Shortage of Helicopter Pilots?
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Tourist
You seem to be missing my point somewhat and assume there is something sinister in my suggestion.
If the main bone of contention is that of parity between light blue pilots and dark blue/green pilots then surely, bearing in mind we currently dont do the NCO pilot thing if all pilots were light blue and Occifers..............................
You seem to be missing my point somewhat and assume there is something sinister in my suggestion.
If the main bone of contention is that of parity between light blue pilots and dark blue/green pilots then surely, bearing in mind we currently dont do the NCO pilot thing if all pilots were light blue and Occifers..............................
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Seldom
I have no bone of contention at all, but I do believe that it is good to have all three services flying. It helps to provide contrasts, best practice etc.
Also, 1. Many of the Army NCO pilots would never pass the officer selection. (by saying this I am not for one second impugning the NCOs, rather the selection criteria)
2. There is no justification, in my opinion, for making all aircrew officers.
I have no bone of contention at all, but I do believe that it is good to have all three services flying. It helps to provide contrasts, best practice etc.
Also, 1. Many of the Army NCO pilots would never pass the officer selection. (by saying this I am not for one second impugning the NCOs, rather the selection criteria)
2. There is no justification, in my opinion, for making all aircrew officers.
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Tourist
Could not agree more with your sentiment but you would have to admit that to address the current disparity issues my solution does make some sense.
As regards your "Many of the Army NCO pilots would never pass the officer selection" not sure if you are old enough, or ever did know AJ Smith...........those that did will tell you if he could do it ANYONE could
Could not agree more with your sentiment but you would have to admit that to address the current disparity issues my solution does make some sense.
As regards your "Many of the Army NCO pilots would never pass the officer selection" not sure if you are old enough, or ever did know AJ Smith...........those that did will tell you if he could do it ANYONE could
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I don't actually believe there is a shortage of pilots in our armed forces.
What we have shortage of is clerks and nibby jobs officers.
A tiny percentage of our "aircrew" are actually flying day to day, and those that are fly, on average, ludicrously low hours per month. (stand fast those on ops, themselves a vanishingly small proportion of the total declared aircrew numbers)
I would happily average 100 hrs per month, if flying was all I did.
It is insane to pay us so much money because we are "special" enough to be able to pass flying training, and then utilise most of our time doing jobs that in any sane organisation would be done by clerks or managers paid a quarter of our wage.
It is also insane to have such a ridiculous number of senior officers (who dont fly)for such a tiny military. I bet there is one group captain/captain for every aircraft in theatre.
What we have shortage of is clerks and nibby jobs officers.
A tiny percentage of our "aircrew" are actually flying day to day, and those that are fly, on average, ludicrously low hours per month. (stand fast those on ops, themselves a vanishingly small proportion of the total declared aircrew numbers)
I would happily average 100 hrs per month, if flying was all I did.
It is insane to pay us so much money because we are "special" enough to be able to pass flying training, and then utilise most of our time doing jobs that in any sane organisation would be done by clerks or managers paid a quarter of our wage.
It is also insane to have such a ridiculous number of senior officers (who dont fly)for such a tiny military. I bet there is one group captain/captain for every aircraft in theatre.
Tourist,
Couldn't agree more.
Oddly enough that was one of the reasons that I left in the 70's...................
Couldn't agree more.
Oddly enough that was one of the reasons that I left in the 70's...................
Originally Posted by Seldomfitforpurpose
As regards your "Many of the Army NCO pilots would never pass the officer selection" not sure if you are old enough, or ever did know AJ Smith...........those that did will tell you if he could do it ANYONE could
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AHQHI656SQN
Who is teaching the Apache tech to your Harriers techs?
I think you used to call it 'concurrent activity' in your stage one army trg and after all it ain't that complex.
I think the point here is being missed. None of the services have the number of pilots required, although the RAF seem to be doing more about the problem, with help from the AAC.
I hope that you don't lose the AH to the RAF. Just under 2 years ago we were asked to canvass the Sqn for volunteers to go on Apache exchange with the AAC. Not one volunteer came forward, that's both overtly and covertly; if that's not a confidence boost that no-one want's that job in it's current guise, I don't know what is. Right now, what most blokes want is a tour on the 7, 18 or 27 Sqn (Chinooks for the uneducated) and to join the hallowed DFC crowd.
Interestingly though, having spoken recently to PMA 32a (The crab appointer) he has 58 Army pilots waiting to transfer to the RAF!!
Also, an ex Army QHI at Shawbury has reported that 2 ex AAC Majors, now Flt Lt's, are on the MEARW course and are doing very well by all accounts. More are in the pipeline too.
Hopefully with new reins at the helm of the AAC this current bad feeling/in fighting (Oh so you use to support Folkes did you etc)will diminsish and the screaming eagle return back to it's former glory.
Remember before going FL rediculous, this is not a slanging site ,it's an info site so let's not degrade this thread to a pure slander match like, unfortunately, so many others.
Who is teaching the Apache tech to your Harriers techs?
I think you used to call it 'concurrent activity' in your stage one army trg and after all it ain't that complex.
