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It’s been turbulent times for the Air Cadets of No. 5 (Rodney District) Squadron, Air Training Corps (ATC), who have moved their base no less than five times in 14 years.
However, a move last month to North Shore airfield in Dairy Flat has all the signs of being a longer-term solution.
The group is growing – around 90 cadets attend weekly training sessions – which is why Cadet Unit Commander Chris Rutherford says their most recent home, at the Hibiscus Coast Community RSA, no longer met their needs.
He says moving to the airfield, where they are sharing North Shore Aero Club’s facilities, also allows practical skills, such as maintenance and care of aircraft to be introduced.
“No. 5 Squadron runs flying and gliding camps throughout the year. On the airfield, we can now take this to the next level,” he says.
North Shore Aero Club committee member Doug Kruger agrees, and says welcoming the cadets to the facility also allows the club to stretch its wings further into the community.
The ATC is one of the three corps in the NZ Cadet Forces, the other two being the NZ Cadet Corps and Sea Cadet Corps. It was set up in 1941 and is funded by the NZ Defence Force and local communities. Members are civilians. It offers cadets skills in aviation, bushcraft, firearms, leadership, navigation, first aid and radio procedures.
