UASs CUT
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That's what a lot of people are wondering. At the moment it seems to be relying on the good will and character of those former-QFIs.
The CAA hrs limit is a factor for some - especially when the stude will actually be in control for most of that time (sortie dependant). The extra triv - brief/teach/debrief/write-up/currency/CFS...
It's not just a Sunday afternoon bimble with a 12yr old now!
At current, AEF pilots do not get paid year-round. Only at the AEF camps (Easter+Summer) does that happen.
Not all AEFs have the specific manning to make this viable - although some do. Will be interesting to see just how many are available
The CAA hrs limit is a factor for some - especially when the stude will actually be in control for most of that time (sortie dependant). The extra triv - brief/teach/debrief/write-up/currency/CFS...
It's not just a Sunday afternoon bimble with a 12yr old now!
At current, AEF pilots do not get paid year-round. Only at the AEF camps (Easter+Summer) does that happen.
Not all AEFs have the specific manning to make this viable - although some do. Will be interesting to see just how many are available
Presumably a properly structured Training Needs Analysis and assessment of available assets was conducted before the conclusions of such a fundamental report were accepted?
If the number of AEF C-to-I QFIs fails to meet the business plan, how will the shortfall be resolved?
Also, with such a system the number of regular RAF QFIs must surely reduce. So what staffing assumptions have been made which will ensure that the revised UAS system for flying training is sustainable over a period of years?
If the number of AEF C-to-I QFIs fails to meet the business plan, how will the shortfall be resolved?
Also, with such a system the number of regular RAF QFIs must surely reduce. So what staffing assumptions have been made which will ensure that the revised UAS system for flying training is sustainable over a period of years?
BEags
Accordong to the man from PMA, they are very worried about having enough QFIs in the system to sustain the frontline OCUs. This cut may be a cut too far and may result in more of those FI
creatures on the OCUs!
Accordong to the man from PMA, they are very worried about having enough QFIs in the system to sustain the frontline OCUs. This cut may be a cut too far and may result in more of those FI
creatures on the OCUs!
But by reducing the UAS/EFT QFI manning requirement, apart from gaining a few QFIs into the front line in the short term, the replacement of those front line QFIs in 2-3 years time will be achieved....how? Because there won't be any at the UASs....
Or will it be a mess which the universal panacea of MFTS will be expected to resolve
??
As for non-Q FIs at OCUs, I agree with you. Back in the days of shiny 10, they were not allowed to instruct ab-initio pilots during their initial conversion - and that was also the view of a senior CFS bloke I flew just before I left the mob.
Also, the loss of UAS QFI posts means that the chance of a 'rest tour' away from desert camping and all the other joys of overstretch will be somewhat diminished for the front line ME folk. Yet another 'push factor', methinks?
Or will it be a mess which the universal panacea of MFTS will be expected to resolve
??As for non-Q FIs at OCUs, I agree with you. Back in the days of shiny 10, they were not allowed to instruct ab-initio pilots during their initial conversion - and that was also the view of a senior CFS bloke I flew just before I left the mob.
Also, the loss of UAS QFI posts means that the chance of a 'rest tour' away from desert camping and all the other joys of overstretch will be somewhat diminished for the front line ME folk. Yet another 'push factor', methinks?
Last edited by BEagle; 24th Oct 2005 at 08:32.
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A meeting at Cranditz on Wednesday for AEF commanders and other interested parties will examine these questions but whether they will be resolved, who knows? Look forward to hearing the outcome.
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A few things.
The meeting on Wednesday is at Cosford.
AEF pilots do get paid for Easter/Summer camps, but only up to a maximum of (hmmm - brain f@rt - can't remember but pretty sure it's) 28 days per year.
I had 5 ex-QFIs who showed a little interest in resurrecting their instructional status ---- until the terms were explained. I now have none!
Requirements (as explained to me - and depending on when they last practised their art full-time etc) are:
a. 15 exercise refresher. Refresher at this time of year could take up to 3 weeks at Cranwell. Quote - "not necessarily all in one go".
b. 20 instructional hours per year.
c. 2 day EFT Standards every year.
d. One CFS Exam Wg ride every 2 years.
e. It will be up to the individual person to negotiate time off from their airlines for the refresher etc. It will also be up to them to sort out what their airline thinks of them flying instructional sorties - which may or may not (nobody seems clear on this) count towards their maximum of 900 hours per year allowed by the CAA.
f. They will NOT be paid.
