RPASP brevet change
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RPASP brevet change
I was talking to an RPASP (blue wreath) last night and apparently, all blue wreaths are being changed to the normal, standard brown wreath for "proper" (for lack of a better word) pilots, again.
Has anybody else heard any similar rumours?
This is good news for me if it's true, because it then brings the branches closer together to make a flyable aeroplane crossover more likely, if I had to settle for that route initially.
Has anybody else heard any similar rumours?
This is good news for me if it's true, because it then brings the branches closer together to make a flyable aeroplane crossover more likely, if I had to settle for that route initially.
Presumably only those drone operators who have completed the normal flying training course to 'Wings' standard would be entitled to wear the normal RAF Flying Badge?
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interestingly (perhaps), all of the flying badges issued after the old AEO/AEOp "AE" badge have not been correctly authorised and cannot officially be worn on uniform. This includes all of the FC, IA, AT and WSO badges as well as the blue RPAS pilot badge (Source is the excellent book by Wg Cdr Jefford, "Observers and Navigators"). It seems that the badges have not been submitted to the monarch for approval through the correct channels. Indeed, when the RPAS badge was designed, questions were asked and nobody knew the correct procedure for approval as several offices no longer existed. A new system was developed - and even then the RPAS badge did not follow the correct route and was authorised by the wrong person. Perhaps the biggest foul up was the FC badge: flying badge authorisation and training was the responsibility for AOC Training Command and his nose was somewhat put out of joint when he saw photographs of AOC 11 Group pinning unknown FC badges on chests at Lossiemouth without his knowledge of the training being given or the new badge. I had heard that one solution to this problem is to use old badges instead, with the old RO radio observers' badge previously issued to night fighter "navigators" being touted as a catch-all for the incorrect currently issued badges until the whole issue is finally sorted. Perhaps the issue of the correctly authorised for wear brown pilots' badge is to replace the blue unauthorised for wear for drone pilots to get around this administrative nightmare? (Perhaps we should colour them red so we can discover the new home for the Red ROs, but this is a different thread).
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It’s all to do with Protector. RPAS pilots will be recieve IFR ratings and as such, will be able to cross over onto manned platforms. As a result, the badge is changing in line with that. By all accounts, it’s happening.
Heard it from RPAS Staneval just a few weeks ago.
fingers crossed for the guys being awarded RRP too. They absolutely earn it.
Heard it from RPAS Staneval just a few weeks ago.
fingers crossed for the guys being awarded RRP too. They absolutely earn it.
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It’s all to do with Protector. RPAS pilots will be recieve IFR ratings and as such, will be able to cross over onto manned platforms. As a result, the badge is changing in line with that. By all accounts, it’s happening.
Heard it from RPAS Staneval just a few weeks ago.
fingers crossed for the guys being awarded RRP too. They absolutely earn it.
Heard it from RPAS Staneval just a few weeks ago.
fingers crossed for the guys being awarded RRP too. They absolutely earn it.
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As long as they use them in single seat A/C, knock yourselves out, try to get them in an A/C with more than one seat and you're going have problems.
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Putting RPAS pilots through basic and advanced FJ training... I really can’t see it myself. I would say they’d be better suited to flying one of the ISTAR assets, putting them through the (now outsourced) ME course will be much cheaper and more efficient than sending them FJ.
I think people need to relax a bit. It's not as if the current RAF flying badge is a ticket to fly everything: a 3000hr FJ pilot has to do a multi-engine crossover or the whole of RW flying training before being allowed to start an OCU on those types. Why on earth would it be different for a RPASP changing stream?
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I think people need to relax a bit. It's not as if the current RAF flying badge is a ticket to fly everything: a 3000hr FJ pilot has to do a multi-engine crossover or the whole of RW flying training before being allowed to start an OCU on those types. Why on earth would it be different for a RPASP changing stream?
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Most RPAS(P) were already serving Officers in other branches AFAIK.
Added to which, they have previously let non-pilots wearing N, AE, LM, and E crossover to Pilot so why not RPAS pilots too?
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For the record, the guy I talked to is a former ATCO, crossed over to RPAS(P) and is a blue wreath. He has operational experience on MQ-1, 9 and is currently a Protector STANEVAL pilot.
This is excellent news for anybody in the RPAS(P) branch who wants to cross over, and I am pretty happy about it because it opens options.
This is excellent news for anybody in the RPAS(P) branch who wants to cross over, and I am pretty happy about it because it opens options.
For the record, the guy I talked to is a former ATCO, crossed over to RPAS(P) and is a blue wreath. He has operational experience on MQ-1, 9 and is currently a Protector STANEVAL pilot.
This is excellent news for anybody in the RPAS(P) branch who wants to cross over, and I am pretty happy about it because it opens options.
This is excellent news for anybody in the RPAS(P) branch who wants to cross over, and I am pretty happy about it because it opens options.
He is, was, an exceptional case due to his pre Shawbury holding experience.
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Oh no, someone call the Nurse. The old folks home is waking up...
“In my day to get a Flying Badge you had to get to get up to go to Met before you went to bed. Lick the aircraft clean with our tongues. Go to the feeder for breakfast for a cup of cold gravel. Paid the Chief Clerk fourpence and six for the privilege of serving and when we got to the briefing the QFI would slice us in two with a bread knife...”
”Luxury! And we never complained...”
”Aye, and if we crashed all the Instructors would dance on our grave and sing Hallelujah!”
”Yup, tell the kids of today and they would never believe ya...”
”Aye...”
“In my day to get a Flying Badge you had to get to get up to go to Met before you went to bed. Lick the aircraft clean with our tongues. Go to the feeder for breakfast for a cup of cold gravel. Paid the Chief Clerk fourpence and six for the privilege of serving and when we got to the briefing the QFI would slice us in two with a bread knife...”
”Luxury! And we never complained...”
”Aye, and if we crashed all the Instructors would dance on our grave and sing Hallelujah!”
”Yup, tell the kids of today and they would never believe ya...”
”Aye...”
