Pontius,
I'm no subject matter expert, but the present Mk3 OCF is about 2/3rds sim based. That makes training 42 crews, and then sustaining an OCF and frontline very expensive in terms of transport and Hotels. The messes at Benson are slightly less chocka than Jordan's brassiere. The plan that I have seen will have the sim moving to Somerset.
Tourist,
What has changed? 12 not 22 chinook. Less Puma 2 than assumed in RW strategy. Not enough cockpits for all. Therefore, P45s for some. Asking CAS to tell some of the Mk3 community that they are to be made redundant so that CHF can take their ac is like getting a turkey to vote for Christmas.
JHC already have 35 trained Mk3/3a crews........
With every single desert exercise to prepare crews for Ops under some severe scrutiny, and the country's Defence Budget £38 billion sausage side, are we really about to embark(excuse the pun) on what is a costly re-branding exercise and re-train 77 crews whilst trying to sustain Ops?
Folly
Last edited by high spirits; 21st Oct 2010 at 10:10.
Reason: poor maths - 35+42=?