DK338 and Snaggletooth.
I don’t think that it is justified to tar us all with the same brush We can all make sweeping statements after a less than happy encounter with a mover/RAFP/pilot and yet I suspect that my specialisation merely has a similar ratio of wasters versus good blokes/ladies as most others.
What can be done to address this problem of the perceived inadequate performance of Flt Ops Officers? For a start, the ludicrous policy of putting us into just about any old job, whether appropriate or not, needs to be addressed. The Flt Ops specialisation was introduced in 1997 in order to get aircrew out of STC Ops Rooms and back in the air. That relatively simple objective was soon changed to one of putting Flt Ops Officers into as many ground jobs as possible previously occupied by aircrew. Why? Simple, cost. As long as I remain cheaper than my aircrew oppo then I will have a job, whether I am competent or otherwise.
The other matter that needs to be addressed is training. If I don’t get full and appropriate training how can I be expected to perform in post? A post that may well have previously been filled by a second or third tourist aircrew bod who knew the ac and it’s role inside out. It’s like putting an ab initio student straight onto a Sqn and expecting him or her to perform to CR standard after having a 5 min look at the FRCs and a brief trip in the sim. He’s on a hiding to nothing.
We aren’t aircrew and I for one don’t pretend or aspire to me. It is quite rightly pointed out that Idon’t have the same skill sets or professional abilities and someone who flies the ac will have. What I do have is the skills and experience built up on a number of different ops working with a variety of ac types in the last half a dozen years. I consider that by dint of a lot of hard work, quite a few cock-ups and some good advice from my aircrew peers along the way if have become a competent and credible professional. All that I ask is that my errors are pointed out to me (in order that I may learn), occasionally I am thrown an appreciative thank you and that we all keep sight of the fact that no matter what our job is, that job is not an end product, projecting air power is what we’re here to do.
Soapbox away. Thanks gents for the opportunity for some reasoned, adult discussion .
JWCA
