Leavey under fire - AGAIN!!
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Speaking as a one time planning officer at PJHQ, I was shot at and mortared a whole lot more in that job than in any other in the RAF
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
I had a thought about the pencil versus crash argument and I suspect her choice of extremes might have been better the reason was quite simple.
Remember she was talking, probably over a telephone, to a journalist who was going to write to an uninformed public. How was she to explain the critical nature or her job compared with the much more benign conditions of a pencil pusher?
Taken out of context, as Joan Blunty did, it looks crass. In the context of two understandable extremes it looks much more relevant.
Remember she was talking, probably over a telephone, to a journalist who was going to write to an uninformed public. How was she to explain the critical nature or her job compared with the much more benign conditions of a pencil pusher?
Taken out of context, as Joan Blunty did, it looks crass. In the context of two understandable extremes it looks much more relevant.
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Sam/Matt,
Reading this thread, or any other for that matter is NOT compulsory so if it offends you don't open it or even better shut the f%ck up, as plenty of others have advised and get back to watching CBBC
Reading this thread, or any other for that matter is NOT compulsory so if it offends you don't open it or even better shut the f%ck up, as plenty of others have advised and get back to watching CBBC
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A certain Planning Offocer Asks.....
For Nige G.
A certain planning officer asks.... While working at ASCOT Ops.
Q-"Can I divert a C17 to Christchurch (NZ)?"
A-"Which one?"
Reply- "The one going to CHS"
Response-"Errrrr.......???? you mean the one going to CHS, Charleston, South Carolina.
A certain planning officer asks.... While working at ASCOT Ops.
Q-"Can I divert a C17 to Christchurch (NZ)?"
A-"Which one?"
Reply- "The one going to CHS"
Response-"Errrrr.......???? you mean the one going to CHS, Charleston, South Carolina.
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PN,
if her aim was to give an example to an uninformed public it would have been much better to use one that didn't involve slating her comrades. e.g it's not like driving a taxi or working in a shop.
The fact that she chose to use the typical if you don't fly your not in any danger or don't have responsibility for the safety of others shows a total lack of consideration for all those personnel serving out of area, in crap locations for little reward.
Whats worse is that our so called media comms people didn't catch this -we really are our worst enemies sometimes!!!
if her aim was to give an example to an uninformed public it would have been much better to use one that didn't involve slating her comrades. e.g it's not like driving a taxi or working in a shop.
The fact that she chose to use the typical if you don't fly your not in any danger or don't have responsibility for the safety of others shows a total lack of consideration for all those personnel serving out of area, in crap locations for little reward.
Whats worse is that our so called media comms people didn't catch this -we really are our worst enemies sometimes!!!
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Oh god, round and round we go.......................There is a saying "Today's news is tomorrows chip wrapper" Well all I can say is that it was last months news and you must have a big bag of chips.....
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
TWOL8, agree, I am just speculating further, but it is not likely that these two remarks were actually part of a much lengthier conversation with Caz seking to establish a point and being led on by the journo. At each turn in the conversation the journo draws her out?
As has been said many times here, she was perhaps unwise and inexperienced but the unedited transcript would make fascinating reading.
The more I think how it may have gone the more I think was left out than left in.
As has been said many times here, she was perhaps unwise and inexperienced but the unedited transcript would make fascinating reading.
The more I think how it may have gone the more I think was left out than left in.
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the unedited transcript would make fascinating reading
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"Do you know her personally because you seem to be making a lot of assumptions"
I do, it would and you should be watching CBBC you silly little man instead of continually making a prat of yourself on here
I do, it would and you should be watching CBBC you silly little man instead of continually making a prat of yourself on here
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Seldomfit,
I must apologise. At one point I thought that you and samuraiprat were either soul mates or one and the same person. I see now that this is obviously incorrect.
The little twerp should be marched by the scruff of the neck to the Headmasters study and given a good caning.
I must apologise. At one point I thought that you and samuraiprat were either soul mates or one and the same person. I see now that this is obviously incorrect.
The little twerp should be marched by the scruff of the neck to the Headmasters study and given a good caning.
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Startermotor
Don't! You've just brought a flood of memories back of waiting with the formidable Miss Thompson (School Secretary) before going in to see the Heidmaister (know as the Dom or The Pod) for a thrashing.
This amazing woman was in her mid fifties, was endowed like the R101 and 102, wore tweed suits and pencil-line stockings and always sported a 1940's style coiffure and make-up. In truth, she looked like Alastair Sim in drag in the St Trinians movies.
