FSTA-When?
Exactly 6 years ago today, MOD issued an 'Invitation to Negotiate' to Industry. The deal was to provide Tanker/Transport aircraft to replace the VC10 and the Tristar in those roles with a Private Finance Initiative service. The timescale was for the first aircraft to be in service in 2007 and the full fleet completed by 2009. The proposal was titled "Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft" (FSTA).
A fair drop of water has passed under the bridge since then but with 2007 just about to start and with the VC10 and Tristar fleets working considerably harder than anticipated by that timescale, the need for replacement is critical. Although it is nearly 2 years since the Air Tanker Consortium was awarded preferred bidder status and in spite of vague hints that the contract is about to be given the go-ahead, the hard pressed ground and aircrew of the current fleet have no solid prospect of relief even by 2010. Surely the FSTA decision can not be delayed any longer. Maybe tomorrow, better today.