Air System Nonsense

[The B Word]

I see that the MAA have recently redrafted the Military Rules of the Air using the nonsensical term “Air System” throughout rather than the far more sensible “Aircraft”.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/696309/RA2307_Issue_8.pdf

Looking at their own definition of “Air System’ in MAA 02 it hardly fits either:

Fixed or rotary wing Aircraft, piloted or remotely piloted, and the ground-based systems vital to their safe operation.

So their Rules of the Air now uses the term Air System and states that an “Air System should not be flown in such proximity to other Air Systems as to create a danger of collision”. How the hell does that fit if the ground-based systems are included?

What is wrong with the people in the MAA? Why do they have to make their documents so ridiculously complicated by using inappropriate words like “Air System” instead of the widely used “Aircraft”? If anyone from the MAA reads this can you please have a serious think about the readability of your document set. Here is a starter for ten from the Oxford Dictionary:

AIRCRAFT - An aeroplane, helicopter, or other machine capable of flight.

:ok:

[Exrigger]

Added to that, look at the cost to RAF Bases and civilian contractors under MRP-145 who now have to trawl through all their local documents/procedures/contracts and then amend them appropriately, that is not cheap in time and costs associated with that task.

[VinRouge]

I guess it's to ensure that safety standards, in my mind including technically and particularly maintainance that apply to the aircraft, also apply to the likes of ground control centres and launch/recovery systems.

Can't see an issue with it myself. Aviation is inherently technical. If it's too complicated, go drive a bus!

[Lomon]

They did it a few years ago. BM Orders (driven by the MAA changes) have referred to 'Air Systems' rather than 'Aircraft' for at least a year now, if not longer.

[Compass Call]

When I read the thread title, I thought that the poster was referring to Aircraft Air Systems, as opposed to Fuel, Hydraulic, Electrical system etc :-)

[Il Duce]

Do the Royal Navy operate "Water Systems" or "Aquatic Systems"?

[Rigga]

Added to that, look at the cost to RAF Bases and civilian contractors under MRP-145 who now have to trawl through all their local documents/procedures/contracts and then amend them appropriately, that is not cheap in time and costs associated with that task.

In the civvy world - you just add a declaration changing terms and definitions, you don't waste effort by chasing boll...politics at the top of the chain.

[Chugalug2]

Comedy isn't what it used to be. In the 60's heliopters became hicopleters...

[ACW342]

I guess it's to ensure that safety standards, in my mind including technically and particularly maintainance that apply to the aircraft, also apply to the likes of ground control centres and launch/recovery systems.

Can't see an issue with it myself. Aviation is inherently technical. If it's too complicated, go drive a bus!

So does this mean that “ground Control Centres should not be flown in such proximity to other Ground Control Centres as to create a danger of collision”. I do believe that sometimes people make things sound more "Technical" than need be. In this case I think I detect the scent of "Male Bovine Faces"

[tucumseh]

Does MoD still have that department near Swindon that provides definitions/translations of words and phrases used by MoD that don't appear in any dictionary? I'd never heard of them until just before retiring, when I overheard one of my young graduates talking to them on the phone. He'd a degree in English Lit and done the Shrivenham Defence Admin degree course (bloody waste of time that one), but couldn't make head nor tail of a URD he'd received from London.

[SASless]

I do believe that sometimes people make things sound more "Technical" than need be.

Is that not a basic inherited trait of the British?:E

[Rosevidney1]

And our American friends are no slouches in that department either. How about Air Movement Device for 'fan'? :-)

[Compass Call]

What about "Dustman" - ' Council Domestic Waste Removal and Relocation Technician/Operative' ;)'

[GlassCollector]

Also, when did a 'room' become a 'space'?

[unmanned_droid]

This is most probably inspired by RPAS where the platform/vehicle is one part of a system spread far and wide.

[NutLoose]

What a load of Human future genetic material containment and production spheres..or bolloxs, why do these tossers or excess time expired genetic material disposal systems think it is smart to "redefine" words, does it give them a some sense of superiority or simply make up for deficiency in their petty lives?

[NutLoose]

Also, when did a 'room' become a 'space'?

About the same time as one stopped selling a house and replaced it with property.

[Ascend Charlie]

In the 60's heliopters became hicopleters...

Around here, they are Uptycopters.

[treadigraph]

I once travelled on a London bus displaying a notice describing the driver as the "personal transportation facilitator"...

[1.3VStall]

And don't forget that when Neil Armstrong walked on the moon he was wearing a nappy "fecal retention subsystem" under his space suit!

[Bing]

So does this mean that “ground Control Centres should not be flown in such proximity to other Ground Control Centres as to create a danger of collision”. I do believe that sometimes people make things sound more "Technical" than need be. In this case I think I detect the scent of "Male Bovine Faces"

Exactly, it's not the Air System that's flying, it's the Aircraft part of the Air System be that manned or otherwise.