It's quite a feat that I and many like me who are products of boys' boarding schools are not now in our forties paying 'professionals' for 'personal services'!
Don't! You've just brought a flood of memories back of waiting with the formidable Miss Thompson (School Secretary) before going in to see the Heidmaister (know as the Dom or The Pod) for a thrashing.
This amazing woman was in her mid fifties, was endowed like the R101 and 102, wore tweed suits and pencil-line stockings and always sported a 1940's style coiffure and make-up. In truth, she looked like Alastair Sim in drag in the St Trinians movies.
It's quite a feat that I and many like me who are products of boys' boarding schools are not now in our forties paying 'professionals' for 'personal services'!
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The Truth is out there....
I knew this was somewhere in the vaults of PPRUNe.....
With thanks to Stop Start.......
Another C130 Pilot..... another place..........another time.........
Q? - What is an average day in the life of an RAF pilot........
StopStart " Not entirely relevant, but someone asked a similar question in the Mil Forum a while back.
Not sure how much of this carries across to the civvy world.........
This may ring a few bells for the ex-mil truckies out there
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Not sure about the fast jet heroes but a truckie might experience something like this......
0700L - Woken by telephone call. It's another crew member reminding you that wheels are at 0700L.
0700.5L - Leave hotel room fully clothed, refreshed, with bags packed, ready to face the day's challenges.
0705L - Get to bus. Apologise to rest of your crew for your tardiness. Claim that you spent too long in the gym that morning. Note looks of disbelief. Remember not to use that excuse again.
0706L - Take seat on bus. Note t-shirt is on inside out. Hope nobody else notices.
0720L - Recline in air conditioned luxury as the bus propels you to the airport. Suspect that you didn't pack your shoes and that your washbag is still in the hotel bathroom.
0745L - Arrive at airport and debus. Note that suitcase is suspiciously light. Now fairly confident that shoes are still under hotel bed.
0800L - Negotiate airport security. Spend several minutes being told that you cannot take the knife on your flying suit onto the aircraft without the captain's permission. Explain that you are the captain.
0810L - Still negotiating airport security. Guard now on telephone to superiors. Suspect he does not believe that you are the captain. Remember t-shirt is on inside out. Now suspect that you have also not brushed your hair this morning. Try to see reflection in window to confirm. Get funny looks from guard.
0815L - Eventually allowed to pass on the understanding that you hand the knife to loadmaster for safe keeping until you reach the aircraft. Leave knife and now worryingly light suitcase with loadmaster and proceed to Met.
0820L - In depth met brief for 15 minutes as very keen met officer explains that there is in fact no weather within a 500nm radius of the airport or your destination.
0835L - extract a selection of performance figures from a variety of graphs.
0845L - compare selection of figures with those of co-pilot. Decide that they're close enough although suspect that the co-pilot isn't entirely sure what's going on.
0850L - The cause of the co-pilot's distraction becomes apparent when he announces that he has left the imprest* in the hotel safe.
0853L - stop laughing to take a breath.
0854L - Co-pilot disappears to find taxi back to hotel. Decide that you've briefed enough and head out to the aircraft.
0858L - Arrive at aircraft. Loadmaster now extremely hot and sweaty manhandling pallets single handedly into aircraft, cursing the local handling staff. Praise him for his hard work. Pretend to miss his request for help and proceed outside hastily. Spot Flt Eng and GE looking concernedly at a large trail of orange fluid emanating from an engine. Saunter over casually to join them but they spot you and pretend they were talking about football. Mention the large leak. Note they both feign surprise and pretend they hadn't seen it. They dismiss it as a "seep". Retire to flight deck safe in the knowledge that they will die with you if it explodes in flight so assume that it'll probably be alright. Note tray of sandwiches on flt deck bunk.
0910L - Finish last smoked salmon and cream cheese baguette just as the now exhausted loadmaster joins you on the flight deck. Apparently he could really do with a smoked salmon baguette. State that sadly there were none. Surreptitiously wipe cream cheese and salmon from your chin and hope he didn't notice. Offer him processed ham and gherkin sandwich. He declines.
0925L - Co-pilot returns looking somewhat frustrated. Establish that imprest had in fact been in his suitcase all along.
0935L - Call for crew check in on intercom then realise you are in fact the only one on headset. Again, hope no-one noticed. Eventually gather enough people on intercom.
0937L - Commence starting checks. During start a light on the top panel comes on. Remember seeing this light during a simulator once but cannot recall what exactly it is. Flt Eng begins explaining an electrical fault with the aid of a large wiring diagram. Nod every now and then and agree with him at salient points. Wonder if you shaved this morning.
