Timelord
Nope - UKMFTS manage their own pipelines in flying training and they don’t even run everything. For example all of the ISTAR Mission Aircrew are still trained via the RAF and another contractor provides some key parts of that too. Also, this is a far wider than a tool for running the somewhat small bit that is UKMFTS. Here is an idea of the actual complexity:
- Recruiting - AFCOs, UASs, OASC, Medicals (Capita initials and later ones at Cranwell) and then they come at different ages and some join from other Branches, Trades, Professions or even Services. All of that will affect the overall picture.
- Phase 1 training - Modular Initial Officer Training or Basic Recruit Training/DE SNCO. Some go straight through, some take a little longer. Some fail all together. All of that will affect the overall picture.
- Pre-Employment Training (PET) - AMTW with RAFCAM, SERE training, Centrifuge for those going on to live fly in Prefect (all types of Pilots inc RPAS), HF&CRM training at Cranwell and other course including the dunker for those going to helos. All of which will affect the overall picture.
- Phase 2 training Part 1 - UKMFTS do MAGS, EFT, BFT, MEPT, BRT, ART and AJT, plus Observer/Aircrewmen and WSO training on 750NAS and Airborne Specialist training on 45 Sqn - this is the bit that you correctly identify is managed by the contractor. Then 45 Sqn provide some ISTAR training with another contractor to provide WSO and WSOp for the ISTAR Forces. Then the WSOp (ISR) Lg get language training from the Defence School of Languages. There is much more to all of this and all of which will affect the overall picture.
- Phase 2 training Part 2 - OCUs and QFI/QHI work ups for Creamies and Skimmies. At the end of this they are deemed now ‘trained’ and are role disposed to their FL Sqns or to the Sqns at Valley or Shawbury. All of which affects the overall picture.
- Phase 3 training - LCR/CR workups or B2-B1 Instructor work ups. QWI, EWI, QHI, QFI courses galore. 2-ship work ups, 4-ship or ups, Captaincy upgrades, aircraft upgrades, etc…etc… the list goes on. Then you have things like IOD1-5, IMLC, AMLC, etc… Then you have MAA training, or display work ups, etc…etc… All of which affects the overall picture.
Overlaying all of that you have failure rates, aircraft groundings or so-called ‘pauses’, then the weather doesn’t always play ball, or things like COVID (other viruses are available…) then you have plain life events - marriages, births, deaths and other such things. All of these affect the overall picture too. They can be estimated and that is what a proper planning tool will allow you to do.
Finally, understanding the whole aircrew demographic, their contract lengths, their extant Returns of Service, their medical status, their competences and qualifications, their hours, their preferences, etc… Also, understanding outflow, trying to forecast and understanding/estimating it within the tool to try and get an idea.
At present, all of this is run and managed in very distinct and localised ‘swim lanes’ where really only starts and finishes are understood at a basic level. Most are run on simple spreadsheets or worse. You need to remember that it might take, without any holds, a year to recruit someone, a further year for Phase 1 and PET, then 2-3 years for Phase part 1 then maybe up to a further year for those OCUs and a LCR/CR work up. There lies the problem - from understanding a requirement on the front line for a basic Wingman or Co-Pilot, then you are looking at a 5, or maybe 6 years with a bit of holding, lead time.
Tricky - doesn’t even go near describing it. Especially if you are fiscally constrained where any waste/excess is frowned upon and everything has to be “just in time”. Hopefully, that gives a slightly better understanding of what is needed to managing the aircrew requirements? Next add in Engineers, Air Traffic, Weapons Controllers, Fire Fighters, Med Services, Coppers, Scribblies (we are doing very badly for HR) and the myriad of other supporting staff and you can see how such a tool might be useful once proven to manage 10% of the RAF (which is the very rough numbers of aircrew compared to the rest).