Aircraftmen to compete for skills top spot

Tradies are flocking to Hamilton to see who can claim the top spot in their chosen profession, and airmen from Ohakea are in the mix.

The Worldskills nationals are being held in Hamilton from September 30 until October 2, with thousands of competitors set to take part across 15 skills categories.

From Ohakea Air Force Base, aircraftman Harry Averill, 23, and leading aircraftman Daniel Cornwall, 22, will be fighting for a top spot in the aircraft maintenance section.

Cornwall, 22, said they originally had to compete in the regional competition to secure one of the eight spots at the national finals.

Three of the eight in the aircraft maintenance section were from the Royal New Zealand Air Force.

He said if they were selected for a place in the New Zealand Tool Blacks team, they would then travel to the 44th Worldskills international competition in Abu Dhabi in 2017.

Averill said training in aircraft maintenance took three years, with the job involving maintenance repairs and servicing of aircraft and testing aircraft.

The competition would see them undertake a variety of tests, including being given a drawing and aluminium sheet metal, which they would have to turn into whatever the drawing depicted.

Cornwall said he had entered as he saw it as an opportunity to push himself, while Averill said he hoped it would help him to grow in his profession.

‘‘I wanted to be put under pressure and be able to put my skills to the test.’’

Worldskills NZ chief executive Malcolm Harris said they sought the best to represent New Zealand on the global stage.

‘‘It is like the Olympics of the trades.

‘‘To be selected to represent New Zealand is a huge honour, and at the same time we’re showcasing New Zealand’s quality industry training system,’’ he said.