I am not yet clear (and I will be asking on Wednesday) if the guys will be expected to maintain an instrument rating (pretty useless for much of the year without one). It is also not clear yet whether or not there will be any relaxation of the requirements of simulated, actual and approaches etc. Part time pilots may find it very difficult to achieve the requirements.
Time will tell.
The meeting on Wednesday is at Cosford.
AEF pilots do get paid for Easter/Summer camps, but only up to a maximum of (hmmm - brain f@rt - can't remember but pretty sure it's) 28 days per year.
I had 5 ex-QFIs who showed a little interest in resurrecting their instructional status ---- until the terms were explained. I now have none!
Requirements (as explained to me - and depending on when they last practised their art full-time etc) are:
a. 15 exercise refresher. Refresher at this time of year could take up to 3 weeks at Cranwell. Quote - "not necessarily all in one go".
b. 20 instructional hours per year.
c. 2 day EFT Standards every year.
d. One CFS Exam Wg ride every 2 years.
e. It will be up to the individual person to negotiate time off from their airlines for the refresher etc. It will also be up to them to sort out what their airline thinks of them flying instructional sorties - which may or may not (nobody seems clear on this) count towards their maximum of 900 hours per year allowed by the CAA.
f. They will NOT be paid.
I am not yet clear (and I will be asking on Wednesday) if the guys will be expected to maintain an instrument rating (pretty useless for much of the year without one). It is also not clear yet whether or not there will be any relaxation of the requirements of simulated, actual and approaches etc. Part time pilots may find it very difficult to achieve the requirements.
Time will tell.
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Wholigan,
Time may tell - and so hopefully will the meeting on Wednesday. Although i think we'd better check our sources - i too thought it was at CWL...better cx as me + 1 from our unit were planning to be there!!
Given the hours/currency you quote, it is even more difficult to see how your line AEF C2I QFI will afford the time (unless they're a ret'd Air Rank still on the Queen's shilling
)
....and if that will maintain the stds of teaching, albeit in a reduced syllabus, i'll be highly surprised. No offence to the AEF, but if you want to change a tyre, you don't use a flint axe (even a reconditioned one!).
Beags - we should still have QFIs at the EFTSs (50 or so) - but what of MFTS in a couple of year's time? Another total reshuffle that will doubtless beg the question "Why the '05 changes?".
Another fairly large question is what should be the prerequisites for the UAS QFI? He needs to be suitably self-supervising (B1+ ?) Yet young enough to pass on the true military ethos and enthusiasm and get stuck-in with all the AT/PDT.
The supervisory answer may be to spend 2yrs or so on an EFTS before transferring. But what pilot will want to go (at the 2yr pt where most beg only of a return to the front line) to teach little more than ccts at a glorified outdoor pursuits centre (fun though it may be
)
Uncle G
Time may tell - and so hopefully will the meeting on Wednesday. Although i think we'd better check our sources - i too thought it was at CWL...better cx as me + 1 from our unit were planning to be there!!
Given the hours/currency you quote, it is even more difficult to see how your line AEF C2I QFI will afford the time (unless they're a ret'd Air Rank still on the Queen's shilling
)....and if that will maintain the stds of teaching, albeit in a reduced syllabus, i'll be highly surprised. No offence to the AEF, but if you want to change a tyre, you don't use a flint axe (even a reconditioned one!).
Beags - we should still have QFIs at the EFTSs (50 or so) - but what of MFTS in a couple of year's time? Another total reshuffle that will doubtless beg the question "Why the '05 changes?".
Another fairly large question is what should be the prerequisites for the UAS QFI? He needs to be suitably self-supervising (B1+ ?) Yet young enough to pass on the true military ethos and enthusiasm and get stuck-in with all the AT/PDT.
The supervisory answer may be to spend 2yrs or so on an EFTS before transferring. But what pilot will want to go (at the 2yr pt where most beg only of a return to the front line) to teach little more than ccts at a glorified outdoor pursuits centre (fun though it may be
)Uncle G
Last edited by Uncle Ginsters; 24th Oct 2005 at 09:46.
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Amazing...
Once again Beagle has hit the nail on the head…and now that Wholigan has filled in some of the detail that has been lacking with regard to the C to I scheme words simply fail me…
I joined the AEF to give back a little of the enjoyment that I gained from my 20 years in the Service. Even if only one or two of the numerous cadets I have flown are sparked into considering the RAF as a career then everyone is a winner.
