Returning to the original question, the RAF will be training FE recruits until approx Spring 2004, but only from the ground trades. PMA are hoping that the ground trades won't find out about the demise of the branch and will continue to supply ill- informed people to fill up the courses until then. Of course, this is a flawed concept. Within a year from now the sages in the ground trades will advise the youngsters against joining and the applications will dry up.
With an already declining manpower forecast due to age 55 wastage (not PVR) we will then be in the sh~t. We have ridden out the PVR nightmare of 2 years ago by shear luck. We have just returned to balance at the moment but we can't stop people getting older. We are about to see a dry tap in a bath without a plug, with not much left in it......