PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - Future Carrier (Including Costs)
View Single Post
Old 27th Aug 2011, 20:13
  #3048 (permalink)  
Capt P U G Wash
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: uk
Posts: 91
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
FB, I must answer your allegation of RAF reluctance to offer FAA pilots cockpits. Whilst the demise of the Harrier clearly cost the RN the vast majority of her fixed wing slots, the RAF lost far more cockpits. Did you really expect the RAF to take an even bigger hit?

In fixed wing squadron terms, the RN have lost one in the last three years, the RAF have lost eight and gained one. Reductions in fast jet fleets have cost the RAF well over 100 cockpits, when the RN lost about 20. The question that should have been asked at this stage was could Defence afford to keep a disproportionate amount of RN aircrew who rarely compete above OF5. If the RN had a ship’s Captain (and even a 1SL) who was a fixed wing aviator (like the USN) then we could have a different conversation. But your address may indicate that you know more than most on the exchamge agenda.

Also, your sums are flawed: there would be no additional Typhoon flying generated (an RN pilot would merely have supplanted an RAF one), so any one-way exchanges in the US are costing Defence additional money - nice try though!

As for the need to keep current FAA pilots in the cockpit, just how many of the current crop do you think will see a JSF slot? The vast majority of our future JSF pilots have only just got their GCSE results – A*s of course! There is no need to keep a bunch of thirty something’s in the cockpit if there is nowhere for them to go later.

You don’t hear the RAF talking about F35A and no Carriers, but if some continue to peddle the Super Hornet agenda you will….
Capt P U G Wash is offline