Now, the Service that I knew and loved turns more daily into a management speak exercise and those that run it clearly need to learn some fundamental lessons. As they say up here ‘there is ‘owt for nowt in this world’ so please how can people be expected to give up significantly more of their precious free time, put themselves under the professional microscope again on a frequent basis and yet not even be remunerated? ( and hand on heart who can really maintain quality QFI standards on 20 hours a year?)
For such basic and flawed assumptions to have been made only adds to the weight of suspicion that this whole exercise has been driven by individuals with their own sad agenda…and if there is a spot of truth in one rumour I have heard then I guess this is the penalty of allowing non-aircrew 2* officers fiddle with things purely because their time on a UAS was felt to be non-PC towards blunties.
This thread runs to several pages now and yet nowhere have I seen anyone give an estimate of just how much this ill-thought out staff work is going to save….from a budget that let’s face gave the RAF a super recruiting machine for what in the big scheme of things was not much outlay.
Ah well, where is that tax credits form that I forgot to fill out…
I joined the AEF to give back a little of the enjoyment that I gained from my 20 years in the Service. Even if only one or two of the numerous cadets I have flown are sparked into considering the RAF as a career then everyone is a winner.
Now, the Service that I knew and loved turns more daily into a management speak exercise and those that run it clearly need to learn some fundamental lessons. As they say up here ‘there is ‘owt for nowt in this world’ so please how can people be expected to give up significantly more of their precious free time, put themselves under the professional microscope again on a frequent basis and yet not even be remunerated? ( and hand on heart who can really maintain quality QFI standards on 20 hours a year?)
For such basic and flawed assumptions to have been made only adds to the weight of suspicion that this whole exercise has been driven by individuals with their own sad agenda…and if there is a spot of truth in one rumour I have heard then I guess this is the penalty of allowing non-aircrew 2* officers fiddle with things purely because their time on a UAS was felt to be non-PC towards blunties.
This thread runs to several pages now and yet nowhere have I seen anyone give an estimate of just how much this ill-thought out staff work is going to save….from a budget that let’s face gave the RAF a super recruiting machine for what in the big scheme of things was not much outlay.
Ah well, where is that tax credits form that I forgot to fill out…
So what assumptions were made concerning the availability of AEF C-to-I QFIs to meet this new UAS training plan?
Teaching circuits at a 'glorified outdoor activities centre' without even being paid for such joy? Doesn't sound particularly attractive to me - unlike giving enthusiastic Space Cadets some weekend aeros!
AEF C-to-I QFIs without IRs will be severely limited when teaching early exercises. For example, the other week there was a gloomy overcast at 1500 ft, above which it was clear as a bell. How would an unrated QFI attempt to teach a combined EoC 1 /S&L 1 exercise in such conditions? Bloggs would be unlikely to learn the essential 'L
kout, attitude, instruments' work cycle under such conditions and probably pick up 'Glance, hope, chase' instead... 
How can such a fundamental report have possibly been accepted if it failed to present a fully accurate picture of the TNA conclusions, media assessment and asset availability? Of course there will be cost savings if volunteer unpaid C-to-I QFIs were to replace regular RAF QFIs - but unless that availability of such unpaid C-to-I QFIs has been reasonably assured, the whole report must, ipso facto, be fundamentally flawed.
Teaching circuits at a 'glorified outdoor activities centre' without even being paid for such joy? Doesn't sound particularly attractive to me - unlike giving enthusiastic Space Cadets some weekend aeros!
AEF C-to-I QFIs without IRs will be severely limited when teaching early exercises. For example, the other week there was a gloomy overcast at 1500 ft, above which it was clear as a bell. How would an unrated QFI attempt to teach a combined EoC 1 /S&L 1 exercise in such conditions? Bloggs would be unlikely to learn the essential 'L
kout, attitude, instruments' work cycle under such conditions and probably pick up 'Glance, hope, chase' instead... How can such a fundamental report have possibly been accepted if it failed to present a fully accurate picture of the TNA conclusions, media assessment and asset availability? Of course there will be cost savings if volunteer unpaid C-to-I QFIs were to replace regular RAF QFIs - but unless that availability of such unpaid C-to-I QFIs has been reasonably assured, the whole report must, ipso facto, be fundamentally flawed.
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'Cosford' - nearly had me going then!
Another factor to be brought into the cost of this scheme is the amount of SCT to be allocated to the AEF C to Is, which should be much more than the current allowance, if the numbers in TGOs are anything to go by.
