RAF SAR Routine

[Heli-Boy1]

Can anyone give me some information on the working patterns of RAF SAR crews? Do they still follow a three shift pattern? If so, is there any provision for 2 days to be taken off consecutively (like a weekend)? What is the routine like in practice? Thanks!

[Hill Walker]

In my time (several years ago) the groundcrew worked 24-hour shifts, I believe the last in the Service to do so. They did 14 days of alternating days on-shift and stand-by (one hour's notice), followed by 7 days of stand-down (24-hour's notice). On paper it looked good, working one day in 3, but they would often be up through the night and were frequently called in from stand-by or stand-down. Not sure if things have changed. The aircrew did the same 24-hour shift as the groundcrew but different patterns, someone else would be better to advise on this.

Slightly off-thread, anyone out there know the dates for this year's Engineers' Walk at Boulmer?

HW

[4U2NV]

The air crew still work 24 hr shift. On First standby the shift hand over is at 0920 (depending on squadron) and you remain on 1st's until 0920 the following morning. You then revert to 2nds where you are on 60min notice to fly until ECT. The SARF ideal is a run of 3 shifts (so in effect 6 days) but runs of 4 are common (if pushed, 'broken' runs of 5 can happen, ie. a run of 3,one day off, run of 2). As for time off, it depends on your shift planner and on how undermanned your flight is. If there is the flex, you are likley to get 1 weekend clear a month, but in a month there should be a period where you will get 3 days off in a row-not likley over a weekend. In short, there is a fair amount of stand down, but none of it is really plannable. you will get time off at very short notice (not often) and be called in when 'off shift' at the very very last moment(often!!)

That being said, the job is fantastic and I wouldn't change it for the world. Good, challenging flying and a LOT of job satisfaction!!!

Hope that helps...

NV

[SARREMF]

The future is civil for the engineers.

For the aircrew a partial civilianisation will occur from 2012. The shift plot will alter too from then as it is likely, though not certain, that only 12-hr patterns will be around.

Stands back .......

[muppetofthenorth]

"anyone out there know the dates for this year's Engineers' Walk at Boulmer?"

5th-7th Oct, got the letter through in past week asking for any takers.

Apologies for thread drift.

[Hill Walker]

muppet,

Thanks - any chance you could PM me a contact name/number?

Cheers.

HW

[Winch-control]

Sorry, but can't resist...
The routine is between a 09.20 and 10.00am start (15mins notice), put kettle on, drink tea. Do aircraft checks. Have met / aircraft brief. Put kettle on. Carry out training / jobs as required. Put kettle on. More training / jobs as required (night). Put kettle on, slippers, n.b pipes not allowed anymore! Go to bed / jobs as required, from 22.00 (45 mins notice) Get up 07.00 ish, put kettle on, hold shift till handover, cover second standby 'till required for next days duties, repeat as required until stood down, or you take leave etc.
The real beauty of the job, like most rotary jobs, is that there is no real routine!

[shawtarce]

Winch control, you really are showing your age..... a Kettle !!!!!! Please
Most flights now have a hot water boiler, ready for action, 24/7. And you forgot to mention that new fangled sky box thingy......
:ok:

[Bertie Thruster]

whatever the latest sky box thingy is now and whatever the video music channel tuned in, does everything in the SAR ops room still come to a grinding halt when Robert Palmers "Addicted to Love" pounds across the air waves?

[Winch-control]

Nope, just when the kettle boils...or the boiler boils...or when the simpsons finish their tenth re-run on the sky box!!!

[shawtarce]

"Adddicted to love" has nothing on the fashion channel............

[Heli-Boy1]

Bighead, 4u2NV, thanks for the information - very helpful indeed. Sounds like a pretty appealing 'structure'! Fly safely.