UAS 's to close (Merged)
Re: UAS 's to close (Merged)
Well, knock me down with a feather! As a former RAF officer, pilot and UAS/CFS QFI, I am glad I am not there anymore. To have to put up with the bollocks that is now going on in the RAF, including this meddling with stuff that is ultimately a drop in the budget pot, just makes me sick.
It pains me to say it but I sincerely believe that the RAF will be in a serious manning/capability crisis within the next 5 years. Yeah, thats apart from the manning/experience problems it has TODAY but which it won't admit to.
It pains me to say it but I sincerely believe that the RAF will be in a serious manning/capability crisis within the next 5 years. Yeah, thats apart from the manning/experience problems it has TODAY but which it won't admit to.
Re: UAS 's to close (Merged)
Well said, Mr B!
Apart from everything you've said, where the hell will new QFIs learn their craft once the UASs have gone? Ah - of course. There won't be any need for them because the Mercenary Flying Training Scam will be upon the RAF.
Whose QFIs will come from....where, after the first few years?
Apart from everything you've said, where the hell will new QFIs learn their craft once the UASs have gone? Ah - of course. There won't be any need for them because the Mercenary Flying Training Scam will be upon the RAF.
Whose QFIs will come from....where, after the first few years?
Utterly appalled to have learned from an official source that future UAS students "...will never fly solo aeros" during their UAS time.
Just what lunatics are running the asylum these days?
How can things have sunk so low?
Just what lunatics are running the asylum these days?
How can things have sunk so low?
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Chaps,
With the number of aeroplanes the RAF will have you needn't worry about where all the QFIs are going to learn their trade. We just won't need as many studes or instructors going through the system as pilots.
With the number of aeroplanes the RAF will have you needn't worry about where all the QFIs are going to learn their trade. We just won't need as many studes or instructors going through the system as pilots.
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Problem with that is that, given the very early streaming to rotary or ME, you reduce the pool of QFIs who have the 'stunting and bunting' skills required for Tucano and beyond.
MFTS when it comes in will have 5-10 year's grace of supply to provide ex-mil QFIs with the right experience (provided they choose the 9-5 stability and lesser salary as opposed to more money but crap family life of the airlines.) Most FJ beefers will be sent to Valley or the OCUs. The closer you get to the frontline, the more 'blue-suited' it will get, and quite right too. There is a dwindling number of the qualified people and supply will dictate demand. I believe there was talk of strikes at Shawbury recently from the ex-mil QHIs. They have the skill sets that not many possess now, and hurrah for them.
Whichever company/consortium takes on the problem will face a certain problem in a few years time - where do the next generation of QFIs of the same standard come from? I've got a ATPL(A)(H)IR,FI, VD and Scar, and the latter 2 were as easy as the former. The road to QHTI and FWA2, let alone ISS was a lot harder.
Don't get me wrong - their airships, like us, would like a massive air force, bags of good kit, good pay and quality of life. Unfortunately, the Treasury see things differently. Thank God for the pension.
MFTS when it comes in will have 5-10 year's grace of supply to provide ex-mil QFIs with the right experience (provided they choose the 9-5 stability and lesser salary as opposed to more money but crap family life of the airlines.) Most FJ beefers will be sent to Valley or the OCUs. The closer you get to the frontline, the more 'blue-suited' it will get, and quite right too. There is a dwindling number of the qualified people and supply will dictate demand. I believe there was talk of strikes at Shawbury recently from the ex-mil QHIs. They have the skill sets that not many possess now, and hurrah for them.
Whichever company/consortium takes on the problem will face a certain problem in a few years time - where do the next generation of QFIs of the same standard come from? I've got a ATPL(A)(H)IR,FI, VD and Scar, and the latter 2 were as easy as the former. The road to QHTI and FWA2, let alone ISS was a lot harder.
Don't get me wrong - their airships, like us, would like a massive air force, bags of good kit, good pay and quality of life. Unfortunately, the Treasury see things differently. Thank God for the pension.
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Next UAS Review
I thought this letter, which I have received from Tom Watson MP, the MOD minister, about the review on UAS estate options might be of interest:
You may recall the recent RAF review to determine the form and function of the University Air Squadrons. As you will be aware, the review concluded that the value of University Air Squadrons was reaffirmed and their future assured, but that the focus had subtly shifted with more emphasis on other aspects of the RAF apart from flying. Training for undergraduates now focuses towards wider personal development and leadership training, and whilst members continue to have structured flying training available, they are no longer required to undertake Elementary Flying Training. In addition, the review identified that in some areas current flying levels of activity would change and, as the new system developed, there may be opportunities to consider greater estate rationalisation.
I am therefore writing to inform you that, following the successful implementation of the main review recommendations, it is now timely for the RAF to undertake a further study on the options relating to the estate. This new review will undertake more detailed work to determine the optimum number and preferred locations of the University Air Squadrons and Air Experience Flights. Air experience flying is a core activity for the Air Cadet Organisation cadets and is currently provided by light aircraft established on Air Experience Flights embedded within the University Squadrons. Any proposals to change the provision of flying by the University Air Squadrons would take account of the effect on Air Cadet Organisation's air experience needs.
The review is due to be completed in August and the aim is to inform interested parties of the outcome by the end of the year.
MPs, MSPs and AMs who have University Air Squadron flying undertaken from airfields in their constituencies have been written to in similar terms.