I think the point here is being missed. None of the services have the number of pilots required, although the RAF seem to be doing more about the problem, with help from the AAC.
I hope that you don't lose the AH to the RAF. Just under 2 years ago we were asked to canvass the Sqn for volunteers to go on Apache exchange with the AAC. Not one volunteer came forward, that's both overtly and covertly; if that's not a confidence boost that no-one want's that job in it's current guise, I don't know what is. Right now, what most blokes want is a tour on the 7, 18 or 27 Sqn (Chinooks for the uneducated) and to join the hallowed DFC crowd.
Interestingly though, having spoken recently to PMA 32a (The crab appointer) he has 58 Army pilots waiting to transfer to the RAF!!
Also, an ex Army QHI at Shawbury has reported that 2 ex AAC Majors, now Flt Lt's, are on the MEARW course and are doing very well by all accounts. More are in the pipeline too.
Hopefully with new reins at the helm of the AAC this current bad feeling/in fighting (Oh so you use to support Folkes did you etc)will diminsish and the screaming eagle return back to it's former glory.
Remember before going FL rediculous, this is not a slanging site ,it's an info site so let's not degrade this thread to a pure slander match like, unfortunately, so many others.
I hope that you don't lose the AH to the RAF. Just under 2 years ago we were asked to canvass the Sqn for volunteers to go on Apache exchange with the AAC. Not one volunteer came forward, that's both overtly and covertly; if that's not a confidence boost that no-one want's that job in it's current guise, I don't know what is. Right now, what most blokes want is a tour on the 7, 18 or 27 Sqn (Chinooks for the uneducated) and to join the hallowed DFC crowd.
I agree with most of your post, but the above statement is not strictly true. A mate of mine pushed very hard for the exchange and is there now. However, it took longer than it should as the staish at the time tried to bury it, and it was only by buttonholing an Air Officer at a dinner that he managed to escape to the AAC on exchange.
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Seldomfitforpurpose: Red Card
Putting 'names' on here is a bit off-side especially when placed in such a derogitory manner. As it happens, I have completed 2 tours with the said individual and while he may lack the plum in his throat, he is a good guy to fly with and tells it the way it is. We could do with a lot less bull**** in this mans Air Force, and the said chap would never stab you in the back whilst there was a hangar he could give you a good kicking behind.
Putting 'names' on here is a bit off-side especially when placed in such a derogitory manner. As it happens, I have completed 2 tours with the said individual and while he may lack the plum in his throat, he is a good guy to fly with and tells it the way it is. We could do with a lot less bull**** in this mans Air Force, and the said chap would never stab you in the back whilst there was a hangar he could give you a good kicking behind.
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Seldomfitforpurpose: Red Card......... dont be a complte feckin girl
"As it happens, I have completed 2 tours with the said individual and while he may lack the plum in his throat, he is a good guy to fly with and tells it the way it is. We could do with a lot less bull**** in this mans Air Force, and the said chap would never stab you in the back whilst there was a hangar he could give you a good kicking behind"
I flew with AJ on more occasions in NI and on 18 Sqn than you can shake a stick at, his sloping ground demo was a joy to behold and his QHI skills were with out doubt as good as any I saw in my 10 year SH time.
The epitomy of a Cranditz graduate................your choice fella but if you were to ask any TSW guys why they took the batteries out of the TV remote control before the Puma landed on...............hence if AJ can get through......................
HEDP Long may that continue to be the case
"As it happens, I have completed 2 tours with the said individual and while he may lack the plum in his throat, he is a good guy to fly with and tells it the way it is. We could do with a lot less bull**** in this mans Air Force, and the said chap would never stab you in the back whilst there was a hangar he could give you a good kicking behind"
I flew with AJ on more occasions in NI and on 18 Sqn than you can shake a stick at, his sloping ground demo was a joy to behold and his QHI skills were with out doubt as good as any I saw in my 10 year SH time.
The epitomy of a Cranditz graduate................your choice fella but if you were to ask any TSW guys why they took the batteries out of the TV remote control before the Puma landed on...............hence if AJ can get through......................
HEDP Long may that continue to be the case
Last edited by Seldomfitforpurpose; 7th Aug 2008 at 00:28.
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Tourist,
Thank you for introducing me to an entirely new experience.....being pleased to see a post from you!
Nail...head...DH!
I don't actually believe there is a shortage of pilots in our armed forces.
What we have shortage of is clerks and nibby jobs officers.
A tiny percentage of our "aircrew" are actually flying day to day, and those that are fly, on average, ludicrously low hours per month. (stand fast those on ops, themselves a vanishingly small proportion of the total declared aircrew numbers)
What we have shortage of is clerks and nibby jobs officers.
A tiny percentage of our "aircrew" are actually flying day to day, and those that are fly, on average, ludicrously low hours per month. (stand fast those on ops, themselves a vanishingly small proportion of the total declared aircrew numbers)
Nail...head...DH!
your choice fella but if you were to ask any TSW guys why they took the batteries out of the TV remote control before the Puma landed on
