UAS 's to close (Merged)
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5F6B,
Here , here on your comments. However, you are very sadly mistaken if you think that holding typically takes place on a front-line squadron. True some people ask to do strange and eccentric posts as they are especially interested in something or the location is personally convenient, but many people end up holding attached to dull MOD entities or bizarre ghost stations around the UK hardly anyone else worked.
I know of one such pilot who spent his hold (quite a few months) as guard commander at Scampton... The list we were given after BFJT to chose from had only 1 or 2 frontline squadrons on it. I guess they're too busy on the whole to have some deadweight 'stude' around asking dumb questions. Still, some pilots are glad of the break from flying after the rigours of Linton!
Also, my own previous enquiries about doing something constructive during hold (such as ISS) fell on deaf ears. Basically no-one expects you to acheive anything on hold apart from foreshortening your life due to liver damage! And if you do try to get some ticks in boxes it rarely comes into reality.
I do think that it is a shame that a fair number of highly qualified and motivated people get treated like Ops SACs for months on end when more interesting jobs are around. I know one guy who was trying to get on an AEF but I don't know how it turned out- initial responses were not at all positive however. Still, if you get your finger out and organise it yourself you can have some cracking and useful holds like me!
Here , here on your comments. However, you are very sadly mistaken if you think that holding typically takes place on a front-line squadron. True some people ask to do strange and eccentric posts as they are especially interested in something or the location is personally convenient, but many people end up holding attached to dull MOD entities or bizarre ghost stations around the UK hardly anyone else worked.
I know of one such pilot who spent his hold (quite a few months) as guard commander at Scampton... The list we were given after BFJT to chose from had only 1 or 2 frontline squadrons on it. I guess they're too busy on the whole to have some deadweight 'stude' around asking dumb questions. Still, some pilots are glad of the break from flying after the rigours of Linton!
Also, my own previous enquiries about doing something constructive during hold (such as ISS) fell on deaf ears. Basically no-one expects you to acheive anything on hold apart from foreshortening your life due to liver damage! And if you do try to get some ticks in boxes it rarely comes into reality.
I do think that it is a shame that a fair number of highly qualified and motivated people get treated like Ops SACs for months on end when more interesting jobs are around. I know one guy who was trying to get on an AEF but I don't know how it turned out- initial responses were not at all positive however. Still, if you get your finger out and organise it yourself you can have some cracking and useful holds like me!
FJ2ME; if you have any decent tips for holds, I'd be glad to know, as it appears I'm rapidly moving towards another one...!
If I try to remember my Linton course, we sent 3 to front line squadrons, with the rest doing a variety of things; holding on their old UASs, or sitting doing non-jobs on stations close to the geographic area they said they'd like to be.
I was one on a front line squadron, and while I enjoyed working with the people there, and loved taking a ton of leave after Linton, I didn't really find the job particularly stimulating as I booked my seventeenth set of low level times on a 12 hour shift four months in....
Unfortunately for us, after BFJT, they only asked what part of the country we'd like to hold; there was no opportunity to specify squadron, base, or anything.
There are definately 2 post-BFJT studes on AEFs now, so well done to them. I'm sure that they'll hit whatever the next stage of training is with a fair chunk more enthusiasm, and hopefully some increased airmanship and captaincy skills. Not things you build sitting behind an ops desk, or in a tea bar...
If I try to remember my Linton course, we sent 3 to front line squadrons, with the rest doing a variety of things; holding on their old UASs, or sitting doing non-jobs on stations close to the geographic area they said they'd like to be.
I was one on a front line squadron, and while I enjoyed working with the people there, and loved taking a ton of leave after Linton, I didn't really find the job particularly stimulating as I booked my seventeenth set of low level times on a 12 hour shift four months in....
Unfortunately for us, after BFJT, they only asked what part of the country we'd like to hold; there was no opportunity to specify squadron, base, or anything.
There are definately 2 post-BFJT studes on AEFs now, so well done to them. I'm sure that they'll hit whatever the next stage of training is with a fair chunk more enthusiasm, and hopefully some increased airmanship and captaincy skills. Not things you build sitting behind an ops desk, or in a tea bar...
Red On, Green On
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Why not have a blend of retired senior officers and those on hold?
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Must be said that freshly bewinged JOs might not be quite as sympathetic to the odd cadet who can't really take the aeros, or quite as patient with the thick ones - in my experience of AEF the younger the pilot the more gung-ho. But you do get to meet some interesting types, often only a few months after finishing frontline jobs (e.g. the last pilot I flew with had recently finished as OC of a Jaguar sqn).
For UAS, though, a different kettle of fish: young and enthusiastic might be more to the point.
Tim
For UAS, though, a different kettle of fish: young and enthusiastic might be more to the point.
Tim
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Must be said that freshly bewinged JOs might not be quite as sympathetic to the odd cadet who can't really take the aeros, or quite as patient with the thick ones - in my experience of AEF the younger the pilot the more gung-ho.
I last flew AEF in a Chippie aged 17 - less than two years later I was solo-ing one when I passed RN grading at BRNC ....
