Do the Forces recruit the wrong Aircrew!
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Thanks for your your comments, most are positive. Ok I admit the post title could be better,sounds a little harsh for which I apologise.
DS,
Please read my response on the 18th Fe 2002. 'I wasn't implying the military aircrew 'etc etc
Scroggs,
I appreciate what your trying to say, but please look at the responses I got from that forum! The one in particular from a very experienced military pilot and there are a few on there. One could argue why you let him respond like he did being an experienced pilot, when you quite clearly explain at the beginning of the forum that its for inexperienced pilots only!
Please, this is a forum after all, where I would like to think one can post an opinion. I admire military pilots and appreciate the job they do, but wasn't sure why people wanted to leave so quickly! I had my own ideas obviously from my experience but there are many more stories which I would like to hear! Hence the reason for a forum.
DS,
Please read my response on the 18th Fe 2002. 'I wasn't implying the military aircrew 'etc etc
Scroggs,
I appreciate what your trying to say, but please look at the responses I got from that forum! The one in particular from a very experienced military pilot and there are a few on there. One could argue why you let him respond like he did being an experienced pilot, when you quite clearly explain at the beginning of the forum that its for inexperienced pilots only!
Please, this is a forum after all, where I would like to think one can post an opinion. I admire military pilots and appreciate the job they do, but wasn't sure why people wanted to leave so quickly! I had my own ideas obviously from my experience but there are many more stories which I would like to hear! Hence the reason for a forum.
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The originator asked ‘Do the Forces recruit the wrong Aircrew’. It’s a fair question and deserves a considered answer whatever forum it is in. If the forces are recruiting fast jet pilots who leave to fly airlines at the earliest opportunity then the answer is probably yes. Nobody motivated to fly fast jets should be so keen to get into the airlines at an early age but it might just be that the forces are not maintaining or satisfying that motivation.
I have always believed that the RAF took the wrong route in recruiting when they looked to the output of left wing professors instead of direct or RAF College trained entrants. When I trained we joined the new degree entrants with their accelerated promotion to Flt Lt at Advanced Flying Training and guess which group got most of the fighter postings. Degrees in Archaeology and History were not much help in applied flying but motivation was vital. Guess which group (in the main) left at the earliest opportunity? That degree proved more useful in civilian life.
Many years later I enjoyed instructing air cadets in gliders and it was incredibly satisfying to send well-motivated 16-year olds solo and to see the sense of pride and satisfaction they gained. Many of them did what I did before I joined and went to considerable lengths to get their flying in – any kind of flying was worth making the effort for. I would have loved to see the RAF recruiting those people instead of the short-service aircrew I was stuck with as a fast jet flight commander. Although some of the latter had the right motivation and were persuaded to stay most left at the earliest opportunity to join the airlines and we were always short of experienced middle-echelon aircrew.
Nowadays there are other reasons for leaving and I can’t blame lack of motivation for the current desire to abandon the sinking ship but I often wonder what I would have done in today’s air force. I reckon if I was flying anything that could reach 30 grand in less than 2 minutes and sustain 6G at 450kts indicated or less I would be loath to give it up for something as boring as an airliner. However, I can think of many people I worked for who might just drive me to it!
I have always believed that the RAF took the wrong route in recruiting when they looked to the output of left wing professors instead of direct or RAF College trained entrants. When I trained we joined the new degree entrants with their accelerated promotion to Flt Lt at Advanced Flying Training and guess which group got most of the fighter postings. Degrees in Archaeology and History were not much help in applied flying but motivation was vital. Guess which group (in the main) left at the earliest opportunity? That degree proved more useful in civilian life.
Many years later I enjoyed instructing air cadets in gliders and it was incredibly satisfying to send well-motivated 16-year olds solo and to see the sense of pride and satisfaction they gained. Many of them did what I did before I joined and went to considerable lengths to get their flying in – any kind of flying was worth making the effort for. I would have loved to see the RAF recruiting those people instead of the short-service aircrew I was stuck with as a fast jet flight commander. Although some of the latter had the right motivation and were persuaded to stay most left at the earliest opportunity to join the airlines and we were always short of experienced middle-echelon aircrew.
Nowadays there are other reasons for leaving and I can’t blame lack of motivation for the current desire to abandon the sinking ship but I often wonder what I would have done in today’s air force. I reckon if I was flying anything that could reach 30 grand in less than 2 minutes and sustain 6G at 450kts indicated or less I would be loath to give it up for something as boring as an airliner. However, I can think of many people I worked for who might just drive me to it!
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Not the first time I have said this. I did 24 years in the RAF, 18 as a heli pilot. My main motivation for leaving was Tony Blair, I didn't trust him with my life. If people leave at exit points, they have fulfilled their contract IN FULL. Never criticize someone who leaves at an option, if any blame is required, then blame the system for giving that option.
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Pink, you received two replies (plus mine) in wannabes; one from a civilian FI, and one from FFP who gives no clue as to his experience, other than that he is military. Discussions of factors affecting military pilots' lifestyles beloneg here in Mil Aircrew, not in Wannabes, which is why I moved it. As you can see for yourself, you have been answered by many valid opinions from those who are in a position to hold them. Wannabes are not in that position, nor was the subject appropriate to that forum.
Scroggs
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ga99
Why is it being vindictive??? Surely the moderators job is to ensure that forum is run efficiently with appropriate posts in the right place for (hopefully) the correct response. I am not saying that it is inappropriate in the Wannabees forum, but why would they be interested/and/or able to comment.
Scroggs never claimed it was offensive, rather ill placed. Personally I would have thought that common sense on the part of the original poster would have solved that one...................
Why is it being vindictive??? Surely the moderators job is to ensure that forum is run efficiently with appropriate posts in the right place for (hopefully) the correct response. I am not saying that it is inappropriate in the Wannabees forum, but why would they be interested/and/or able to comment.
Scroggs never claimed it was offensive, rather ill placed. Personally I would have thought that common sense on the part of the original poster would have solved that one...................
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Who said it did Mr Cantona? Although, such a random inject must be surely borne out of jealousy!
As has been beautifully iterated above, if someone leaves at an option, they have invairably sweated their pound of flesh for Queen and Country etc, and to have the question asked by some random wannabe who decided it wasnt for him is a little hard to swallow.
As has been beautifully iterated above, if someone leaves at an option, they have invairably sweated their pound of flesh for Queen and Country etc, and to have the question asked by some random wannabe who decided it wasnt for him is a little hard to swallow.
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Mr Pink,
After reading all these threads, it's difficult who to know who to take any notice of......
If you are SNCO material then be an Army pilot, you will have learnt to make decisions by then,........
If you think you will need Granny to dress you, then get Mummy to sort you out and in the meantrime us blerks will do all the shaggin'
Sort yourself out.... you wanna fly??????
Strap a Lynx to your ass...
Night.
After reading all these threads, it's difficult who to know who to take any notice of......
If you are SNCO material then be an Army pilot, you will have learnt to make decisions by then,........
If you think you will need Granny to dress you, then get Mummy to sort you out and in the meantrime us blerks will do all the shaggin'
Sort yourself out.... you wanna fly??????
Strap a Lynx to your ass...
Night.
Fly a Lynx....errrrrr....ahhh....not old enough yet....only 56.