0940L - Fault rectified, taxy off blocks. Only 10 minutes late. Not bad going.
0941L - ATC pass lengthy clearance. Note the co-pilot copies down "ATC Clears Ascot 5432 to destination..." and then nothing else. ATC requests readback. Co-pilot asks - "did anybody get that". Navigator proceeds to pass the details to him. Flt Eng assists by commenting that he thought the clearance was slightly different. Flt Eng and Navigator argue. Co-pilot drops pencil. You note that your cup of tea has gone cold.
0945L - Cleared line up.
0946L - Airborne. Gear up. Now positive that your shoes are still in hotel.
1100L – Top of climb. Autopilot appears to be u/s. Express relief that it’s the co-pilot’s leg.
1115L – Commence first meal.
1130L – Replete from meal, retire to freight bay to use the “facilities”. On return, note large pallet of full mail bags. A quick test reveals the pile to extremely comfortable. Relax eyelids briefly.
1400L - Return to flight deck to find co-pilot now desperate to use “facilities”. Explain that you were delayed discussing your routing with some of the pax down the back. Take control.
1405L – Co-pilot returns. Comments that the passengers must all be asleep in the freight now as he couldn’t see them. Remember vaguely that you actually have no pax.
1415L – Pass overhead large international airport. Nil cloud or weather, calm, unlimited visibility. Co-pilot asks you get the weather for the airfield below. Look out window. Navigator asks for the QNH there. Make up figure.
1500L – Get cramp. Go to “inspect the freight bay”. Discover that loadmaster has been hoarding chocolate in his drawer in the galley. Steal the good ones.
1520L – Steal Flt Eng’s FHM. Read out the jokes at the back. Flt Eng comments that they have already been read out earlier in the flight. Look busy with Jetplan.
1600L – Top of descent.
1615L – Commence second meal. Spill curry on flying suit leg when putting the gear down.
1630L – Aircraft lands at destination.
1640L – On chocks. Aircraft met by officious customs man who demands that the can of coke you are now drinking from be destroyed before you can leave the aircraft.
1830L – Eventually find bus to take crew to hotel. Despite having been on the ground for 1.5hrs it still takes 30 minutes for every man and his dog to get on the bus.
1915L – Arrive at Hotel Splendide. Receptionist requires passports, ID cards and birth certificates from each crew member.
1957L – Eventually receive room key. Arrange to meet in co-pilots room in 10 minutes for more money.
2006L – Finally get to room. Happens to be most distant room from reception. Again. Open suitcase. As expected no shoes. Or washbag. Find trousers that go best with flying boots.
2008L – Arrive one minute late at co-pilot’s room to discover he has gone. Adjourn to hotel bar. Crew member visited this location 7 years ago. Remembers a fantastic bar. Set out to find bar.
2230L – Arrive back at hotel bar having walked around city centre twice in search of bar. Crew member then remembers that in fact the bar wasn’t in this town but one like it. Blow entire kitty on one round of beers at hotel prices.
2345L – GE gets address of low quality strip bar from hotel barman. You decide it’s bedtime. Crew members engage in harsh banter. You hold your ground.
2346L – Leave hotel for low quality strip bar. Evening becomes a blur..............
0700L – Woken by telephone call.......................
The events portrayed above are fictional. Any similiarity to any events experienced by persons living or dead are purely conincidental
* Imprest = large sum of cash mil crews are given to pay hotac, handling and catering etc etc
If only she had said.............
With thanks to Stop Start.......
Another C130 Pilot..... another place..........another time.........
Q? - What is an average day in the life of an RAF pilot........
StopStart " Not entirely relevant, but someone asked a similar question in the Mil Forum a while back.
Not sure how much of this carries across to the civvy world.........
This may ring a few bells for the ex-mil truckies out there
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Not sure about the fast jet heroes but a truckie might experience something like this......
0700L - Woken by telephone call. It's another crew member reminding you that wheels are at 0700L.
0700.5L - Leave hotel room fully clothed, refreshed, with bags packed, ready to face the day's challenges.
0705L - Get to bus. Apologise to rest of your crew for your tardiness. Claim that you spent too long in the gym that morning. Note looks of disbelief. Remember not to use that excuse again.
0706L - Take seat on bus. Note t-shirt is on inside out. Hope nobody else notices.
0720L - Recline in air conditioned luxury as the bus propels you to the airport. Suspect that you didn't pack your shoes and that your washbag is still in the hotel bathroom.