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Yes, I remember they had some great characters at the AEF at Woodvale in the early 60's- I mentioned to one of them that I was going to Biggin the following week for Flying Schol selection tests and he spent an extra couple of hours giving me valuable hints. Good result, as well
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Back to the question in hand - does anyone know any more about the future - or even when it will be anounced??!! 
MOD website still says March, some people saying April, some after the election... will anyone just put us out of our misery and tell us!
Interesting that in the RAF yearbook CAS sings the praises of the ATC and promises his continuing support for them and then says absolutely nothing about the UAS, just that they are being reviewed! Can we take this to mean that our lords and masters have decided we are an awkward distraction???
Keeping us all in limbo cant be good for morale...
MOD website still says March, some people saying April, some after the election... will anyone just put us out of our misery and tell us!
Interesting that in the RAF yearbook CAS sings the praises of the ATC and promises his continuing support for them and then says absolutely nothing about the UAS, just that they are being reviewed! Can we take this to mean that our lords and masters have decided we are an awkward distraction???
Keeping us all in limbo cant be good for morale...
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If the UAS go, the AEFs will go too. The gliding schools will follow in due course. I can hear the accountants salivating already.
Retrenchment into a few 'super UAS's' is based on an idea of economies of scale. In the public sector, no economies result from such nonsense.
You can forget about superannuated QFIs, holding postings and all the other whinges. They won't apply..
Lose the UASs and the dominoes start to fall.
Retrenchment into a few 'super UAS's' is based on an idea of economies of scale. In the public sector, no economies result from such nonsense.
You can forget about superannuated QFIs, holding postings and all the other whinges. They won't apply..
Lose the UASs and the dominoes start to fall.
Rumours reaching me are of 3 centralised squadrons at Wyton, Cranwell and somewhere else in 't North.
In other words, the UASs would lose their individual identities and become some amorphous EFTS. Quite what undegraduates would be supposed to do during term time, I cannot imagine.
Whoever thought up this meddling interference with the UAS system clearly has no concept of the work which UASs did pulling in students who would otherwise never have thought of an RAF career. But, since they know the cost of everything and the value of nothing, they will no doubt go ahead and ruin the UAS system on beancounter grounds and it will never recover.
If the other rumour of ground training only at UASs is true, then few undergraduates will wish to join a UAS with no flying. The winners will be the airlines and the OTC.
Have 'they' never heard the maxim "Don't fix what isn't broken"?
I plan to go to my old UAS's 70th anniversary soon; I wonder whether it will be around to celebrate its 75th......
But, looking on the bright side, perhaps there'll be some Airships to poke in the chest?
In other words, the UASs would lose their individual identities and become some amorphous EFTS. Quite what undegraduates would be supposed to do during term time, I cannot imagine.
Whoever thought up this meddling interference with the UAS system clearly has no concept of the work which UASs did pulling in students who would otherwise never have thought of an RAF career. But, since they know the cost of everything and the value of nothing, they will no doubt go ahead and ruin the UAS system on beancounter grounds and it will never recover.
If the other rumour of ground training only at UASs is true, then few undergraduates will wish to join a UAS with no flying. The winners will be the airlines and the OTC.
Have 'they' never heard the maxim "Don't fix what isn't broken"?
I plan to go to my old UAS's 70th anniversary soon; I wonder whether it will be around to celebrate its 75th......
But, looking on the bright side, perhaps there'll be some Airships to poke in the chest?
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I saw a couple of posts about hold jobs and thought that I would give a couple of tips. Yes, holding can easily be a waste of your life, however, if you apply yourself and use some imagination you can easily transform a period of waiting into something very worthwhile.
I held for 30 months a few years back and did a masters at Uni, and got a batch of adventure trg quals as well. The uni stat now, as I fast approach an option, gives me opportunities other than joining an airline, so it has proved to be very welcome. Before asking to be released for the uni course, I had basically lined the whole thing up, chosen a sensible military related (very tenuous, though) subject. I then approached the poster who was delighted that I had solved a posting problem for him. Thus ensued one of the best years of mu life!!
Also you might find that one of the reasons that Front Line Sqns don't have many slots, is that they are pretty busy dealing with things other than holding post paperwork. I bet that if those enterprising holding guys amonst you contacted Sqns direct, that you would be able to square away your own posting.
Good luck
I held for 30 months a few years back and did a masters at Uni, and got a batch of adventure trg quals as well. The uni stat now, as I fast approach an option, gives me opportunities other than joining an airline, so it has proved to be very welcome. Before asking to be released for the uni course, I had basically lined the whole thing up, chosen a sensible military related (very tenuous, though) subject. I then approached the poster who was delighted that I had solved a posting problem for him. Thus ensued one of the best years of mu life!!
Also you might find that one of the reasons that Front Line Sqns don't have many slots, is that they are pretty busy dealing with things other than holding post paperwork. I bet that if those enterprising holding guys amonst you contacted Sqns direct, that you would be able to square away your own posting.
Good luck
Gentleman Aviator
ruin the UAS system on beancounter grounds
But of course old chap, QUAS was more expensive than any other UAS............