This will effectively mean they have to turn up more often or they may be available for fewer instructional sorties.
Another factor to be brought into the cost of this scheme is the amount of SCT to be allocated to the AEF C to Is, which should be much more than the current allowance, if the numbers in TGOs are anything to go by.
This will effectively mean they have to turn up more often or they may be available for fewer instructional sorties.
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I still haven't figured out who will do all the work on the UASs (leaving aside the flying element, i.e. organising and supervising sports, AT, town nights, balls, summer camp training etc.. etc..) - from what I've read, at best a UAS will be left with an OC, 1 QFI and a Sgt PTI. Are they expecting the AEF pilots to get involved with non-flying UAS activities as well? From what I remember of my UAS the 5 QFIs were maxxed with non-flying workload back then. I think your average ATC squadron has at least 4 staff for about 40 cadets, yet alone a UAS with 80+(?) students...
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Regarding manning, one thing no-one seems to have thought about are current QFIs devoting some time to UAS flying; or about-to-retire QFIs jumping over?
At my base, there're a lot of A2 QFIs about to head off for pastures new in various airlines. All were keen to get an AEF slot to maintain a little bit of "hands-on" flying for fun. With all of this going on, they've found that instead of being at the bottom of a long list, they're now being invited for convexes and have places available for them at local AEFs.
Also, there are quite a few QFIs around who like the idea of giving something back; they're happy to give up the odd weekend to do a little bit of flying, and I'm sure they could be pulled into the manning plots for camps/UAS flying with relative ease as well.
So if older, current AEF chaps don't fancy the hassle of becoming CtoI; perhaps at some places, there're enough current/not-long-to-go QFIs to take up some of the slack?
At my base, there're a lot of A2 QFIs about to head off for pastures new in various airlines. All were keen to get an AEF slot to maintain a little bit of "hands-on" flying for fun. With all of this going on, they've found that instead of being at the bottom of a long list, they're now being invited for convexes and have places available for them at local AEFs.
Also, there are quite a few QFIs around who like the idea of giving something back; they're happy to give up the odd weekend to do a little bit of flying, and I'm sure they could be pulled into the manning plots for camps/UAS flying with relative ease as well.
So if older, current AEF chaps don't fancy the hassle of becoming CtoI; perhaps at some places, there're enough current/not-long-to-go QFIs to take up some of the slack?
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Elmlea,
All always in the RAF there will be those with the 'can-do' attitude to make it work. Your post contains too many 'perhaps' and 'the odd bit' of commitment to be expected as a steady-state plan for the future of all UAS/AEF fg. It may work in some cases because the right manning happens to be around.
As BEagle has already said, this is another step in the downward spiral of the number of QFIs in the RAF...how long before there are not enough ex-QFI AEF types and the whole plan has to be re-thought? We may even be at that point now, if the right questions were asked
Would be interested in seeing the national figures for available AEF QFIs - i know at least one AEF that's struggling....
Uncle G
All always in the RAF there will be those with the 'can-do' attitude to make it work. Your post contains too many 'perhaps' and 'the odd bit' of commitment to be expected as a steady-state plan for the future of all UAS/AEF fg. It may work in some cases because the right manning happens to be around.
As BEagle has already said, this is another step in the downward spiral of the number of QFIs in the RAF...how long before there are not enough ex-QFI AEF types and the whole plan has to be re-thought? We may even be at that point now, if the right questions were asked
Would be interested in seeing the national figures for available AEF QFIs - i know at least one AEF that's struggling....
Uncle G
And what if 100% of the new-style University Air Cadets all say "To hell with joy-riding, I want to be taught to fly!". The sole UAS QFI had better not break an ankle farting about with all that jolly adventurous training.....or even catch 'flu.
Presumably the business plan made an initial assessment of the UAS air experience to flying training demand ratio? If not, how can any accurate assessment have been made of the number of unpaid 'volunteer' AEF C-to-I QFIs needed, let alone actually the number actually available.
Presumably the business plan made an initial assessment of the UAS air experience to flying training demand ratio? If not, how can any accurate assessment have been made of the number of unpaid 'volunteer' AEF C-to-I QFIs needed, let alone actually the number actually available.
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ATC cadets can remain in the Corps until they are 22 if the reach Cadet Warrant Officer rank. Under new regs they can even go out and get p*ssed on ATC camps, so why join a UAS if they are university students?
The 'new' UASs don't offer much more, it seems...
The 'new' UASs don't offer much more, it seems...
