Hawks Grounded (merged with Hawk Display Cancelled)
At the risk of sounding mildly pedantic, I wouldnt blame the MOD (which is essentially CTLB) but HQ AIR and the RAF chain of command for this decision.
HQ AIR and the RAF are the ones who ultimately would have taken the decision to suspend the pilot, staffed the issue and taken the decisions and ultimately done the drafting for the press statement (which does seem extremely crassly written).
HQ AIR and the RAF are the ones who ultimately would have taken the decision to suspend the pilot, staffed the issue and taken the decisions and ultimately done the drafting for the press statement (which does seem extremely crassly written).
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All I can say is that I'm glad I'm still not "in". With decision-makers in HQ Air and elsewhere in the chain of command ready to do anything to cover their *sses I can't see the point in volunteering to be in a display crew, no matter what the kudos or prestige may be amongst one's peers.
Just imagine it now if all the currently authorised display crews refused to display their ac partly to show solidarity, but also to question their leadership's perhaps over-eager reaction to sack the current Hawk solo diplay pilot so publically. The decent thing would to have created a story - all that was needed was to say he was "unfit to fly" - Joe Public could have read anything into that, from a bad head-cold to 'flu and being "unfit" wouldn't be deviating from the truth, if it's true that he'd really goofed-up.
Then there could be a discrete investigation with appropriate action and if necessary additional training/supervision or in extrimis a replacement appointment being made. At this rate I doubt there'll be (m)any pilots voluntering to be next year's "public face" of the RAF......that's assuming that there still is an RAF.
MB
Just imagine it now if all the currently authorised display crews refused to display their ac partly to show solidarity, but also to question their leadership's perhaps over-eager reaction to sack the current Hawk solo diplay pilot so publically. The decent thing would to have created a story - all that was needed was to say he was "unfit to fly" - Joe Public could have read anything into that, from a bad head-cold to 'flu and being "unfit" wouldn't be deviating from the truth, if it's true that he'd really goofed-up.
Then there could be a discrete investigation with appropriate action and if necessary additional training/supervision or in extrimis a replacement appointment being made. At this rate I doubt there'll be (m)any pilots voluntering to be next year's "public face" of the RAF......that's assuming that there still is an RAF.
MB
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However in this instance we are talking about a high profile public display, widely admired and extensively promoted.
Most "internal matters" do not relate to an activity with its own website, Facebook page and PPRuNe account! Nor are servicemen normally encouraged to write in detail on public forums about their day to day activity or the training and planning behind it.
It is becoming all too common for people and organisations in the public eye to feel that they have an absolute right to free publicity when it suits and complete privacy when it doesn't.
If you choose to strut your stuff in public then you cannot complain if the public also take an interest in unfortunate aspects you would rather keep private. This is even more true when the activity is funded entirely by the public purse.
Most "internal matters" do not relate to an activity with its own website, Facebook page and PPRuNe account! Nor are servicemen normally encouraged to write in detail on public forums about their day to day activity or the training and planning behind it.
It is becoming all too common for people and organisations in the public eye to feel that they have an absolute right to free publicity when it suits and complete privacy when it doesn't.
If you choose to strut your stuff in public then you cannot complain if the public also take an interest in unfortunate aspects you would rather keep private. This is even more true when the activity is funded entirely by the public purse.
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Their Twitter feed has been deleted 
http://twitter.com/rafhawkdisplay
EDIT - Oh, 'Tw1tter' seems to be automatically changed to 'PPruNe'. As you wish.
http://twitter.com/rafhawkdisplay
EDIT - Oh, 'Tw1tter' seems to be automatically changed to 'PPruNe'. As you wish.
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Looks like the numpty PR bod has either also been "withdrawn" or is trying to distance himself from the whole sorry business.
The link from "The Team" RAF Hawk Display Team - The Team to the PRO's page now directs back to the homepage.
The link from "The Team" RAF Hawk Display Team - The Team to the PRO's page now directs back to the homepage.
EDIT - Oh, 'Tw1tter' seems to be automatically changed to 'PPruNe'. As you wish.
I typed Twit Er (but with a third T and no space)
Let's try again - Twitter
Edit - Yep, done it again - Crazy
UKAR Forum had a two line post from HawkDisplay this evening, not that it said anything useful.
However that was deleted within five minutes by it's author!
Getting more ridiculous by the second!
However that was deleted within five minutes by it's author!
Getting more ridiculous by the second!
I see that a particular reason has now been advanced on another forum quoting an "informed source".
I'm not going to repeat it here without more confirmation but, if true, it would make the decision understandable.
However it is difficult to see that anything could justify the appalling way in which the matter has been handled.
I'm not going to repeat it here without more confirmation but, if true, it would make the decision understandable.
However it is difficult to see that anything could justify the appalling way in which the matter has been handled.
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Tom, everybody who has seen your display thinks it the best in the Hawk bar none. Is there a video that the rest of us can see?
All of us here are 'rooting for you!'
All of us here are 'rooting for you!'
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Tom
I don't know you from Adam, mate, or what happened. Sounds like you've had a bit of stress, however I would counsel you very strongly against engaging in any public debate in any context with regards to your day job. For what it's worth I am ex-RAF FJ.
Good luck
I don't know you from Adam, mate, or what happened. Sounds like you've had a bit of stress, however I would counsel you very strongly against engaging in any public debate in any context with regards to your day job. For what it's worth I am ex-RAF FJ.
Good luck
No matter what the incident, seems a shame that the show couldn't have been made the overriding priority
Then there could be a discrete [sic] investigation
Surely you don't mean this? Not speculating on this particular incident, but would you really want a flying display to go on even if there were, for example, serious safety concerns etc?
Interesting thread that shows that the Services are still slow in conrolling the individual enfranchisment of the internet - back in the fifties you had to steal a jet and fly it under Tower Bridge to put the machine in a spin - now all you need is a T@w@i@t@t@er account..
And who controls Pprune - why is t@w@i@t'er always re-written as "Pprune". Also why does L$an$d Ro$v&er always get re-written as Lada? And lots of other dodgy examples - what is going on in Pprune land?
And who controls Pprune - why is t@w@i@t'er always re-written as "Pprune". Also why does L$an$d Ro$v&er always get re-written as Lada? And lots of other dodgy examples - what is going on in Pprune land?
...back in the fifties...
Tom, the main issue most of us have is more with the heavy-handed neo-Stalinist way the news was broken and less with whatever the alleged incident actually was.
System test - SCUNTHORPE
