Some might argue that the reason the Navy has less jet jocks that it needs is partly due to a number of factors - namely under investment, operational tempo and political interference.
In the early 80s, it was decided that only two carrier air groups would be formed, instead of three (one per carrier). In peacetime this seemed fair enough, whilst it led to more wear and tear on both machines and personnel, it was something that could be justified.
In the 1990s the UK decided to deploy a carrier to the Adriatic, in response to the conflict in what was Yugoslavia. Whilst many will argue that this was for political reasons, the fact was that the Royal Navy had a carrier in theatre from early 1993 to early 1996.
During this time, either 800 or 801 was embarked on the in theatre carrier, whilst the other one trained back in the UK and elsewhere. This high operational tempo (50% of the time in theatre) probably helped a few people decide to PVR.
This level of operations continued after the Dayton peace accord was signed, deployments (lengthy ones) continued in the Adriatic, and the Gulf (Saddam was sabre rattling and kicking out UN inspectors throughout the late 90s).
In 1999, the proposal to relocate the Sea Harrier force away from Yeovilton to RAF bases led to a number of PVRs and threats to PVR. I have had that confirmed to me personally be people I know. It also got reported in
this article here.
In any case, more SHAR drivers could be found in an ermegency - from 899, ones doing other jobs, either flying or desk jobs or even in "fishead" type positions. And of course there is the RNR Air Branch.
On a slightly different topic:
I found something interesting the other day whilst tidying. In late 2001
Air Forces Monthly published a special entitled
Carriers - Air Power At Sea Naturally the Sea Harrier was mentioned.....
In an article by Commander Tim Gedge - he finishes with:
".......The primary mission was to carry out an amphibious operation and drop bombs on grounnd forces. The biggest shortfall was not having any embarked AEW aircraft. This was a catastrophic omission and one that cost us several warships and many lives.
At the time, a political decision had been taken to sell the carriers. Politicians had decided we did not reallly need a global reach navy, the carrier
Hermes was being sold to India and it was planned to sell
Invincible to Australia. How wrong these decisions were. We won in 1982 because, to the last man, we had trained harder than the enemy, because we had a small number of superb aircraft, and because we made luck happen.
After the Falklands, huge efforts were made to remedy the shortfalls in capability. Now all that remains is to insist that the lessons ae not forgotten......"
A question from me - does the removal of Sea Dart from the CVS allow more aircraft to be carried?