0745L - Arrive at airport and debus. Note that suitcase is suspiciously light. Now fairly confident that shoes are still under hotel bed.
0800L - Negotiate airport security. Spend several minutes being told that you cannot take the knife on your flying suit onto the aircraft without the captain's permission. Explain that you are the captain.
0810L - Still negotiating airport security. Guard now on telephone to superiors. Suspect he does not believe that you are the captain. Remember t-shirt is on inside out. Now suspect that you have also not brushed your hair this morning. Try to see reflection in window to confirm. Get funny looks from guard.
0815L - Eventually allowed to pass on the understanding that you hand the knife to loadmaster for safe keeping until you reach the aircraft. Leave knife and now worryingly light suitcase with loadmaster and proceed to Met.
0820L - In depth met brief for 15 minutes as very keen met officer explains that there is in fact no weather within a 500nm radius of the airport or your destination.
0835L - extract a selection of performance figures from a variety of graphs.
0845L - compare selection of figures with those of co-pilot. Decide that they're close enough although suspect that the co-pilot isn't entirely sure what's going on.
0850L - The cause of the co-pilot's distraction becomes apparent when he announces that he has left the imprest* in the hotel safe.
0853L - stop laughing to take a breath.
0854L - Co-pilot disappears to find taxi back to hotel. Decide that you've briefed enough and head out to the aircraft.
0858L - Arrive at aircraft. Loadmaster now extremely hot and sweaty manhandling pallets single handedly into aircraft, cursing the local handling staff. Praise him for his hard work. Pretend to miss his request for help and proceed outside hastily. Spot Flt Eng and GE looking concernedly at a large trail of orange fluid emanating from an engine. Saunter over casually to join them but they spot you and pretend they were talking about football. Mention the large leak. Note they both feign surprise and pretend they hadn't seen it. They dismiss it as a "seep". Retire to flight deck safe in the knowledge that they will die with you if it explodes in flight so assume that it'll probably be alright. Note tray of sandwiches on flt deck bunk.
0910L - Finish last smoked salmon and cream cheese baguette just as the now exhausted loadmaster joins you on the flight deck. Apparently he could really do with a smoked salmon baguette. State that sadly there were none. Surreptitiously wipe cream cheese and salmon from your chin and hope he didn't notice. Offer him processed ham and gherkin sandwich. He declines.
0925L - Co-pilot returns looking somewhat frustrated. Establish that imprest had in fact been in his suitcase all along.
0935L - Call for crew check in on intercom then realise you are in fact the only one on headset. Again, hope no-one noticed. Eventually gather enough people on intercom.
0937L - Commence starting checks. During start a light on the top panel comes on. Remember seeing this light during a simulator once but cannot recall what exactly it is. Flt Eng begins explaining an electrical fault with the aid of a large wiring diagram. Nod every now and then and agree with him at salient points. Wonder if you shaved this morning.
0940L - Fault rectified, taxy off blocks. Only 10 minutes late. Not bad going.
0941L - ATC pass lengthy clearance. Note the co-pilot copies down "ATC Clears Ascot 5432 to destination..." and then nothing else. ATC requests readback. Co-pilot asks - "did anybody get that". Navigator proceeds to pass the details to him. Flt Eng assists by commenting that he thought the clearance was slightly different. Flt Eng and Navigator argue. Co-pilot drops pencil. You note that your cup of tea has gone cold.
0945L - Cleared line up.
0946L - Airborne. Gear up. Now positive that your shoes are still in hotel.
1100L – Top of climb. Autopilot appears to be u/s. Express relief that it’s the co-pilot’s leg.
1115L – Commence first meal.
1130L – Replete from meal, retire to freight bay to use the “facilities”. On return, note large pallet of full mail bags. A quick test reveals the pile to extremely comfortable. Relax eyelids briefly.
1400L - Return to flight deck to find co-pilot now desperate to use “facilities”. Explain that you were delayed discussing your routing with some of the pax down the back. Take control.
1405L – Co-pilot returns. Comments that the passengers must all be asleep in the freight now as he couldn’t see them. Remember vaguely that you actually have no pax.
1415L – Pass overhead large international airport. Nil cloud or weather, calm, unlimited visibility. Co-pilot asks you get the weather for the airfield below. Look out window. Navigator asks for the QNH there. Make up figure.
1500L – Get cramp. Go to “inspect the freight bay”. Discover that loadmaster has been hoarding chocolate in his drawer in the galley. Steal the good ones.
