Toddbabe: Let me get this straight: I go flying & then am charged on my mess bill for a meal - do they charge just a standard rate, or will I have to sign to say I had a curry(but no popadoms!), or just a tuna roll? If I'm not hungry & don't eat anything, will I still be charged? If no one eats any of the rations will the full cost of the wasted food be split between the whole crew? If I'm paying for all the food now, will I still leave any of the leftovers on the aircraft for the groundcrew? If we're charged on a standard rate per number of flying hours, much as our entitlements are currently based, & I have to hold before landing & slip into the next bracket, do they then charge me the higher rate of meal even though we were only provided with butty boxes?
If you eat in the mess you pay for what you actually consume, not what someone thinks you might possibly eat, otherwise it's pretty unfair.
Will ANYONE want to stay in an air force that charges you for the food you consume while flying their aircraft during a 16 hour day, when the alternatives(BA, Virgin etc) don't?
As I said in my original post, should those going on exercise have to provide their own rations, or maybe they should have to pay for their Compo? I think ALL personnel on DUTY that keeps them away from the normal source of meals (home or mess) should get a meal provided - that includes groundcrew working over a mealtime, gate guards, and aircrew flying who don't have an option to go to the Naafi or the mess. (It dosen't include those who would normally eat at home but are at work.) If I am compelled to purchase my own food before flight, there is a minefield of H&S legislation to negotiate (food poisoning due to lack of storage facilities before flight?) & I will be spending my crew duty in the supermarket, it's not what crew rest is for!