As I understand it at the moment, 99 Sqn are having severe difficulties securing aircraft for local flying training. Not only that, but they also had to fight off attempts to reduce allocated training hours for sqn crews. Were not talking MEZs and the like here, we are merely discussing ways to renew and refresh flying skills.
The serious incident that occurred in Afg did not involve hostile action.
I just hope, that yet again, decision makers aren't going to be wise AFTER the event. We lost a Hercules in the Kabul area that landed short some months ago, everyone walked away. Since I left the fleet experience in depth has evaporated, we can make up for it with high quality training. Without access to aircraft for local training, or the flexibility provided by in-house simulator training we are asking the squadron to balance operational imperative and risk.
Why can't they just have the training they are entitled to?