Female C-130 pilot - The Sunday Times
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: England
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Seldom
The para quoted was written firmly tongue in cheek, the rest of it was not and I stand by it. My other half is currently at said location and gets up at 'random times' for 'less stringent' duties because she is called out every time there's a TIC. Every time she goes in she may have to assist providing life-saving treatment - regardless of how much sleep she has had and not a pencil in sight. She can also be expected to go beyond the wire to assist with casevac. She has an important job, and she does it with humility, although admittedly in a Service that 'pulls together' for the greater aim. As I said, everybody out there has a job to do and they are all equally important.
The article has provoked a great deal of negative reaction, the results of which are probably winging around an intra-net near you. I suspect that your reaction to my email is something similar to that experienced by the majority of 'groundies' when reading the original article.
The para quoted was written firmly tongue in cheek, the rest of it was not and I stand by it. My other half is currently at said location and gets up at 'random times' for 'less stringent' duties because she is called out every time there's a TIC. Every time she goes in she may have to assist providing life-saving treatment - regardless of how much sleep she has had and not a pencil in sight. She can also be expected to go beyond the wire to assist with casevac. She has an important job, and she does it with humility, although admittedly in a Service that 'pulls together' for the greater aim. As I said, everybody out there has a job to do and they are all equally important.
The article has provoked a great deal of negative reaction, the results of which are probably winging around an intra-net near you. I suspect that your reaction to my email is something similar to that experienced by the majority of 'groundies' when reading the original article.
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Too far North - hardly a RAF base that isn't these days...
Posts: 224
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The cacophany of mutilated vowels grows ever more strident as one travels North from the Thames Valley. Wishing to remain in the South is a perfectly noble aspiration. I myself have no intention of staying in the grim north more than a second longer the absolutely necessary when I retire. I will not so much as glance over my shoulder as I head back to civilization when I reach 55. In the meantime I have 15 years of misery ahead.
Gentleman Aviator
Wasn't it one of the Beaus (Nash or Brummel) who resigned his commission when posted to Harrogate, on the grounds that he had not contracted to serve abroad........
Join Date: May 2006
Location: MEAF
Age: 59
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
lessons to learn
lesson 1...don't ever talk to journos....their rep appalling at LYE.
lesson 2...the baldricks on the north side need to work harder at beating the pencil mentality out.
lesson 2...the baldricks on the north side need to work harder at beating the pencil mentality out.
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: England
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'm sure the Flt Lt in question is kicking herself about several quotes, some of which have doubtless been taken out of context. I've never met her, but I can sympathise with her views about being in Basra and being shelled; a thoroughly unpleasant experience. Instead of slinging recriminations around, though, perhaps we should just learn the lesson that even though the press might offer to glamourise your account of things, they rarely do the whole team justice in the process. A dissapointing read, I'm afraid.
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Hampshire physically; Perthshire and Pembrokeshire mentally.
Posts: 1,611
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Well, I think the most shocking aspect of the whole sorry saga is her use of the expressions "it's like" and "the crew were like"! She's supposed to be an officer for heaven's sake! Don't they teach them to speak in IOT these days?
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: UK
Posts: 108
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Barley Restrained,
You sound like you must be pretty blunt or pretty senior but my guess is probably worst case and that you are both. (Maybe work in recruiting?)
What planet are you on!?
You sound like you must be pretty blunt or pretty senior but my guess is probably worst case and that you are both. (Maybe work in recruiting?)
What planet are you on!?
> choice of platform
I didn't think you got a choice. In fact I thought it was just as likely that you'd join up, be refused flying altogether, end up as Officer in Charge of Potato Peeling and spend the next twelve years on the Falklands overseeing the preparation of edible tubers, which is something they never seem to put in the recruiting videos.
And hang on, you don't need good A-levels to fly C-130s? I'd have thought you would.
Phil
I didn't think you got a choice. In fact I thought it was just as likely that you'd join up, be refused flying altogether, end up as Officer in Charge of Potato Peeling and spend the next twelve years on the Falklands overseeing the preparation of edible tubers, which is something they never seem to put in the recruiting videos.
And hang on, you don't need good A-levels to fly C-130s? I'd have thought you would.
Phil
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Phil_R, you need civvie qualifications before you can be appointed OiC Potatoes.
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Wilts
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Oh dear Caz! How naive can someone be?
Unfortunately I think your pencil comment is the most damaging. After all, let’s think about it...
...the less stringent tasks of a medic in Basrah...yes, they might drop a pencil but they might also fail to save someone’s life!
...the less stringent tasks of an air trafficker...oops, they might approve the army to fire mortars in an area where you're flying and you might get shot down!
...and what about the regt, techies, police and personnel guarding the base. I'd hardly call any of them less stringent duties!!!
The world doesn't just revolve around you pilots!!!
That said, the MCO needs to be shot for allowing that report into print!
Call me cynical though but I suspect this won't be the last time something this cringe-worthy ends up in the press!
Unfortunately I think your pencil comment is the most damaging. After all, let’s think about it...
...the less stringent tasks of a medic in Basrah...yes, they might drop a pencil but they might also fail to save someone’s life!