I am therefore writing to inform you that, following the successful implementation of the main review recommendations, it is now timely for the RAF to undertake a further study on the options relating to the estate. This new review will undertake more detailed work to determine the optimum number and preferred locations of the University Air Squadrons and Air Experience Flights. Air experience flying is a core activity for the Air Cadet Organisation cadets and is currently provided by light aircraft established on Air Experience Flights embedded within the University Squadrons. Any proposals to change the provision of flying by the University Air Squadrons would take account of the effect on Air Cadet Organisation's air experience needs.
The review is due to be completed in August and the aim is to inform interested parties of the outcome by the end of the year.
MPs, MSPs and AMs who have University Air Squadron flying undertaken from airfields in their constituencies have been written to in similar terms.
Defence Estates rationalisation
Thanks for that tg. It complements the correspondence that I have seen regarding my own airfield, except that the Defence Estates message was distintly ill-informed, along the lines of "...some units refuse to move to airfields in different parts of the country ..." (I paraphrase). Since the UASs are so well rationalised already, owing to the pressures that have been on them for the past5-7 years, it is difficult to see some units surviving much longer.
I was a direct entrant in the mid-70s, not having attended university (I was chopped from Chartered Accountancy anyway :-) and I held no brief for UAS for 25 years of my career. Now that I am part of the system I cannot see how it can be so little regarded. Unless the whole of the RAF is in serious danger, that is ...http://www.pprune.org/forums/images/...s/confused.gif
I was a direct entrant in the mid-70s, not having attended university (I was chopped from Chartered Accountancy anyway :-) and I held no brief for UAS for 25 years of my career. Now that I am part of the system I cannot see how it can be so little regarded. Unless the whole of the RAF is in serious danger, that is ...http://www.pprune.org/forums/images/...s/confused.gif
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Mag to Grid (UAS)
The AEF's at least give some incentive to cadets to see the air force operating (colocated at MOB's), and for those who dont have the ability to fly to at least get a taste of what the RAF is all about prior to serving. In complete contrast the UAS generally harbours freeloaders who, only in recent years have had to perform or be thrown out. They slum around the station, sleeves rolled up, hair down, trying to impersonate aircrew, are hardly ever in the bar contributing to the mess, and when they do they act inappropriately because they all want to go FJ and believe that arrogance is the key. Dont get me on about them at Sleaford tech because as an ex flt cdr they were the bain of my life with their 'when i was on the UAS' stories.
I know I am not going to be popular here with this and I dont mind a slagging but in the big scheme of things the money saved might just go somewhere useful. QFI's will always have somewhere to cut their teeth, producing something a little closer to the front line who has at least completed something military and possibly shown they have some mettle before starting to fly.
Ever tried to get any of your troops on an exped but couldnt because it had UAS students on it, very frustrating. How many of them go OOA, stand on the gate, go on exercises and actually need the down time? What did/do they contribute to the service to get the reward and what do they give back?
Free up the hangar space now........be gone damn spot.
Kevlar on and battle rattle ready.
I know I am not going to be popular here with this and I dont mind a slagging but in the big scheme of things the money saved might just go somewhere useful. QFI's will always have somewhere to cut their teeth, producing something a little closer to the front line who has at least completed something military and possibly shown they have some mettle before starting to fly.
Ever tried to get any of your troops on an exped but couldnt because it had UAS students on it, very frustrating. How many of them go OOA, stand on the gate, go on exercises and actually need the down time? What did/do they contribute to the service to get the reward and what do they give back?
Free up the hangar space now........be gone damn spot.
Kevlar on and battle rattle ready.
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They slum around the station, sleeves rolled up, hair down, trying to impersonate aircrew, are hardly ever in the bar contributing to the mess, and when they do they act inappropriately because they all want to go FJ and believe that arrogance is the key.
If you're right (and I'm not convinced that you are), where do UAS students take their example from these days?
Maybe a few more AEF instructors conducting UAS flights might do the trick. I wouldn't like to call some of them by their first name!!
Rebuttal
There is a good spread of generalities there, SLC. It's a pity you have had such a bad experiences of UAS students, but as I said in my last post, I have been converted to the UAS and its benefits, not having been that route myself. Certainly they are gauche and sometimes arrogant, they are youngsters after all. And if they are still like that after a couple of years on the Sqn they are "let go" and they have to make their own way to the Service if they wish. And what's wrong with ambition to be a FJ jock? Many of them, like me, are Good Chaps :-).
It's "bane" by the way ...
[QUOTE=SaddamsLoveChild]The AEF's at least give some incentive to cadets to see the air force operating (colocated at MOB's), and for those who dont have the ability to fly to at least get a taste of what the RAF is all about prior to serving. In complete contrast the UAS generally harbours freeloaders who, only in recent years have had to perform or be thrown out. They slum around the station, sleeves rolled up, hair down, trying to impersonate aircrew, are hardly ever in the bar contributing to the mess, and when they do they act inappropriately because they all want to go FJ and believe that arrogance is the key. Dont get me on about them at Sleaford tech because as an ex flt cdr they were the bain of my life with their 'when i was on the UAS' stories.
It's "bane" by the way ...
[QUOTE=SaddamsLoveChild]The AEF's at least give some incentive to cadets to see the air force operating (colocated at MOB's), and for those who dont have the ability to fly to at least get a taste of what the RAF is all about prior to serving. In complete contrast the UAS generally harbours freeloaders who, only in recent years have had to perform or be thrown out. They slum around the station, sleeves rolled up, hair down, trying to impersonate aircrew, are hardly ever in the bar contributing to the mess, and when they do they act inappropriately because they all want to go FJ and believe that arrogance is the key. Dont get me on about them at Sleaford tech because as an ex flt cdr they were the bain of my life with their 'when i was on the UAS' stories.
