Air Eng Branch
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Air Eng Branch
Hello All,
I'm just about to put my papers in for NCA after having served four and a half years as an FOA and reached the dizzy heights of Cpl.
Obviously under the new system we all have to join up as Weapon System Operators and then we are streamed to either Acoustics, Crewman or Linguists.
Now for the million dollar question! With the delay of the new Nimrod, the problems with the Herc J model and the delay of the new tanker will they open up the Air Eng trade again? The reason I ask is that this would be my first choice as NCA and if I knew they were going start the training course again soon I would think about holding off for a short while. I've tried asking the AFCO but they are about as useful as a chocolate fire guard!
Any help or advice would be appreciated!
I'm just about to put my papers in for NCA after having served four and a half years as an FOA and reached the dizzy heights of Cpl.
Obviously under the new system we all have to join up as Weapon System Operators and then we are streamed to either Acoustics, Crewman or Linguists.
Now for the million dollar question! With the delay of the new Nimrod, the problems with the Herc J model and the delay of the new tanker will they open up the Air Eng trade again? The reason I ask is that this would be my first choice as NCA and if I knew they were going start the training course again soon I would think about holding off for a short while. I've tried asking the AFCO but they are about as useful as a chocolate fire guard!
Any help or advice would be appreciated!
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Afaik, Air Eng trg is closed tfn. It's now all generic WSOp (initially), where they get streamed half way through and then complete specialist trg before going to their ac type. That's today's situation.
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Hello mate,
Not really sure what Herc J 'problems' you are referring to, but our only problem is that we don't have enough of the damn things!
Most Air Eng's at Lyn are kicking their heels now so it's unlikely that the trade will be opened up again.
Best of luck.
Not really sure what Herc J 'problems' you are referring to, but our only problem is that we don't have enough of the damn things!
Most Air Eng's at Lyn are kicking their heels now so it's unlikely that the trade will be opened up again.
Best of luck.
Inter Arma Enim Silentius Lex Legis
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I am afraid not, there's no chance of the Air Eng school reopeningand no need. Sad but life goes on! Concentrate on the other Wsop trades which will give you just as many opportunities as the Air Eng trade would have.
All best wishes.
TG
All best wishes.
TG
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Recently heard that the life extension to the E-3 and possibly the Nimrod (R?) may require some more Air Engs. The demise of the Nimrod AEW based trainer may mean that the "school" takes some other form. One idea mooted is theory followed by a full OCU twice (or more) !!
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The previous posters are right i guess...if they require any 'eng' WsOPs they will just farm them out to the respective OCU's to train from scratch. In the short term standby for the dusting off of some crusty old f$rts who hide away doing nothing jobs waiting for pension day. Wouldn't want to be an empowered master with a happy bunch of boys who suddenly gain a 'waster ' to fill a seat.
'Sorry guys , no promotion again this year ...but we've gained this non-detachable money pit with dinosaur qualities to cherry pick the best jobs'..!!!
Do i sound bitter...nah..days 2 do..
'Sorry guys , no promotion again this year ...but we've gained this non-detachable money pit with dinosaur qualities to cherry pick the best jobs'..!!!
Do i sound bitter...nah..days 2 do..
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At the moment the trade has a large surplus, mostly sat at Lyneham. The school has been shut, as our Lords and Masters had decreed there is enough trained strength to see out the aircraft even with extensions to in-service dates. There is very little promotion in the branch, one or two a year, and even if there was to be more engineers trained, you would not get the choice as NCA trades are not applied for but allocated dependent on your ability.
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As i understand it Engineers are just about on strength at the moment, and maybe even predicted to go slightly under in the next year or so, which is represented by the PVR lengths being given out. Where they are getting the extra from when the number of Engineers starts to dwindle im not sure. When they realise their is a shortage im not sure how long it will take to get an individual to start filling sqn posts, time will tell. If there are excess numbers sat at Lyneham field, when are they going to start placing them in positions where they are needed?
