Thanks for the comments MG, however, as I recall, flying pay is payable for the duration of a service career as long as the recipient maintains an appropriate medical cat and remains competent, "flying pay" which is only applicable for flying tours is surely more akin to flight pay.
I did realise that E3D carried Air Engs as well as ATs and I
certainly do not wish to belittle either role, my comment is aimed at the whole ethos of having crew members who only get "part time" (as opposed to career) flying pay - i.e. trying to do it on the cheap.
I feel most strongly that this is the thin end of the wedge (or should that be bat?) and I stand by my contention regarding the demise of NCO aircrew as a long term aim.
I was talking, some years ago, with a VSO who did not realise that we still had NCO aircrew - until he met some, and even then he was reluctant to believe they were in flying posts!!
