I was "stunned" to hear of the decision to scrap the FA2 earlier this year. Alphaleaderuk makes all the points in an informative post.
It seems very strange that less than 2 years after a retention initiative to retain FA2 pilots, the aircraft is then to be removed from service.
Just as the GR7 community say "we didnt join the RAF to go to sea" those in the FA2 world are going to say "I didnt join the Navy to fly out of the east coast".
I feel once again the need for short term financial savings have taken priority of long term planning. Looking to future, ie the time JSF arrives with CVF, given how little time the GR7 community spends embarked in the CVS, there is going to be a severe shortage of maritime experience to introduce JSF to service at sea.
Also a whole generation of PWO/AAWO's are going to have no experience conducting fixed wing aviation and air defence. And it is this generation that will go on to be the first CO's of the CVF.
Many painful lessons are going to have to be relearnt I imagine.
I feel it is extremely unlikely a reversal on the decision is going to come, u-turns went out of fashion in the 90's. It is good to see that the FA2 community is still fighting though, as ever, for some common sense regarding the future of their most capable multi role aircraft.
Regards to all at 801/800/899, "Limp". (Any off you wanting to get in touch can e-mail me at
[email protected])