Now with increasing use of civilian's/ex-military pilots being employed at UAS, BFT, MTFS, and now the civilianisation of SAR we are dining in the last chance saloon. With the RAF, FAA and AAC shrinking where will the next generation of current QFI's etc. employed by the likes of SERCO & BABCOCK come from? With the airlines looking to recruit new pilots will there be any ex-service pilots interested or young enough to fill the vacancies that will start to appear when the current ex-service aircrew retire?
The training pipeline gets turned off all too easily to save money in the short term but is very difficult to turn on again. As we will no doubt find out only at considerable cost.
Well indeed. Just what I've been saying for years.
Where would the necessary QFIs, aerodromes and training aeroplanes come form, should it be necessary to support a training surge?
I also consider that these mercenary-employing civil contractors should be required to demonstrate a 30-year manning sustainability plot, rather than just some alleged short-term budget savings.
If (when?) MFTS falls flat on its face, how many of us will say "We told you so....but you wouldn't listen!!"