner. As one of the largest manufacturers in the world, and Wichita’s largest employer, Spirit has composite expertise for large, complex aerostructures as well as jet engine nacelles.
“Spirit continues to invest in our composite manufacturing capability and this latest expansion will help us meet record demand for the products we build,” said Terry George, Spirit’s vice president of the 787 program. “Spirit’s capabilities in composites are unmatched, and we are looking forward to continuing to meet our customer’s composite manufacturing needs.”
The autoclave won’t be the only huge machine in that facility. Spirit also has a four-story-high “Electroimpact” automated fiber placement machine that creates the Dreamliner’s airplane’s cockpit and forward cabin section by laying strips of carbon fiber on tooling in the shape of the Dreamliner’s fuselage section.
Spirit has also been busy with production of parts for the Boeing 737. According to a recent article on Kansas.com, by early 2017 the company will be manufacturing 47 parts of the Boeing 737 per month – the highest rate since the company was founded 11 years ago. The article adds that Boeing’s unfilled orders for the 737 — including its current Next Generation and new Max variants — stand at 4,385. At 47 airplanes a month, that figures to nearly eight years of building 737s.
Source: Composites Manufacturing July 18, 2016
The Government has approved the purchase of a new naval tanker for the New Zealand Defence Force which will be ice-strengthened and winterised for operations in Antarctica, Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee says.
The project will cost $493 million and will support a full range of NZDF deployments, including maritime sustainment and humanitarian and disaster relief operations.
The vessel will be built by South Korean firm Hyundai Heavy Industries and is expected to be delivered in 2020.
It replaces the 30-year-old tanker HMNZS Endeavour, which currently provides fuel to Royal New Zealand Navy and other partner nations’ ships and embarked helicopters, and supplies fuel and fresh water to support land operations.
Mr Brownlee says the new tanker will undertake a similar role.
“The Defence Force can’t operate without fuel, water, ammunition and other bulk goods, and the most effective way to deliver fuel to ships, aircraft and vehicles deployed overseas is by tanker.
“This vessel will be significantly larger, will be able to refuel two ships at a time while underway, carry and refuel Defence Force helicopters, produce and store water, and store and transport bulk goods.
“The Government has also opted to include ice-strengthening and winterisation features, representing a very useful enhanced capability when compared to the current tanker.
“This will allow it to deliver fuel and other goods to support Scott Base and McMurdo Station, during summer months once an icebreaker has cleared a path.
“It is important that New Zealand has a significant asset capable of supporting our presence in Antarctica and our interests in the Southern Ocean more generally.
“It will increase New Zealand’s contribution and help further demonstrate our long-term commitment to the Antarctic Joint Logistics Pool with the United States,” Mr Brownlee says.
The recently-released Defence White Paper placed greater emphasis than previous White Papers on protection of Southern Ocean resources and supporting New Zealand’s civilian presence in Antarctica. HMNZS Endeavour is due to retire in 2018.
A press release from the Minister of Defence, July 18, 2016
Gerry BrownleeDefence
Share
About this SiteContact UsSitemapLegalPrivacyAccessibilityCopyrightwww.govt.nz
Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee leaves today to attend the Counter-Daesh Defence Ministers’ Meeting being hosted by US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter in Washington on 20 July.
He will also represent New Zealand at the Counter Daesh Foreign Ministers’ Meeting being hosted by US Secretary of State John Kerry, also in Washington, on 21 July.
“As we have seen recently, Daesh continues to pose a significant threat not only to the citizens of Iraq and Syria but also the wider world,” Mr Brownlee says.
“These meetings provide an important opportunity to engage with other partners involved in the global coalition to counter the threat posed by Daesh.
“Receiving first-hand observations from those in the field and ensuring a coordinated response to tackling Daesh is important.
“We will be discussing the progress being made across all the coalition lines of effort, including the military campaign.”
New Zealand has around 100 troops alongside 300 Australians undertaking a Building Partner Capacity mission at Taji Military Base near Baghdad.
New Zealand’s commitment to this mission was recently extended until November 2018 and the Government has agreed, in principle, to training stabilisation forces required to ensuring law and order in Iraqi towns, cities and territories won back from Daesh.
A press release from the office of Gerry Brownlee
Palace of the Alhambra, Spain
By: Charles Nathaniel Worsley (1862-1923)
From the collection of Sir Heaton Rhodes
Oil on canvas - 118cm x 162cm
Valued $12,000 - $18,000
Offers invited over $9,000
Contact: Henry Newrick – (+64 ) 27 471 2242
Mount Egmont with Lake
By: John Philemon Backhouse (1845-1908)
Oil on Sea Shell - 13cm x 14cm
Valued $2,000-$3,000
Offers invited over $1,500
Contact: Henry Newrick – (+64 ) 27 471 2242
|
|