Around the time of the original NPAS plan last October the 'thinking' was that each unit would fly around 1700 flying hours per year, this would include the 8 to 10 weeks using the allocated spare. So units that currently do around 1400 would carry on at about the same rate and those that do less will actually get to fly, free of local budget restrictions at last!
So, a Unit currently flying 1400 Hrs a year will have to fly an extra 300 hours more each year, albeit on different aircraft utilising one or more of the "spares" ?
How many (of the remaining / planned to remain ) Units currently fly 1400+ Hrs each year ? - Not many I imagine.
Flying 1700 Hrs a year, even on a 24 Hr operation, taking into account inevitable down time due to weather & serviceability,
may mean a considerable increase in flying for a lot of Unit pilots ( a reason for not needing so many ????
)
Have NPAS consulted the CAA to consider the potential impact of such an increased workload & demand on pilots to fly these extra hours,
and consequently are there any plans to change the FTL's - one way or another ?
