Will R.A.F Navigators be needed in the future?

[Futurnav]

hey all

i have just the one question, im hoping to join the R.A.F as a Navigator, but will they actually be around for much longer on the tornados, Nimrods or any other aircraft they are on.

many thanks

Futurnav

[TorqueOfTheDevil]

If you want to join the RAF as a Navigator, I'm afraid you have already missed the boat (aeroplane?), as the Nav brevet (along with all the other non-pilot ones) has already vanished. The various aircrew specialisations have now all been grouped under the heading WSO/WSOp, depending on whether the individual is commissioned or not.

That said, the job which Navs/WSOs do will probably be around for a while. I'll leave it to a FJ mate to update you on the expected out-of-service date for the Tornado GR (but I believe it's still some way off), but in the ME world the Nav job - if not name - will certainly be around for some time to come, as the Nimrod MRA4 will still have a Nav (albeit only one as opposed to the two which the MR2 carries). There will still be a few other Nav jobs for a little while longer (C-130K, VC-10), but you are right that it is a dying breed, with the rotary world already having turned its back on Navs, and the AD world in the process of doing so.

Have you considered applying for other non-pilot aircrew specialisations?

[daze_gone_buy]

The biggest question is, were they ever needed? :E

Time to hide and ignore incoming.

Only joking,.........................

[PredatorB]

Have you heard of a UCAV?......Coming your way soon.

[Futurnav]

Hey all

as you can see im posting alot of stuff about naviagtors, i was just wondering if there are any current r.a.f nav's on this forum if so would love to hear from you

many thanks

Futurnav

[Pontius Navigator]

I believe there will be two nav streams. One on the GR4 until 2025 and the other in staff jobs where the pilots have left for civil aviation.:}

[DaveO'Leary]

I heard the MoD have just purchased 2,000 TomTom Go 300s:ok:

[charliegolf]

Dave,

Why on earth would they need 2000?:)

CG

[enicalyth]

One for each of the three services and 1997 for civil servants to find the weekend cottages?

[DaveO'Leary]

A probability study (2000) of the units gave a 3-8% failure rate of a-b precision variations to target. Now, this might not mean much driving from Blackpool to Bury, but who wants a mushroom cloud over Iraq when we wanted Iran?

Not forgetting the confusion this would cause to the F-18s (US pilots) when they encounter a roundabout on the talking map???? They might just keep circling looking for the turn off.:)

[Pontius Navigator]

"Attention - Danger Zone - Slow Down - you are exceeding the speed limit"

[Seldomfitforpurpose]

"One on the GR4 until 2025 and the other in staff jobs where the pilots have left for civil aviation"

And that ladies and gentlemen is why we are f@cked :ugh:

[Seldomfitforpurpose]

Bit early chap as McD's is open till quite late on a bank holiday weekend, try after 23:00.....................:p

[Zoom]

Navs are OK, I suppose, but that extra fuel instead would be so much more useful.

:ok:

[L J R]

And don't forget the Oxygen required to sustain them, that takes room too you know.

[Pontius Navigator]

Zoom, of course, quite right and very useful too






for when you get lost :}

or as a POW :(

[Wensleydale]

The transition of Navigator to WSO is quite a shrewd move for the Air Force. They havn't got a clue as to how many Navs they will need in the future because of the delays into service of future projects. They also could not persuade people to be AEOps - imagining hearing in the careers office "you have a 90% chance of going to the far north of Scotland with little chance of a commission". Therefore, the new clumping of rear crew trades will give a few more carrots to future NCA while ensuring that there will be a pool of qualified people to plunder for "Navs" should the need arise. (I'll still wear my "N" badge though).

As to whether Navs are a waste of time..... Mrs Wensleydale went to school with a lad who became a Jaguar pilot. Sadly he ran into Cumulo-Granitus while at the OCU at Lossie in the early 1980s. Mum in Law sent us a copy of his orbituary from the local paper which stated that he always wanted to be a single seat fighter pilot because he didn't want to rely upon anybody else. 'nuf said. Its a bit like the DC10 that was turned the wrong way by ATC in Teneriffe and flew into the mountain while 2 pilots and an eng were discussing a minor snag. Its amazing what an extra pair of eyes and ears in the cockpit can do for you.

[Impiger]

Ah 'Navigation' the second oldest profession!

:) :)

[skiesfull]

2nd oldest profession?
Is that because you need a Nav. to find the oldest profession?

[daze_gone_buy]

Talking of the oldest profession, did they not suffer from a very famous anagram of 'navigator'?

:\

[Melchett01]

Ah 'Navigation' the second oldest profession!

Only with slightly fewer morals than the first :E

[frodo_monkey]

Futurnav,

Yes. PM if you have Q's...

SFFP,

Surely as a truckie you'll be there holding the fort?;)

[BEagle]

"r.a.f nav's"

I doubt it. But there may be some RAF navs.

[buoy15]

Flew with a super Nav
Never failed to find us the "oldest profession" - especially down the 'gut' in Malta or 'Boogie Street' in Singapore
Carried a piece of loadstone and a Times World Atlas in his nav bag just in case we got lost
Dickie - where are you?

[Strato Q]

2 Navs on the MRA4 until 2035 (WSOs but there won't be any AEOs left by the time it is in service).