SARREMF - this is the problem with using 'noms de pprune' why didn't you just PM me and tell me
However I thoroughly agree that
best practice is the way forward not
cheapest practice.
The problem with just training at night is the Summer - yes you could just train during the day for 4 months of the year but if we go down that route we will end up like the AAC who do their IF at night on Gaz and Lynx to save airframe hours, claiming both IF and night flying. It's a nice idea but you are only actually renewing one skill set not both.
But we could reduce our training bill by doing more at night when the nights are longer, I agree - at the moment we don't have to because the hours are there and we have underflown in the last year because of airframe availability. This surplus of hours wouldn't exist in a civilian contract so while we have have got it we will make the most of it