Just my few penn'orth but, simply, how can you properly train an FJ pilot who spends more time holding and then revalidating to basic standards, than becoming Combat Ready ? And up to SEVEN years ?!
In the sixties, we went from EFTS to Hunter completion (which was a joy) in eighteen months........ and then frontline aircraft OCU (which was a bit of a jump) .... to complete in just over a total of TWO years....... and hardly a moment without FLYING.
This is what we joined to do.
Can someone explain why the training schedule cannot be the same ?
When I left the service, we could still train civilian pilots up to 250 flying hours, then Multi and Instrument Rating qualified, in EIGHTEEN MONTHS.
No wonder the RAF has such a problem with encouraging young lads to take up flying these days and no wonder that, presently, these young lads who want to FLY do so as airline pilots and mortgage themselves up to £110,000 just to achieve it.
Pan right for another 12 Vamp.T11s ! Where did we go wrong ?