Leuchars flagged up by SNP
Thread Starter
Bearing in mind Stephen Gethins point raised about his concerns that Leuchars will lose its status as a Diversion for Lossiemouth, the worrying response from the Air Defence Secratariat is; a decision hasn't been made about the long term future of Leuchars. Well what does that mean exactly? This is Gethins point entirely, they can never give an answer which comprehensively reassures. So what is implied here? Are they saying that the station is under review again? Has someone in the MOD crunched some numbers and worked out that for the number of practice diversions and actual diversions, to fly the one hundred+ miles extra to Leeming and back still leaves the MOD in pocket when compared with the savings of closing down Leuchars as a WX diversion? Or is this, as has been suggested, a bull headed illogical demand for a trade off for turning Leuchars into the Army Central Hub in Scotland? I was saying to my Brother just the other day, did you know that along with four squadrons of Typhoons, all the RAF's nine P-8s and a new P-8 maintenance centre together with the constant coming and going of US Navy and Royal Norwegian Air Force P-8s, the former I understand may have a permanent operational detachment there, will be based at Lossiemouth. His response was to say what a choice target for Terrorists. Same with the Army Hub!? When did we lose sight of the folly of over grouping everything in one place and limiting the scope for deployment? The bean counters can always show what they've saved with what they've taken away, but will never be drawn to explain the cost they've inflicted!
FB
FB
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There are probably some important semantics here. "Plans to end..." do not necessarily equal "no confirmation of support beyond" - but they might do. And if you want to start winding up the political head of pressure required, you might want to start sooner rather than later.
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https://www.fifetoday.co.uk/news/nor...raft-1-4792533
Here's an interesting first since the Army moved in.
FB
Here's an interesting first since the Army moved in.
FB
https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais...el:SD_VICTORIA
VASF Leuchars on the Ark Royal dispersal were always excellent! Whether dealing with an F-4 or a VC10K, Big George and his lads always provided a superb service to visiting aircraft.
Finningley Boy,
Who are these ‘bean counters’ of whom you speak? Do you imagine there is a brigade of faceless civil servants giving direction to the RAF which then must be enacted? If so, you are somewhat misguided. Under the Levine reforms, the Front Line Commands have extensive control over how they spend their money. I cannot think of any significant decision made in the last few years that has not been endorsed by either CAS, DCom Cap, DCom Ops or COS Cap. None of these individuals I would characterise as a ‘bean counter’, quite the reverse! However, they are having to deal with significant financial constraints in the best way possible while maximising the RAF’s capability, so difficult decisions have to be taken. But rest assured, they are being taken by people who absolutely understand the operational impact of their actions!
Who are these ‘bean counters’ of whom you speak? Do you imagine there is a brigade of faceless civil servants giving direction to the RAF which then must be enacted? If so, you are somewhat misguided. Under the Levine reforms, the Front Line Commands have extensive control over how they spend their money. I cannot think of any significant decision made in the last few years that has not been endorsed by either CAS, DCom Cap, DCom Ops or COS Cap. None of these individuals I would characterise as a ‘bean counter’, quite the reverse! However, they are having to deal with significant financial constraints in the best way possible while maximising the RAF’s capability, so difficult decisions have to be taken. But rest assured, they are being taken by people who absolutely understand the operational impact of their actions!
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Thanks BE and it was always as pleasure seeing you, George is still in the states as far as know think he was back for a GE reunion a while back with Ron Pepper.
Thread Starter
Finningley Boy,
Who are these ‘bean counters’ of whom you speak? Do you imagine there is a brigade of faceless civil servants giving direction to the RAF which then must be enacted? If so, you are somewhat misguided. Under the Levine reforms, the Front Line Commands have extensive control over how they spend their money. I cannot think of any significant decision made in the last few years that has not been endorsed by either CAS, DCom Cap, DCom Ops or COS Cap. None of these individuals I would characterise as a ‘bean counter’, quite the reverse! However, they are having to deal with significant financial constraints in the best way possible while maximising the RAF’s capability, so difficult decisions have to be taken. But rest assured, they are being taken by people who absolutely understand the operational impact of their actions!
Who are these ‘bean counters’ of whom you speak? Do you imagine there is a brigade of faceless civil servants giving direction to the RAF which then must be enacted? If so, you are somewhat misguided. Under the Levine reforms, the Front Line Commands have extensive control over how they spend their money. I cannot think of any significant decision made in the last few years that has not been endorsed by either CAS, DCom Cap, DCom Ops or COS Cap. None of these individuals I would characterise as a ‘bean counter’, quite the reverse! However, they are having to deal with significant financial constraints in the best way possible while maximising the RAF’s capability, so difficult decisions have to be taken. But rest assured, they are being taken by people who absolutely understand the operational impact of their actions!
FB
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https://www.kingdomfm.co.uk/news/loc...hars-airfield/
The MOD have dismissed claims by Steve Gethins, MP for North East Fife, that there are plans to end military aviation at Leuchars in 2021. So where did Mr Gethins get the scent from? I'd have thought that Leuchars' position as the master diversion for Lossiemouth would ensure its survival in that regard!? But I've been certain about things before only to be proved mistaken.
FB
The MOD have dismissed claims by Steve Gethins, MP for North East Fife, that there are plans to end military aviation at Leuchars in 2021. So where did Mr Gethins get the scent from? I'd have thought that Leuchars' position as the master diversion for Lossiemouth would ensure its survival in that regard!? But I've been certain about things before only to be proved mistaken.
FB
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/696814/2018-03356.pdf
Leuchars' status is highly anomalous. The only ATC unit providing a LARS H24. Why? Not even Lossiemouth or Coningsby do that even though they're the source of any H24 movements at Leuchars. And how many Typhoon divs do they get? Last time I looked a pair of Lossie Typhoons operating to the north diverted all the way to (Liverpool?), flying past Leuchars because they were on easterlies and below minima (Cat D PAR DH 710ft on 08 compared to 250 on 26)