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Arty. I managed to organize a trip down to Lyneham to fly with the ALM’s and Air Eng guys on 24 squadron and one of them said that there were a few problems with the J’s. This was probably some inter-squadron rivalry between the K and J guys!
If there does suddenly become a shortfall, will they perhaps take other NCA already trained either as ALM's or AEOp's? It would make sense as it would cut down the time required to get these guys flying as Air Eng's? Then the Air Eng trade would definately be dead and burried for new guys like myself.
To be honest I don’t mind want branch of NCA I join, it all looks like a good laugh and the massive pay boost will certainly be welcome! Thanks for all the good gen and info tho!
If there does suddenly become a shortfall, will they perhaps take other NCA already trained either as ALM's or AEOp's? It would make sense as it would cut down the time required to get these guys flying as Air Eng's? Then the Air Eng trade would definately be dead and burried for new guys like myself.
To be honest I don’t mind want branch of NCA I join, it all looks like a good laugh and the massive pay boost will certainly be welcome! Thanks for all the good gen and info tho!
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Air Eng
Fantaman as every one has eluded to there is no more Air Eng abinitio training. NCA training is now a centralised common core skills course followed by streaming. The advice you have got is all sound advice. However, as you rightly pointed out alot of new "projects" have moved to the right, thus the demise of the Air Eng is not happening as quickly as predicted. There will be a requirement for the Air Eng for the near future. As it has already been pointed out promotion is virtually non existant as is the possibility for signing on. Knowing the trade as I do (I am one) I can forsee a manning shortage in the branch within the next two years unless our lords and masters make a decision on aircraft in-service dates. My advice to you is to avoid the trade as it is a dead trade, even though the E3 has now a requirement for Air Engs until 2035 with no glass cockpit mid life update planned. There is not an Air Eng in current service that has that long to do. On training I would push for your preferred choice and I can recommend Tac AT loadie. As for the J well all new aircraft have "issues". The J is over-comming these money permitting, and there in lies the rub. Cash will always be the RAFs stumbling block and the J upgrades are bloody expensive (like any modern aircraft) and as long as our lords and masters have got a fighter background then we will always end up putting money into Air Defence aircraft as opposed to Transport (C17 excluded) Good luck with your training mate NCA is the best move you will make Cornishpixie
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Our Lords and masters do not understand is that if they try to short term managing the CAREERS!! of Air Engineers as they are doing now, then many of them will find other jobs to go to, as they are starting to do now. Then how will they fill that centre seat? Get more Aussies, doubt it as most of them have already left the RAAF because of a similar situation??
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I have been paying a little more attention recently to the manning stats flyer which is distributed monthly by Innsworth. For the last 6 months or more it has showed no change with an air eng requirement of of 175 against a balance 185. Is this really the case? Surely the stream of engineers reaching 55/22 must be starting to bite and bring us closer to manning balance.
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Originally Posted by Indicating Full
I have been paying a little more attention recently to the manning stats flyer which is distributed monthly by Innsworth. For the last 6 months or more it has showed no change with an air eng requirement of of 175 against a balance 185. Is this really the case? Surely the stream of engineers reaching 55/22 must be starting to bite and bring us closer to manning balance.
I do feel sorry for those who are reaching a critical point in their career especially as the Offer to Transfer decision date has not been deferred.
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Now that would be ironic and make me smile for a week if it's true!! Imagine the Aussies nicking a few Eng's and making the RAF have a manning crisis, that would be so sweet!!
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Originally Posted by The Gorilla
Now that would be ironic and make me smile for a week if it's true!! Imagine the Aussies nicking a few Eng's and making the RAF have a manning crisis, that would be so sweet!!
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The RAF wont have a manning crisis with Engineers, those of you who are left will just have to werk harder, thats just the way of it, Co-Pilots and Navigators are doing so on many fleets at the moment, if you think the powers that be are worried then you are sadly wrong, the tasking will remain the same you just wont get as many days off. Its just the way it is in todays modern RAF, getting the task done and doing it on a budget is the way ahead, and investing in people no longer exists,
