Professional Aviator Rumours

[YellowBelly]

Not surprisingly, scuttle-butt rumours about transferring to the Professional Aviator 'spine' in Apr 03 are growing within the crew-rooms. Local admin staff seem to indicate that transferring from spec aircrew to PA will be largely automatic providing you meet the pre-defined criteria (5 years min to serve etc) and candidates will be contacted nearer the time, with no need to apply. However, some are of the opinion that only a select few will be offered continued service within the new system. Not what I understood from the initial brief and associated Q&A paper, but anyone hearing anything to support this view? . .As for the longer-term impact of the PA spine, its probably fair to say that it will discourage aircrew from taking the 'Career' route unless they (and the System) are confident that they are likely to reach the highest ranks. As this will only be a relatively small percentage of individuals, do we assume that many of the existing 'middle management' staff posts currently manned by aircrew will in the future be filled by non-aircrew officers such as Ops Spt etc? Combine this with the advent of all wg cdrs and above becoming 'all of one cadre', what will be the subsequent impact upon long-term 'operational management' of our front-line platforms? Food for thought perhaps.

[extpwron]

Admin Guru as a front line squadron commander?

[USasBRIEFED]

Has anyone seen the small print regards PA? For example should you PVR at 50 would you get your pension &lump sum as now or do you have to wait until 55? Also what about ceiling for differing trades? Extra steps for instructors? etc etc etc.. . <img border="0" title="" alt="[Confused]" src="confused.gif" />

[RubiC Cube]

USAS,. .. .AMP briefed us last week that his major problem was that there is no small print yet for the PA spine. However, I am told that it will be by selection. Can you imagine the Treasury approving the increased cost of pensions by automatically transferring everybody?

[LambJalfraezi]

Nothing is as good as it seems, and if it is, you're not looking hard enough. A call to PMA has given further truth to the 'rumour?', that the immediate pension is forfeit if you transfer to PA. That is, if you do join the PA spine, you will not get your pension and gratuity until 55, regardless of when you leave. We on my Sqn have asked our OC Admin, desk officers, and the pensions people at PMA, and nobody has denied this. Anybody know any more? <img border="0" title="" alt="[Confused]" src="confused.gif" />

[Admin Guru]

extpwron. .Well yes I hope so, and thanks for your vote of confidence. It would certainly make getting Wednesday afternoons off for golf a damn site easier.. .With squadrons being more and more heavily burdened by budgetary problems - an area that I feel pilots have never excelled in - I see a good case for a Squadron Commander position to be filled by an officer with administrative experience; a kind of Sqn Manager. This would free up a another combat ready pilot for duties - surely a good prospect in the short term with a lack of GD (P) around.

[Always_broken_in_wilts]

People,. . Do not go there, deny him his moment.. .. .Happy Herc Mate

[jaffad]

Admin Guru, you obviously haven't flown with many Sqn Bosses!

[Fg Off Max Stout]

I gotta...I gotta do it.... .Great idea AG. I'm sure that adminners' understanding of military aviation will make them ideally suited to Sqn Cdr posts. First Stn Cdrs, now OCs. What next?...all pilots to be commissioned from the Admin Sec branch so that their filling in of claim forms will be faultless.. . <img src="http://www.stopstart.fsnet.co.uk/smilie/brdflick.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.stopstart.fsnet.co.uk/smilie/thebirds.gif" alt="" />

[ShyTorque]

Admin Guru,. .. .Do everyone a favour. Join the Army and become an adjutant.. .. .Or even better, join the Navy and become a chock.. . . . <small>[ 05 March 2002, 21:55: Message edited by: ShyTorque ]</small>

[Always_broken_in_wilts]

Your all doing it again.......stop it now as he loves it. If we don't bite he will go away... so come on peep's .....IGNORE!!. .. .Happy Herc Mate. .. .all spelling mistakes are alcohol induced. . . . <small>[ 06 March 2002, 00:29: Message edited by: Always_broken_in_wilts ]</small>

[spectre150]

Making the sqn cdr a non-aircrew type would 'free up a another combat ready pilot for duties - surely a good prospect in the short term with a lack of GD (P) around'. What a load of tosh - sqn cdrs ARE combat ready pilots and navigators. And how would a non GD sqn cdr supervise and take responsibility for flying on his sqn (from a legal point of view I mean).

[DuckDogers]

Can't Resist to AG's last!!!. .. .Get a LIFE and find out what the REAL airforce is about by getting OOA and working on a frontline Sqn!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[robspottydog]

Yeah go on then - send AG to the front line, Afghanistan perhaps, he could bore the Rags out of their hidey <img border="0" title="" alt="[Roll Eyes]" src="rolleyes.gif" /> holes

[BEagle]

Back to the plot - what is there to retain anyone who is currently Spec Aircrew but who will have less than 5 years to serve to NRD when the PAPS comes in? Currently he won't get a final salary pension anything like that promised for someone 2 years his junior, so perhaps he'll just push off in 6 months' time (i.e. after working another 2 months) to go and find another job which will provide the pension he won't otherwise be receiving from HMFC??. .. .So - perhaps some of those who were 1 Jul Sqn Ldr SA promotees will wait until they get the next increment, then PVR??