Oh come on - does anyone really think the basing location of a unit is decided upon based on where the instructors want to go???
Get real folks - it's all political pork barrelling!
Whilst the weather at Pearce might be good, students are coming to 76 and OCU with little IFR experience, and the airspace sucks!
The RAAF would love to centralise all Hawk training at Willy - ONE maintenance organisation, ONE squadron, ONE HQ etc - it'd save squillions! But do you think the member/s for whatever seat Pearce is in will let 79 go without a fight? And yes, there are airspace issues at Willy too, and then there's the member/s for Willy who will no doubt be fielding the increase in noise complaints (just wait till the JSF arrives!!!).
The pork battle is going on with IBFT at the moment too, where all the local, state and federal politicos in Tamworth have got behind BAE's bid, while the local and state govts in VIC are supporting Boeing's, Raytheon's and Thales/FTA's bids at WSL!
The base in the most marginal seat will always win...
