Different rules for AT and FJ aircrew
Join Date: Apr 2002
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Nice Shiney Accom
"including a nice block behind the Officers' Mess paid for by 2Gp for transit crews"
Would this be the nice shiney accommodation that as soon as it was finished was quickly filled with the AKR permanent staff? I only had the pleasure of staying there once - the rest of the time it has been the APC blocks or 100 series. The same thing happened with the 200 series blocks.
Would this be the nice shiney accommodation that as soon as it was finished was quickly filled with the AKR permanent staff? I only had the pleasure of staying there once - the rest of the time it has been the APC blocks or 100 series. The same thing happened with the 200 series blocks.
Oh dear, Tonkaboys lack of understanding appears to be shared by others who should know better! Anyone who travels to AKT on a regular basis knows that the accom cell don't allocate your accomodation until you actually arrive! In fact it's impossible to get AKT to let you know whether you'll be on or off base before you arrive. (ARCs always prefer Tanker/Receiver crews to be colocated).
99% of AT nightstops(and we're there every week) are spent in Block 101/102 enjoying the lovely 1950's facilities. There isn't any point enduring a 30 min bus ride to a grotty 2 star hotel after you've just done a 20 hour day when you can be drinking a cold beer in a grotty 2 star accomodation block in minutes!!!
99% of AT nightstops(and we're there every week) are spent in Block 101/102 enjoying the lovely 1950's facilities. There isn't any point enduring a 30 min bus ride to a grotty 2 star hotel after you've just done a 20 hour day when you can be drinking a cold beer in a grotty 2 star accomodation block in minutes!!!
Excellent...not! Can't wait to get to work on Monday to have this rammed down my throats by the Army boys down the corridor. As if we haven't had enough bad press over Akrotiri movers, state of the AT fleets (Sky man stuck in Kabul) etc we now have a pi55ing contest amongst ourselves.
Isn't the new 2 Gp chief an ex heli-driver. And doesn't he sign off GASOs. I reckon it will be tents for all soon so make the most whilst you can!!!
Isn't the new 2 Gp chief an ex heli-driver. And doesn't he sign off GASOs. I reckon it will be tents for all soon so make the most whilst you can!!!
Now I'm purely playing Devil's Advocate here...
But why do the SAC hosties need air conditioning and uninterrupted sleep? Is the danger of a half-defrosted meal too great to risk once airborne?
But why do the SAC hosties need air conditioning and uninterrupted sleep? Is the danger of a half-defrosted meal too great to risk once airborne?
I'd check your meal for 'special addiitives' carefully next time you fly in an airliner! I assume you don't realise that the primary duty of cabin crew is the safety of the pax? It may seem trivial to you but getting all the wives/kids/sleeping squaddies etc out of the correct exit down a properly deployed slide (then getting out last) from a burning jet is quite important to some!
He's quite probably one of the flight deck crew that'll be flying the next leg (augmented crews are the norm for some operational flights). Even fat blokes need rest if they're to fly safely during a 24 hour crew duty period!
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On det with Nimrods in the past, Gib actually, the O's and NCO's were on base (accommodation available) and the JR's were off base (no accommodation available). Had the same thing when we deployed to St Mawgan also. Simple, if there's space on base use it.
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And........ relax!
It's because of $hit like this that I PVR'd. If you have no experience of being an AT/AAR operator, I would suggest that your opinion is largely bse on myth and hearsay. The "all truckies stay in 5* hotac and play the allowances system" myth ended in 2001 with the advent of Ex Saif Sareea II. I would love to have spent the last five years checking in to luxury.
If you were pax on RAF AT, do you seriously want any of the crew to be anything less than 100% when it comes to safety issues? Really? Even if you are a steely eyed GR7/Herc/SH dude who sleeps in a tent on ops? What's the point on saving a few quid if your safety might (and I stress might) depend on the actions of that fat SAC wearing desert flying suit that you sorely covet (the flying suit, not the SAC). Do YOU know how to operate the doors/run an evacuation drill/deploy the slides? Doesn't really matter how good you are at your job, the afore mentioned actions are the preserve of the steward you love to whinge about.
If you are on a trail, either as the boss of a FJ sqn or a tanker techie, the AARC inevitably requests that EVERYONE is co-located. It's just easier. Placing some people in a hotel and others in the block at AKT means that there is a difficult transport plot to think about. OpO 06/01 lays out the power invested in an AARC- it really is a ridiculous amount of executive authority to place in the hands of a JO. However, despite this, all an AARC can do is REQUEST co-location of all personnel in AKT. The accommodation cell has the ultimate say.
Why should AT crew and pax not all stay together? Are you serious? Just think about how awful the prospect of being pax in RAF AT is- would you not want to go out and get utterly plastered if the chance arose? Finger-poke the captain about the inevitable delay/revitin/why the fat SAC steward has a desert flying suit and you don't? It's just a $hit idea. And guess what? The cheap (and like it or not, we are very very budget driven) option is to put the crew (10 or so) in hotac and the hundred or so pax in service accommodation.
Have any of you been in the standard AT/AAR hotels in Cyprus? I'd love to tell you that they are palatial, with 48" LCD TVs in the toilet and 24hr on demand massages, however the truth is they are utter toilets. Block 100/101/102 (delete as applicable) are no better or worse, and they are without the 45 minute transit to Limassol.
