Voyager Sponsored Reserves Awarded "Wings"
AirTanker
I can see the advantage of a civilian setup for maintenance and training for the Voyager, as is carried out on several other aircraft types in RAF service.
Could someone explain the cost reasons why the MOD would want to employ civilian pilots to fly operational sorties? Presumably AirTanker have to pay the going rate for an equivalent airline salary (Virgin?) which is probably double the RAF Flt. Lt. salary. There have also been many surplus RAF trainees 'sacked, recently who could do the job much more cheaply when combined with the experienced ex VC10,TriStar etc. crews.
Pilots with no glass -cockpit experience, complete an Airbus type Rating course with no problems, coming out at the end of the Sim stage CatIII ready, and, with no Base Training, start on the Route training phase.
I can imagine interesting bar conversations when RAF crews meet up with the 'civvies' doing the same job for double the money!
Could someone explain the cost reasons why the MOD would want to employ civilian pilots to fly operational sorties? Presumably AirTanker have to pay the going rate for an equivalent airline salary (Virgin?) which is probably double the RAF Flt. Lt. salary. There have also been many surplus RAF trainees 'sacked, recently who could do the job much more cheaply when combined with the experienced ex VC10,TriStar etc. crews.
Pilots with no glass -cockpit experience, complete an Airbus type Rating course with no problems, coming out at the end of the Sim stage CatIII ready, and, with no Base Training, start on the Route training phase.
I can imagine interesting bar conversations when RAF crews meet up with the 'civvies' doing the same job for double the money!
Last edited by cessnapete; 7th Oct 2012 at 14:38.
I'm somewhat intrigued by this award. My understanding was that the issue of RAF pilots "wings" to SRs was specifically refused by the custodian of the RAF Flying Badge (Group Captain Flying Training - when we had the post); or has someone changed QRs (or was it MAFL?) to allow this to happen?
I thought the agreement reached was that SR pilots would wear ATr company wings when on military/SR duty, unless they had previously been awarded wings by the RAF, FAA or AAC in which case they could wear those when on military duty.
I've met some of the new SRs and they seem a good bunch, with lots of experience, but I, like others on here, think that this degrades the achievement of being awarded RAF "wings". And as for AAR currency once every 6 months - dream on!
I thought the agreement reached was that SR pilots would wear ATr company wings when on military/SR duty, unless they had previously been awarded wings by the RAF, FAA or AAC in which case they could wear those when on military duty.
I've met some of the new SRs and they seem a good bunch, with lots of experience, but I, like others on here, think that this degrades the achievement of being awarded RAF "wings". And as for AAR currency once every 6 months - dream on!
