FRI paid "..for consistency.."

[DP Harvey]

Nobody should have any problems with the concept of giving the pilots and navs money to keep them in. However, in the Q & A sheet the question was asked why the other rearcrew officers are receiving the FRI. Here's the answer (bear in mind that these Q & A publications are usually written by the very people who create the new policy):

The General Duties officer rearcrew branches are not suffering the same manning problems as the pilot and navigator branches and the level of targeted FRI 2 reflects this. There are a relatively small number of rearcrew officers and, for consistency across the Service, they were included in the remuneration package. Rearcrew officers can also fill some GD appointments previously assigned to pilots and navigators. However ARR FRI 2 is lower for this group which is a reflection of their different manning state.

This is a dreadful admission. There is not even a manning problem in these GD branches. The statement about rearcrew in ex pilot ground slots is plainly wrong. The drive is to fill these posts with Ops Support, not GD (rear crew).

To pay £60,000 to an officer over and above his salary, just because his mate is getting it, is an atrocious management decision.

Who the f**k thought of that?

I wouldn't be surprised if this is raised in the Commons, in the light of problems elsewhere in the public sector.

[nav attacking]

Where did you get £60 000 from?

Commissioned rear crew (ie ALM, AEO, Air Eng, Air Sig) are only getting £30 000!

The real crime is the fact that AeOps aren't being recognized. There may not be a retention problem at the moment but there sure will be when this sinks in. I know of a few who will disappear Down Under at the drop of a hat and I think CAS has just let go of his peak!! <img src="wink.gif" border="0">

<img src="cool.gif" border="0">

[Judge Rembrandt]

DP,. .This is a first! Agree with you 100% on this one.. .NA,. .I think you will find DP's figures correct, but you are so right ref AEOps.. .JR.

[ttthompson]

NA, DP is right, GD Rearcreware recieving £30k @IPP -5yrs and another £30k @ IPP when committing to another 5 yrs service.

However, you are spot on about this precipitating a retention problem. A recruiting blitz for all airman aircrew in the early 80's has a legacy of an awful lot of 22yr options between now and 2008. Manning and recruitment problems now, it's only the begining.

If morale was seen to be low before Tuesday's announcement, it is now non existant. AA feel unwanted and disregarded by all in any position of policy making. Sqn and Stn Cdrs may cry foul and give us thier sympathy, but I'm afraid that this time it won't wash. It really is one insult too far.

[ 31 January 2002: Message edited by: retard rearcrew ]</p>

[15/15 flex]

In my (albeit somewhat distant geographically) view, the AA have been dealt a double whammy. Firstly, there is no FRI for them, full stop - at the moment. Then, to rub the old salt in, they hear that someone who works alongside, doing the same job, but happens to be commissioned, could be on the receiving end of sixty grand. Not saying that those individuals are not worthy of their commission, or that they don't carry out extra duties ON THE GROUND, but are we really so short of commissioned rear crew that we have to pay a retention bonus??

It's like the old flying pay argument; why is it not trade/branch based, rather than whether or not you're a flt sgt or a flt lt?

[SandyCrevice]

I sit on the aircraft and wonder why I bother piping up on intercom with my tactical input that will benefit the crew and help achieve the objective. Especially as my job is as an operator and not as a decision maker. Why should I bother? The 'paid' decision maker has always releied on these inputs, and that's what makes it all work! We're a good team/crew.

Am I going to stop trying? No. Like most, I've got too much proffessional pride! This is well known, and it's why we get shafted. With what's happened (or not as the case is), it makes you wonder why you bother!!

[cheapseat]

When do the commissioned rearcrew make the decisions for a winchman during rescues/training?

[ttthompson]

Lets face it, apart from AEO's making tactical descisions, most commisioned rearcrew do exactly the same job as thier lowly Sgt's, be it on SH, AT or SAR. There are even some Spec Aircrew Sqn Ldrs on doing the same job.

But hey, if giving them the FRI saves them face in the bar and makes it politically correct for the policy makers, who are we to complain!!!

[R O Tiree]

I'm embarrassed by this FRI business, and saddened. There have been some very long faces at morning briefings the last couple of days amongst the rear-crew. For one of my crew yesterday, this was just the latest in a long line of slaps in the face, the previous one being a pay-rise of a whopping 11p per day on promotion to Flt Sgt, thanks to the Pay 2000 lash-up. That said, they did their stuff as usual when we got scrambled last night in quite sh*tty wx, lots of good advice and suggestions and the usual good-humoured banter on the way home from the hospital - it was a pleasure to fly with them.

Your Airships,

If you're reading this, please don't make the error of under-estimating the value of these men and women. Their morale was already low as a result of the iniquities of Pay 2000. There are quite a few 30-something officer aircrew who are feeling quite highly valued right now, and good luck to them. You also have a bunch of 30-something rearcrew who feel let down. If DAAvn was prepared to stick his neck out for his people, could I ask the same of you on behalf of ours? Persuading people to stay on is cheaper in the long-term, as you don't have to train replacements "out-of-phase", as it were. Why else the FRIs?