Air Force Engineer Wins Top Aeronautical Prize
The New Zealand Defence Force is pleased to congratulate Flying Officer (FGOFF) André Budel on winning the New Zealand
Aeronautical Trust’s prestigious Ian Diamond Award. FGOFF Budel is an Engineering Officer at Base Auckland in Whenuapai.
FGOFF Budel, a former student of Rosmini College on the North Shore, joined the Royal New Zealand Air Force in 2008 as
an Avionics Mechanic. He was later accepted into the Bachelor of Engineering under the Air Force’s University Officer
Scheme; a career highlight for the young officer.
FGOFF Budel says winning the award is an honour and he will be putting the $4000 prize towards further professional
studies in aerospace engineering.
“Receiving this award has motivated me to seek out more opportunities to learn and excel in engineering. I’ve put a lot
of effort into my professional development and it is very rewarding to be a recipient of the Ian Diamond award,” says
FGOFF Budel.
As an engineering officer FGOFF Budel supervises the day-to-day management of a team of avionics technicians who work on
the Air Force’s fleet of P-3K2 Orion aircraft. These aircraft are the mainstay of New Zealand’s airborne surveillance
and response force and are used to patrol and protect our Exclusive Economic Zone, the Pacific region and Southern
Ocean, and conduct search and rescue missions.
“In 2010, I was an avionics mechanic working on the Orions and we deployed on a search and rescue mission to Rarotonga.
This was a great experience as I was able to see how the work I do directly contributes to a tangible outcome, in this
case we saved a person’s life,” says FGOFF Budel.
ENDS