Remember change is inevitable (except from a vending machine). The changes at Lynenam are driven by LEAN and a need to reduce manpower across Eng Wing by 130 to pay for the ‘A Brief History of the RAF’ AP issued to everyone in the RAF. The changes at Lyneham were enforced with very little input from the SNCOs, thereby discarding 100s of, if not 1000s of, years experiences. Anyone voicing any doubts about the new system is accused of fear of change. The changes at HLS are not working, are unsafe and hugely unpopular. The line is working as best they can to make a bad system work but the basic problem is the system is unworkable, without tradedesks there is no focus. The JNCOs and airmen/women have a lack of clear direction and the Sgts spend all day with their head buried in a F700 while the Chief Tech Work Controllers are under utilised and have no control what is happening around them. The AP 3003 is full of tales of esprit de corps and leadership; at Lyneham HLS the former has been ground into the mud and there is a total lack of the later. However much the groundcrew moan, nothing will change until the aircrew complain about it. It must say something about a system when SNCOs with over 20 years service are clearly stating that they simply dread coming into work and people are happier going to Basra to get away from HLS. It would be interesting for our flying ‘customers’ to express their views on here what they think of the new system. The message that will go up from Lyneham to STC is that this new system is great and will be imposed elsewhere.