[PlasticCabDriver]

Around here, they are Uptycopters.

Nonsense. Any fule knows they are called Jellyfloppers.

[NutLoose]

"Morning Chief, how many Air systems can we generate today?"
"Errr... three desk fans, one air conditioning unit, one fan oven, one hot airgun, two air start trollies and ermm... ahhh yes four aircraft"

;)

[SASless]

Well for sure "Choppers" is out as that is so Sexist.

[A and C]

My guess is that these people are so detached from reality that writing this sort of nonsense allows them to avoid any chance of contact with an aircraft ( sorry air system ) and therefore avoiding making any decisions that might be difficult to or involve and risk to their careers.

The question I would like to ask of my MP is why with so many failings of the military airworthiness system are we employing muppets to write this stuff rather than fix the airworthiness system ?

[unmanned_droid]

It's easier to produce documents about fully airworthy air systems than it is to produce fully airworthy air systems.

[EAP86]

I think that if a comparison is made between the number of traditional aircraft types and the number of RPAS/UAVS/Drones in design, build or Service, it will become apparent that there are many more of the latter which explains why "Air System" was chosen. A few years ago, the Army in particular had large numbers of unmanned projects on the go and their compliance with regs wasn't the best. One unmanned program was described to me as like "procuring a Land Rover with wings".

EAP

[Basil]

Nevertheless, a UAV is an aircraft.

[[email protected]]

We first saw this bollox in the early 2000s with the first UKSAR bid - some genius from the school of blue-sky thinking decided that a replacement for Mil SAR helicopters didn't have to be different SAR helicopters - it could be a balloon or dirigible so the term Air System was used. WAFLOB.......ask an SH crewman if you can't work it out:)

[Bazzo]

In the A400 world we went from SRM to ASR, according to the Airbus web site they're not too sure if it means Air vehicle or Aircraft Structural Repair Manual

[Compass Call]

Todays Telegraph - 'Civil Enforcement Officer = Traffic Warden' :confused:

[langleybaston]

There were Air Systems at quite a few RAF Control Towers, especially where Met. lived down stairs ............... obs, specials and twarnings were shot upwards by Lamson tubes.
The occasional liaison with a WAAF was also arranged thereby.

The tubes could transport a modest quantity of jelly beans or alternatives to taste.

[SASless]

Crab,

The US Coast Guard sent pilots and other ranks to Lakehurst, New Jersey for Blimp Training in 1945....so yes...SAR can be done by other than a helicopter.

During WWII....the US Navy used Blimps for SAR and other duties.....the K Model had a 59 hour Fuel Endurance and carried Radar.


https://books.google.com/books?id=q98DAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA65&lpg=PA65&dq=Navy+Blimp+rescuing+people+at+sea&source=bl&ots=162e32jy-w&sig=g-a7v7bTyDsUuuS9gj1TpAju0Q4&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi5l-il967fAhVCWqwKHYtsBLMQ6AEwFHoECAgQAQ#v=onepage&q=Navy%20Blimp%20rescuing%20people%20at%20sea&f=false

[JRFD]

This nonsense started i the 70's when I was at Border Radar. We couldn't declare the radar 'Un-serviceable', it had to "Essential Facility Lost".

I always wondered where it had got to!

[NutLoose]

You should have sent it to us JRFD, we had a magic cupboard that our Chief used to shove broken ground equipment stuff in, then pulled it out months later when we were desperate and would say try that, and blow me it worked..... for about 5 mins.

[whowhenwhy]

What's particularly irritating about this is that if the MAA had referred to ICAO materials (Annex 2 I believe) they'd have discovered that unmanned aircraft (there's a clue in there) are classed as aircraft...:ugh:

[Il Duce]

Even the Verey pistols used by ATC are now referred to as Weapon Systems.
"Weapon fires, weapon stops!" Imagine that.

[flensr]

Ok, we've agreed that it's a bad idea to drive your GCS through controlled airspace, but where on the ramp can we park it?

[Party Animal]

"Even the Verey pistols used by ATC are now referred to as Weapon Systems"

As are the miniflares that I carry in my LSJ. Which also includes the delight of a weapon handling test every 6 months for currency. Lapse on this BCR and I will automatically be grounded until I re-pass the test!

Oh, and while I'm here, we had a period a few years ago when the fleet was temporarily grounded - except it was called an 'Operational Pause' because mid level leadership were frightened to be associated with failure to generate aircraft.

[mikemmb]

Do the Royal Navy operate "Water Systems" or "Aquatic Systems"?

Don't forget the Army’s “Terestial Mobility Systems”!

[Compass Call]

Latest from the Telegraph: "Care Navigators = Receptionists" :confused:

[cynicalint]

"Transparent Wall Cleansing System" A bucket of water and a chamois leather cloth to clean a window.