Tanker PFI announced...after many years.
Pilot Officer PPRuNe
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Well, I guess Adam Ingram's promise to me a couple of years ago (in the Falklands) of getting a new jet is going to be delayed AGAIN!!!!!! (Not that I believed him then)
What with this and the cuts coming....
Tonks
What with this and the cuts coming....
Tonks
Pass-A-Frozo, mate, I can well believe you!
But if you want to see a really good AAR Mission Planning System, which plans/manages both Towline and Trail Missions, you should come and see what we've been developing for the A310MRTT!
As for FSTA....well, quelle effing surpris! The bolleaux of PFI is coming home to roost at last, it would seem.
So, Greedy Gordon, get your hand in your sporran and come up with the readies!
But if you want to see a really good AAR Mission Planning System, which plans/manages both Towline and Trail Missions, you should come and see what we've been developing for the A310MRTT!
As for FSTA....well, quelle effing surpris! The bolleaux of PFI is coming home to roost at last, it would seem.
So, Greedy Gordon, get your hand in your sporran and come up with the readies!
Hellbound
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Beags
I'm with you. No surprise here, just shaking my head in disappointment. Hope the boys and girls on the Project Team at Abbey Wood are thinking of miraculous ways to rescue this one (more likely over a latte), but don't see a way out without a major cash injection from treasury...
SB
I'm with you. No surprise here, just shaking my head in disappointment. Hope the boys and girls on the Project Team at Abbey Wood are thinking of miraculous ways to rescue this one (more likely over a latte), but don't see a way out without a major cash injection from treasury...
SB
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FSTA, PSBR, Golden Rule
Interesting, though not exactly surprising. Remember that the Treasury's problem here is two-fold.
First, that they've not got (the political will to spend) the money on FSTA as a conventional procurement. Solution? Hire it in through PFI, which is cheap now and is off balance sheet. (Let's not tell anyone that it's much pricier in the long term.)
Second, even if the political will existed to do an old-fashioned procurement that meant that we, well, er, bought the aircraft, then they'd have to pay for them on delivery - BEagle can doubtless advise on the delivery schedule. Solution? Borrow the money over the procurement period in the form of government bonds . (Assuming that the government isn't running a surplus, which at the moment it certainly isn't).
Problem: Prudent Gordon's famous golden rule allows the State to borrow only to invest over the economic cycle - fair enough, FSTA qualifies as investment - but crucially, sets debt as a maximum proportion of GDP - not defined but about 40%. They're running into this ceiling, and therefore can't borrow more and thus can't borrow for the jets. Cue PFI, the debt isn't the government's, therefore it doesn't exist.
So, it's the Public Sector Borrowing Requirement (PSBR) and the Golden Rule that are probably scaring the Treasury - hence the mad rush for PFI.
No excuse - Gordon, tell Darling to buy the sodding jets... and whilst he's at it, make it more than 14, there's a good chap.
S41
First, that they've not got (the political will to spend) the money on FSTA as a conventional procurement. Solution? Hire it in through PFI, which is cheap now and is off balance sheet. (Let's not tell anyone that it's much pricier in the long term.)
Second, even if the political will existed to do an old-fashioned procurement that meant that we, well, er, bought the aircraft, then they'd have to pay for them on delivery - BEagle can doubtless advise on the delivery schedule. Solution? Borrow the money over the procurement period in the form of government bonds . (Assuming that the government isn't running a surplus, which at the moment it certainly isn't).
Problem: Prudent Gordon's famous golden rule allows the State to borrow only to invest over the economic cycle - fair enough, FSTA qualifies as investment - but crucially, sets debt as a maximum proportion of GDP - not defined but about 40%. They're running into this ceiling, and therefore can't borrow more and thus can't borrow for the jets. Cue PFI, the debt isn't the government's, therefore it doesn't exist.
So, it's the Public Sector Borrowing Requirement (PSBR) and the Golden Rule that are probably scaring the Treasury - hence the mad rush for PFI.
No excuse - Gordon, tell Darling to buy the sodding jets... and whilst he's at it, make it more than 14, there's a good chap.
S41
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Just a thought - When (if) we get this new tanker who is going to maintain it? RAF or Civies - if it’s the RAF then what plans are there to retrain us techies to gain an EASA aircraft licence in order to return the aircraft back to its civilian status.