...the less stringent tasks of an air trafficker...oops, they might approve the army to fire mortars in an area where you're flying and you might get shot down!
...and what about the regt, techies, police and personnel guarding the base. I'd hardly call any of them less stringent duties!!!
The world doesn't just revolve around you pilots!!!
That said, the MCO needs to be shot for allowing that report into print!
Call me cynical though but I suspect this won't be the last time something this cringe-worthy ends up in the press!
BB, I hope that you go to the Lyneham MCO/CCO/PRO tomorrow and volunteer yourself to be interviewed about your job.
Maybe you won't slip up and say something you wish you'd have phrased differently.
Media chase 'sound bites'. You might have a whole encyclopedia worth of interesting, relevant and carefully selected phrases to regurgitate, and I guarantee they'll concentrate on the smallest error. Saying under your breath "This tea is ****e innit?" would probably become the headline of three huge newspapers.
Maybe you won't slip up and say something you wish you'd have phrased differently.
Media chase 'sound bites'. You might have a whole encyclopedia worth of interesting, relevant and carefully selected phrases to regurgitate, and I guarantee they'll concentrate on the smallest error. Saying under your breath "This tea is ****e innit?" would probably become the headline of three huge newspapers.
Last edited by Runaway Gun; 13th Feb 2007 at 20:49. Reason: I couldn't spell Lynehame - oh I did it AGAIN !!
BB
You're wrong. You can guard, dig etc when you're knackered. Done IOT? ATC can't approve the Army to shoot down aircraft with mortars, they don't singularly own that bit of the sky. Medics do work very long hours legally and without claiming it's dangerous (junior docs). None of them have to work without a break. And if they do cock up, they don't kill at least five others - along with themselves. The jobs AREN'T comparable. However.
I can't believe she was trying to belittle anyone to make herself seem omnipotent. Lots of quotes no doubt, that one used BECAUSE it would be controversial and therefore good press.
Caz, an interview given and rewritten for a Sunday paper's magazine back page readership. Made ME laugh, but - you're a damned good operator. Don't change because of the anonymous opinions of those here (as if you would!). Take a deep breath before this year's review though.....
...the less stringent tasks of a medic in Basrah...yes, they might drop a pencil but they might also fail to save someone’s life!
...the less stringent tasks of an air trafficker...oops, they might approve the army to fire mortars in an area where you're flying and you might get shot down!
...and what about the regt, techies, police and personnel guarding the base. I'd hardly call any of them less stringent duties!!!
...the less stringent tasks of an air trafficker...oops, they might approve the army to fire mortars in an area where you're flying and you might get shot down!
...and what about the regt, techies, police and personnel guarding the base. I'd hardly call any of them less stringent duties!!!
I can't believe she was trying to belittle anyone to make herself seem omnipotent. Lots of quotes no doubt, that one used BECAUSE it would be controversial and therefore good press.
Caz, an interview given and rewritten for a Sunday paper's magazine back page readership. Made ME laugh, but - you're a damned good operator. Don't change because of the anonymous opinions of those here (as if you would!). Take a deep breath before this year's review though.....
Guest
Posts: n/a
Good Article, well done Caz!
Congratulations on an article which fulfilled its' role nicely. The whole point of the "A life in the day" series is to give outsiders a window into your (possibly interesting) life, your perspectives and what is like to be you. I for one, thought that this article fitted the bill with a nicely pitched conversational tone. My mother, with little military knowledge, read and enjoyed the article, while normally quite a critical person she felt it helped her get to know what it's like to be aircrew on ops.
Caz is a great girl with a pragmatic, get on with it attitude, which many in the Forces could learn from, the personal attacks on her and her judgement are unfair and unwarranted.
Reference the much commented upon sleeping arrangements; Aviation is an endeavour in which a slight misjudgement made in an instant, under pressure can easily lead to death as has been tragically proven on far too many occasions, I suggest that getting the best sleep you can is a good idea! Aircrew are not the only people to operate under these conditions, and i really hope the Docs, nurses sentries etc get to sleep well too. However there are many in war zones who have the luxury of jobs where this is not the case. That's not to belittle the importance of the job or the person who does it or even to say that their mistakes if unchecked, will not cost lives, it's just to say that the environment may be less hostile than the one in which aircrew and others find themselves. If you have taken offence at her comments you really need to get out more and get a life!
Caz is a great girl with a pragmatic, get on with it attitude, which many in the Forces could learn from, the personal attacks on her and her judgement are unfair and unwarranted.
Reference the much commented upon sleeping arrangements; Aviation is an endeavour in which a slight misjudgement made in an instant, under pressure can easily lead to death as has been tragically proven on far too many occasions, I suggest that getting the best sleep you can is a good idea! Aircrew are not the only people to operate under these conditions, and i really hope the Docs, nurses sentries etc get to sleep well too. However there are many in war zones who have the luxury of jobs where this is not the case. That's not to belittle the importance of the job or the person who does it or even to say that their mistakes if unchecked, will not cost lives, it's just to say that the environment may be less hostile than the one in which aircrew and others find themselves. If you have taken offence at her comments you really need to get out more and get a life!