The Crass that is DERA
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The Crass that is DERA
Is DERA independent? Well it tries to be and then shafts its customer at every turn.
Those that know think that a truly independent testing organisation cannot be owned by BAe or some other aviation conglomerate. Stand by for the Armed forces to get a worse service than they do now which will be difficult!!
Those that know think that a truly independent testing organisation cannot be owned by BAe or some other aviation conglomerate. Stand by for the Armed forces to get a worse service than they do now which will be difficult!!
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I have my own feelings about DERA - I left it a few years ago and have been feeling far better since.
As you say, it would be hard for the services to get a much worse service than at present. BDN might be a more productive plave if they changed to civil practices where they are testing to specifications - maybe even bothering to prove whether what they test meets Def-Stans and consider that it might be a bad thing if they don't! And possibly not charging their customers for huge amounts of time getting reports looking pretty rather than simply stating reasoned facts as quickly as possible.
However to be fair, that's only one activity - they do a lot of other things incredibly well, especially the provision of research or test facilities.
What have they particularly done to offend you this week?
G
[This message has been edited by Genghis the Engineer (edited 18 June 2000).]
As you say, it would be hard for the services to get a much worse service than at present. BDN might be a more productive plave if they changed to civil practices where they are testing to specifications - maybe even bothering to prove whether what they test meets Def-Stans and consider that it might be a bad thing if they don't! And possibly not charging their customers for huge amounts of time getting reports looking pretty rather than simply stating reasoned facts as quickly as possible.
However to be fair, that's only one activity - they do a lot of other things incredibly well, especially the provision of research or test facilities.
What have they particularly done to offend you this week?
G
[This message has been edited by Genghis the Engineer (edited 18 June 2000).]
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You really hit the nail on the head with the DEFSTANS thing. Certainly it seems that they only use that book when it suits them, this time with crashworthy seats for helo's. Unfortunately they defined crashworthy seats for the pilots in the Merlin and these are now crippling the pilots and observers as they are plain uncomfortable and are ruining peoples backs. Mine included
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It is the way the bean counters have (been forced to(?)) charge for BND that have forced many customers away....including us in the near future.
Other organisations are allowed to spread the cost of large costly facilities (airfields) over their entire business. DERA are forced by treasury to have each large facility pay for itself (airfields,ranges etc), and are not allowed to spread the cost across the rest of the business. They are then told to go out and compete on the open market!?!? Even DERA scientists can now no longer aford to use DERA facilities, and are forced to spend scarce tax payers money in the private sector as they can no longer afford to get the testing done in house. Meanwhile, the large facilities still need paying for by the tax payer, so the cost to the few remaining users who can not go elsewhere goes up.
Good value for the tax payer? I think not!!!!
Other organisations are allowed to spread the cost of large costly facilities (airfields) over their entire business. DERA are forced by treasury to have each large facility pay for itself (airfields,ranges etc), and are not allowed to spread the cost across the rest of the business. They are then told to go out and compete on the open market!?!? Even DERA scientists can now no longer aford to use DERA facilities, and are forced to spend scarce tax payers money in the private sector as they can no longer afford to get the testing done in house. Meanwhile, the large facilities still need paying for by the tax payer, so the cost to the few remaining users who can not go elsewhere goes up.
Good value for the tax payer? I think not!!!!
