Quite correct RLE, and that is what is going to happen in the GR4 Force.
The 2nd Line aspect won't be a major problem, but where Lyneham is concerned, I think it'll take longer to put an aircraft through a servicing because people won't be as familiar with "the other type". We can all use manuals if we don't know something, it just takes longer. However, will the system cope after Multi-skilling when there are only slightly more than half the number of techies?
It's the 1st Line bit of centralisation which is the problem, and I'm so pleased that many of the aircrew Ppruners views correspond with my own. How can a system which blatantly doesn't work at Brize be any use anywhere else? (Don't know about Lyneham).
I don't see why 1 SEngO, 2 JEngO's and a wobbly can't manage 2 sqns worth, leave the FS's downwards embedded in their own sqn;.at least that way pride and esprit de corps would be largely unaffected and people would still give a stuff - that's what keeps most of us going after all.
I fully agree with BEagle's comments about Brize; from an eng. point of view, the VC10 sqns, esp. 101, were always well worth a posting, now most wouldn't touch 10/101 with a long thin boating implement. Don't mind long hours, lotsa work etc but when you don't feel part of the team anymore what's the point?
Hopefully some of you guys might be able to point your EngO colleagues in the direction of this thread, and if some of them take notice and change their viewpoints, it's worth it. Some of them might even openly oppose the party line,ooooohhh.
Some quality Mess chest-poking might bear fruit, too. (especially if you live at Marham as there's a Wg Cdr there with a big position in the game!).
CAS are you listening? Don't let them chop squadrons to bits!!
Thanks all
JG