1520L – Steal Flt Eng’s FHM. Read out the jokes at the back. Flt Eng comments that they have already been read out earlier in the flight. Look busy with Jetplan.
1600L – Top of descent.
1615L – Commence second meal. Spill curry on flying suit leg when putting the gear down.
1630L – Aircraft lands at destination.
1640L – On chocks. Aircraft met by officious customs man who demands that the can of coke you are now drinking from be destroyed before you can leave the aircraft.
1830L – Eventually find bus to take crew to hotel. Despite having been on the ground for 1.5hrs it still takes 30 minutes for every man and his dog to get on the bus.
1915L – Arrive at Hotel Splendide. Receptionist requires passports, ID cards and birth certificates from each crew member.
1957L – Eventually receive room key. Arrange to meet in co-pilots room in 10 minutes for more money.
2006L – Finally get to room. Happens to be most distant room from reception. Again. Open suitcase. As expected no shoes. Or washbag. Find trousers that go best with flying boots.
2008L – Arrive one minute late at co-pilot’s room to discover he has gone. Adjourn to hotel bar. Crew member visited this location 7 years ago. Remembers a fantastic bar. Set out to find bar.
2230L – Arrive back at hotel bar having walked around city centre twice in search of bar. Crew member then remembers that in fact the bar wasn’t in this town but one like it. Blow entire kitty on one round of beers at hotel prices.
2345L – GE gets address of low quality strip bar from hotel barman. You decide it’s bedtime. Crew members engage in harsh banter. You hold your ground.
2346L – Leave hotel for low quality strip bar. Evening becomes a blur..............
0700L – Woken by telephone call.......................
The events portrayed above are fictional. Any similiarity to any events experienced by persons living or dead are purely conincidental
* Imprest = large sum of cash mil crews are given to pay hotac, handling and catering etc etc
If only she had said.............
Nixor ut Ledo
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Point 1 - Aren't "planners" drawn from the pointy part of the team? So that wouldn't be admin, supply etc (or whatever constitutes 'blunty' nowadays)??
Point 2 - Stay away from IOT at Cranwell. I did a tour there where for a full year I had no leave whatsoever and put in the occasional 100+ hour week (the standard 40 hour week was a bit of a rarity).
Point 3 - Samuraimatt Please go away and shut up!
Point 4 - Whatever the rights and wrongs of the original article it was not good.
Point 5 - Here in Oz media interviews are regularly handled with aplomb by ranks as low as corporal. Don't know what the system of training is in the Australian Defence Forces but it seems to work.
Point 2 - Stay away from IOT at Cranwell. I did a tour there where for a full year I had no leave whatsoever and put in the occasional 100+ hour week (the standard 40 hour week was a bit of a rarity).
Point 3 - Samuraimatt Please go away and shut up!
Point 4 - Whatever the rights and wrongs of the original article it was not good.
Point 5 - Here in Oz media interviews are regularly handled with aplomb by ranks as low as corporal. Don't know what the system of training is in the Australian Defence Forces but it seems to work.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Allan
That used to be the case - fly - fly - HQ Job - fly - planner etc. Then, about 10 years ago the cycole changed.
fly - fly - PVR - fly - fly - holiday - fly
This only left rearcrew to do plans jobs and fly Tonka/Nimrod etc so they dreamt up Flt Ops branch.
not fly - drink coffee - plan - not fly etc.
In Ops one day, just before I would have switched the lights out, ATC relayed to the Fire Section et al the emergency state and problems of an inbound aircraft. To say this caused barely a ripply in the two Ops O's coffee would be an exageration. It caused no ripples whatever.
When I asked what the tannoy call had been they had neither understood or even registered the call.
PS, as well as not requiring any particular aptitude attainment they do not get flight pay either.
Point 1 - Aren't "planners" drawn from the pointy part of the team? So that wouldn't be admin, supply etc (or whatever constitutes 'blunty' nowadays)??
fly - fly - PVR - fly - fly - holiday - fly
This only left rearcrew to do plans jobs and fly Tonka/Nimrod etc so they dreamt up Flt Ops branch.
not fly - drink coffee - plan - not fly etc.
In Ops one day, just before I would have switched the lights out, ATC relayed to the Fire Section et al the emergency state and problems of an inbound aircraft. To say this caused barely a ripply in the two Ops O's coffee would be an exageration. It caused no ripples whatever.
When I asked what the tannoy call had been they had neither understood or even registered the call.
PS, as well as not requiring any particular aptitude attainment they do not get flight pay either.