RAF future.
I`m looking for any genuine advice about the future of the RAF, helicopter pilots in particularly. I`m holding for Shawbury at the moment after 2 years in the Air Force and whilst it will be a genuine wrench to leave, I`m not sure that the way the RAF is developing (under manned/funded etc) will create a pleasant working environment in the very near future. The rapid turnover of deployments in the Support Helicopter world is not what I mean by the above statement - deployments are part of the role and I accept that, I'm referring more to the loss of camaraderie and the apparent belief by some at the top that the RAF can function on technology without manpower to the 'nth' degree.
Admirably, the predominant attitude from most I`ve met is 'to succeed in spite of the hurdles put in front of us'. However the 'can do' attitude can only stretch so far and I think it is about to snap - morale is certainly pretty low amongst junior ranks and junior officers on the base that I`m holding at.
Anyway, I know that the airlines are beginning to recruit again - what do you think? The pros and cons of airline flying would help!