Please do not read this as a lament as to how difficult the life of a shiny fleet bloke is- believe me I now exactly which side my bread is buttered on. And I'm off. If it was as good as some of you thought I'd be staying. There are preconceptions on both sides- my question is, why are there sides?
It's because of $hit like this that I PVR'd. If you have no experience of being an AT/AAR operator, I would suggest that your opinion is largely bse on myth and hearsay. The "all truckies stay in 5* hotac and play the allowances system" myth ended in 2001 with the advent of Ex Saif Sareea II. I would love to have spent the last five years checking in to luxury.
If you were pax on RAF AT, do you seriously want any of the crew to be anything less than 100% when it comes to safety issues? Really? Even if you are a steely eyed GR7/Herc/SH dude who sleeps in a tent on ops? What's the point on saving a few quid if your safety might (and I stress might) depend on the actions of that fat SAC wearing desert flying suit that you sorely covet (the flying suit, not the SAC). Do YOU know how to operate the doors/run an evacuation drill/deploy the slides? Doesn't really matter how good you are at your job, the afore mentioned actions are the preserve of the steward you love to whinge about.
If you are on a trail, either as the boss of a FJ sqn or a tanker techie, the AARC inevitably requests that EVERYONE is co-located. It's just easier. Placing some people in a hotel and others in the block at AKT means that there is a difficult transport plot to think about. OpO 06/01 lays out the power invested in an AARC- it really is a ridiculous amount of executive authority to place in the hands of a JO. However, despite this, all an AARC can do is REQUEST co-location of all personnel in AKT. The accommodation cell has the ultimate say.
Why should AT crew and pax not all stay together? Are you serious? Just think about how awful the prospect of being pax in RAF AT is- would you not want to go out and get utterly plastered if the chance arose? Finger-poke the captain about the inevitable delay/revitin/why the fat SAC steward has a desert flying suit and you don't? It's just a $hit idea. And guess what? The cheap (and like it or not, we are very very budget driven) option is to put the crew (10 or so) in hotac and the hundred or so pax in service accommodation.
Have any of you been in the standard AT/AAR hotels in Cyprus? I'd love to tell you that they are palatial, with 48" LCD TVs in the toilet and 24hr on demand massages, however the truth is they are utter toilets. Block 100/101/102 (delete as applicable) are no better or worse, and they are without the 45 minute transit to Limassol.
Please do not read this as a lament as to how difficult the life of a shiny fleet bloke is- believe me I now exactly which side my bread is buttered on. And I'm off. If it was as good as some of you thought I'd be staying. There are preconceptions on both sides- my question is, why are there sides?
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As an aside. I've just met a tanker dude & he had massive sideburns. Now, I am sure these were the type of sideburns that would never be allowed on a FJ Sqn. Are there different rules for sideburns? Do hotels in Cyprus have shaver points? Is it a requirement?
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Eloquently put GC.
Just out of interest was the perpetrator of this thread heading to the Deed maybe block 41000 ish?? Curious seeing he is tonka boy?Maybe he fancies a wee det up at the wee B word with some other AT types or even the big word further north with an "AT" kinda job. End of the day AKT ops/accom make up their mind where we go.
I really couldnt care less cos I dont have to sleep on my BA in the block or wherever they put me.
Just out of interest was the perpetrator of this thread heading to the Deed maybe block 41000 ish?? Curious seeing he is tonka boy?Maybe he fancies a wee det up at the wee B word with some other AT types or even the big word further north with an "AT" kinda job. End of the day AKT ops/accom make up their mind where we go.
I really couldnt care less cos I dont have to sleep on my BA in the block or wherever they put me.
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Why did a perfectly worded and legitimate question about accommodation (which, BTW WAS answered - like it or lump it) end up in a slagging match between the Queens so called finest????. For F**ck sake guys - lighten up!
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Smell the coffee
Gents,Gents,Gents
All this squabbling wont help anyone. At the end of the day the rules are different for both fleets and just dont even mention our RW brethren shall we.
I for one will not miss all this inter-fleet nonsense when I go in a year or two. There are always folk a lot less better off in this mans flying game.
My hat off to the lads and lasses that endure the bottom of the scale in not only accom but security on the ground. Having spent the odd night somewhere scary it kinda makes this all seem over exaggerated?
All this squabbling wont help anyone. At the end of the day the rules are different for both fleets and just dont even mention our RW brethren shall we.
I for one will not miss all this inter-fleet nonsense when I go in a year or two. There are always folk a lot less better off in this mans flying game.
My hat off to the lads and lasses that endure the bottom of the scale in not only accom but security on the ground. Having spent the odd night somewhere scary it kinda makes this all seem over exaggerated?
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GND
In case I was mis-interpreted which I think I have been, I meant it is "refreshing" change not to sleep on ones BA when we at places like AKT NOT I couldnt care less.
A wee touch of over imbibed not reading the full text before sending.
SOZ
In case I was mis-interpreted which I think I have been, I meant it is "refreshing" change not to sleep on ones BA when we at places like AKT NOT I couldnt care less.
A wee touch of over imbibed not reading the full text before sending.
SOZ
