From the recent Air Eng Exec mtg;
The NCA PAS will be set up in Jan 04, for implementation in Apr 04, similiar to the O's this year. Those who are within 3-4 yrs of IPP or past IPP, will automatically be offered PAS if they are FS or MACR and havent PVR'd or been med downgraded etc.
Those who are not yet at 3-4 yrs to IPP will be boarded in the future for suitability for PAS, as per the O's.
The latest word is that the spine will be a different one than the O's.
Unlike the O's, who can forgo military greatness and senior ranks by joining the PAS and getting loadsadosh, the erks will not be forgoing rank or greatness for loadsadosh!
In fact even if the extra dosh would take a MACR from his current max of 45k to the 52k of NCO Pilot on the other spine, 7k gross, minus 40% is not a lot to write home about really?
However, let's not look free money in the mouth. It will mean more dosh and with the proposed new pension deal, it is better however, are we gauranteed to get PAS? What will the spine look like? I bet it won't be like the O's and if O rearcrew (not Nav)are topping out at 53k'ish, do you think we'll get any where near them, don't think so.
I believe that it is a passifying ploy with some merit which will not supply us with a great deal in real terms, watch for the catch of changing your terms of service when you accept PAS!!!!!
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