How long to train a Army Pilot?
Joined: Apr 2000
Aviation Qualifications: ATP+Mil
Posts: 10,959
Likes: 1,814
From: EGDC
Also sounds a bit like the very punchy, operational RT I heard recently from an Apache - "Lima Charlie"............Takes longer to say (4 syllables v 3) than Loud and Clear which is what they meant as they were doing radio checks
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
From: UK
7 of the original Sqn have left or are in the process of leaving, either runnning out their service or via PVR. Three Officers and 4 WO1s. This is over a third (7/19) of 656 Sqn, at full strength. Even more worrying is that there are only five of the original 19 currently filling front line seats, including 2 QHIs - only two remain in 656 Sqn itself! Of all the others:
4 have been promoted and/or posted to desk jobs
2 have gone on QHI course (necessary, I grant you)
1 posted to AMTAT (equally appropriate)
4 have been promoted and/or posted to desk jobs
2 have gone on QHI course (necessary, I grant you)
1 posted to AMTAT (equally appropriate)
HEDP - in answer to your question, by December next year, I anticipate that there will be no original members of 656 Sqn left in a front line seat. Seems a crying shame, especially when I know that some of the original aircrew would possibly have stayed, given the chance.
I'm looking forward to a new job!
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 3,933
Likes: 143
From: Warrington, UK
I anticipate that there will be no original members of 656 Sqn left in a front line seat
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 102
Likes: 0
From: UK
Mighty Gem,
You are right, nothing changes, except that cost of training crews has gone up considerably and there wasn't so much investment in a Detmold Night Hawk crews (which in those days was some of the best trained AAC crews) as there is now with the AMTAT/LCR pipeline.
You are right, nothing changes, except that cost of training crews has gone up considerably and there wasn't so much investment in a Detmold Night Hawk crews (which in those days was some of the best trained AAC crews) as there is now with the AMTAT/LCR pipeline.
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 196
Likes: 1
From: UK
Greetings
After 4 years, why should there be many aircrew left out of the original 656 Sqn? There is now a good mix of experience in each of the AH units and in particular there is a good mix of experience and other talents in the operational units. Getting 4 years out of each AH pilot would be a great feat; you should really be complaining as tax payers about the AH pilots that do not do 4 years before going onto a desk job.
In these days of a buoyant civilian flying market, it is always going to be a struggle to entice aircrew to stay, particularly as there is a high operational tempo. From what I see in the AAC, and I get a privileged overview of the whole thing, we continue to produce the goods required to our number one customer, the squaddie.
The jobs within the JHC and aviation in general are opening up. When Wessex pilots can become kingair pilots, AH pilots can go to 8 Flt, and our desk johnnies that want to continue flying can remain in the services by going Blue, it would appear that there are a lot of variety and challenges in service flying to be had.
The need to retain experience on our types is obvious, but it is no where near as dire as some posters might like us to believe. Mr Ab initio is producing the goods and the sausage machine is working well, as it always has in the services.
On another note, I attended the CFS conference this week. There was a lot of chat about QHI/QFI pay. All very encouraging.
Jeep
After 4 years, why should there be many aircrew left out of the original 656 Sqn? There is now a good mix of experience in each of the AH units and in particular there is a good mix of experience and other talents in the operational units. Getting 4 years out of each AH pilot would be a great feat; you should really be complaining as tax payers about the AH pilots that do not do 4 years before going onto a desk job.
In these days of a buoyant civilian flying market, it is always going to be a struggle to entice aircrew to stay, particularly as there is a high operational tempo. From what I see in the AAC, and I get a privileged overview of the whole thing, we continue to produce the goods required to our number one customer, the squaddie.
The jobs within the JHC and aviation in general are opening up. When Wessex pilots can become kingair pilots, AH pilots can go to 8 Flt, and our desk johnnies that want to continue flying can remain in the services by going Blue, it would appear that there are a lot of variety and challenges in service flying to be had.
The need to retain experience on our types is obvious, but it is no where near as dire as some posters might like us to believe. Mr Ab initio is producing the goods and the sausage machine is working well, as it always has in the services.
On another note, I attended the CFS conference this week. There was a lot of chat about QHI/QFI pay. All very encouraging.
Jeep
Avoid imitations
Joined: Nov 2000
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 15,114
Likes: 1,088
From: Wandering the FIR and cyberspace often at highly unsociable times
I rang the Army recruitment office and asked the lady "How much time does the army spend training its pilots?"
She said "Just a minute....."
I said: "Thanks, thought as much" and put the phone down.
She said "Just a minute....."
I said: "Thanks, thought as much" and put the phone down.
