Oh Dear..some of you are well off the beaten track on the so called Purple Agenda.
1. Who on earth believes that the JHC was created to COMMAND anything? Joint Helicopter AGENCY more like it. It is PJHQ and LAND that calls the shots on the helo requirements for the Force / Componant Commanders..JHA (aka The Wilton Home for surplus RAF Officers) merely transmits a shed load of signals and paperwork, knowing that CO CHF, CO's of the AAC Regts and the Wokka Fleet have already worked out that there isnt enough serviceable airframes to keep pilots current, let alone support gun boat diplomacy up the Hindu Kush. Besides which, Comd 16 AAB has to approve first!
2. You will of course noticed that FONA, DAAvn and AOC SH still have administrative control of their repsective capbadges. So it doesn't really matter a fat rats rear end who writes the OJAR..promotion, staff selection and drafts are still done by the respective Service Boards!..so sorry JHC, JHFNI and JSFAW..no control with the yellow sheets!
3. I take it by the definition of a less than 100k strength standing Army, that the junior service are to hence to be known as the Royal Air MilITia aka RAMIT.
4. Who said that 16 AAB is going to get Apache? Not from the SDR 4 and Future Army papers about to hit the streets! Read the tea leaves my boys! Parachute Regt to disband..no airborne role in the new model Army..heavy armour (1 UK Div) relegated to gate guardians..Light rapid deployable forces..the way ahead. 16 AA Bde to be re-designated 24 Airportable Bde and absorbed into the new AM Div by 2012.. all Apache, SABR, Merlin, Chinook and BLUH to become an independent Aviation Attack Brigade under 1 * AAC Command. COMNA to get independent Maritime Helo Force with a SAMR Sqn, a Cobra Z Sqn and a mix of Chinook/Merlin HC1's. JHA disbanded with RAF SH under defence cost saving measures, to bail out Eurofarce 2000.
5. Treasury and SofS Def STILL want to know why RN & RAF have all Officer pilots (and cannot retain them..even after throwing loads of dosh)? when the AAC are 64% NCO (and fully manned). Why 5 Regt AAC can operate 44 aircraft with 350 personnel, but the RAF element of JHFNI has about 1000 for a couple of Puma and a mentally detached Wokka? (Bloody hell, there isnt even Wessi there anymore..and they did all the work!!). Will JHA downsize accordingly now that 72 are off the ORBAT?
6. "...all AAC to come across and get looked after properly by the JHA"....mmm..might have to think about that one. We could not absorb the AAC methinks! If the AAC pilots dont come with their machines..how will the RAF crew them..disband the GR9 Farce..more F3 squadrons into medium preservation...with 200 odd pilots short ..I dont think so.
7. "...slice of the Apache action.." Sorry..already paid for by the Army LTC...next chance for taking control..about 30 years! The RAF will just about be paying off the interest on Merlin by then.
The master plan by the Army and Navy therefore is simple..let the RAF BELIEVE that; the Kings will move across by 2010, that they can afford to take on Apache, that commanding JHA really does make a difference..allowing the CIA to move in and replace them with UAV's whilst the AAC and Fleet get V22's to conduct some REAL air support to the boys up front