To adapt Pastor Niemoller: "When they came for the UASs, I did nothing, because I was not on a UAS......"
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The only super UAS is ULAS. The rest will just increase in size. Beags, I look forward to meeting you in person at said Capital Air Wing do. I'll be the drunk one leching on some women!! Think I can safely say that without giving my identity away!
Kind regards
Mike
Kind regards
Mike
If the current day ULAS ladies are as delightful as the Witchlettes of my QFI era with whom I still keep in touch, then it should indeed be an excellent session!
Heard an unsubstantiated rumour today, so thought this was the ideal place for it 
UASs to drop EFT for students. Back to "free" flying, but nominally capped at some number of hours per stude. All graduates and DE pilots to one of three bigger UASs to complete a common EFT syllabus post EFT.
Sounds like a good deal to me; the burden of EFT's lifted from uni studes, UASs stay open, and there's a common EFT for everyone.
They'll be sending everyone to the Tucano next
UASs to drop EFT for students. Back to "free" flying, but nominally capped at some number of hours per stude. All graduates and DE pilots to one of three bigger UASs to complete a common EFT syllabus post EFT.
Sounds like a good deal to me; the burden of EFT's lifted from uni studes, UASs stay open, and there's a common EFT for everyone.
They'll be sending everyone to the Tucano next
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Quick penny's worth from a former UAS stude - 15 years back- now a journo in the national news media.
UAS worked for me, in as much as I left with a working knowledge of the light blue service, and a huge respect for it.
It didn't get me to sign up, and even back then there was a recognition among studes that this was an astonishing freebie which most taxpayers would be fuming about if only they knew, and the whole thing was probably doomed in the long term.
As I recall, virtually all of our number who did go on to serve had already made that decision before they laid their hands on a 'Dog.
But boy, did we have a blast. Summer camp at Laarbruch. Training nights with cheap beer and even occasionally interesting speakers, and the best light aircraft instruction a mere mortal could ever ask for.
Can UASs still be justified, when you can't even keep Coltishall open a few extra months, and the RN can't afford to keep its Harriers until the new toys arrive?
Dunno.
But as someone who now watches defence from the outside for a living, I know one thing for certain.
The RAF has got to get its message across to the public better than it does.
You need them to love you, or at least to care a little bit, and a few displays by the Reds or floats at the Gay Pride parade isn't going to cut it. Splendid though the Reds are.
Tony & Co certainly don't see you as a top priority - if they think about you at all - and there's no reason to think the next lot will, whoever they are, even with the top Whitehall job going to a light blue wearer.
I can't stress this enough.
The Army is twice your size, and they struggle to keep their profile up, and make themselves heard in the outside world, and certainly in the Treasury.
The Cold War left you all with a habit of wanting to be low-profile, if not anonymous. Maybe it made sense at the time, but not any more.
The forces - particularly the RAF - are being hacked to the bone and beyond and there has been NOT ONE SQUEEK about it in this election campaign, even at a time when we're at war, in all but name.
If Joe public doesn't spare you a thought, nor will the bunch of specimens chasing his vote.
I'm not convinced that teaching a few undergrads to fly is the answer - sad to say I don't have one to offer - but Lord knows you need to do something, and I fear scrapping the UASs is indicative of a drift in the wrong direction.
UAS worked for me, in as much as I left with a working knowledge of the light blue service, and a huge respect for it.
It didn't get me to sign up, and even back then there was a recognition among studes that this was an astonishing freebie which most taxpayers would be fuming about if only they knew, and the whole thing was probably doomed in the long term.
As I recall, virtually all of our number who did go on to serve had already made that decision before they laid their hands on a 'Dog.
But boy, did we have a blast. Summer camp at Laarbruch. Training nights with cheap beer and even occasionally interesting speakers, and the best light aircraft instruction a mere mortal could ever ask for.
Can UASs still be justified, when you can't even keep Coltishall open a few extra months, and the RN can't afford to keep its Harriers until the new toys arrive?
Dunno.
But as someone who now watches defence from the outside for a living, I know one thing for certain.
The RAF has got to get its message across to the public better than it does.
You need them to love you, or at least to care a little bit, and a few displays by the Reds or floats at the Gay Pride parade isn't going to cut it. Splendid though the Reds are.
Tony & Co certainly don't see you as a top priority - if they think about you at all - and there's no reason to think the next lot will, whoever they are, even with the top Whitehall job going to a light blue wearer.
I can't stress this enough.
The Army is twice your size, and they struggle to keep their profile up, and make themselves heard in the outside world, and certainly in the Treasury.
The Cold War left you all with a habit of wanting to be low-profile, if not anonymous. Maybe it made sense at the time, but not any more.
The forces - particularly the RAF - are being hacked to the bone and beyond and there has been NOT ONE SQUEEK about it in this election campaign, even at a time when we're at war, in all but name.
If Joe public doesn't spare you a thought, nor will the bunch of specimens chasing his vote.
I'm not convinced that teaching a few undergrads to fly is the answer - sad to say I don't have one to offer - but Lord knows you need to do something, and I fear scrapping the UASs is indicative of a drift in the wrong direction.