close the ab-initio route to multi-engine flying and make ME flying a career progression option for FJ and RW pilots. Rather than park ex-FJ and RW pilots as highly-paid OpsOs, FSOs or staff desk jockeys, why not put them in a multi for the last 5-6 years of their career and help them into civvy street at IPP with an affordable (for MoD) pension and a marketable skill?
Possibly because (up until recently) the MEP requirement for the RAF was bigger than that of FJ and RW. That would be an awful lot of pilots who would have to go through the comparatively much more expensive FJ course to provide sufficient pilots to keep the ME cockpits full. There are lots of ME pilots who serve a full engagement on ME aircraft, be that to 38/16 or 44 or 55. Allied to that, who would fill the OpsO, FSO or staff desk jockey posts if you posted the highly paid, ex-FJ and RW pilots to ME? I'm afraid it doesn't make financial (or logical) sense.
