More info on Astra
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I thought ASTRA was just a vanity project! I didn’t realise that it could bring more with less, how cool is that. In 20 years time the RAF will be where it should have been at least two decades ago.
In the meantime I do hope that nobody is caught with their britches down during the next 20 years. That would embarrassing, and would lead to a text book on failed theories for future management courses; a modern day ‘Big Wing’.
In the meantime I do hope that nobody is caught with their britches down during the next 20 years. That would embarrassing, and would lead to a text book on failed theories for future management courses; a modern day ‘Big Wing’.
Join Date: Apr 2008
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If that is the case then how do you square the loop with 14 different ISR types? I make that Reaper (we don’t own any Protectors yet), Sentry, Shadow, Sentinel, D4K, Islander, RJ and Poseidon. That is 8 - including all marks? If I go tri-Service I can add Crowsnest Merlin. If I really stretch it, then add F35B to make 10. No where near close to 14!
Apologies for intruding into a Light Blue internal discussion. However, some things in the article linked by the OP really struck me.
I don't like this in my gut but hope they get it right. Am I wrong that there has already been a continuing tendancy to compress classroom training time over the last 40+ years?
I assume he isn't referring to aircrew? For the technicaI trades/professions I trust this wouldn't lead to aircraft and weapons systems being worked on by the unqualified without intensive supervision.
I grant its a long time since I had direct experience but I have always been struck by the different approach of Annapolis, Colorado Springs and West Point compared to their UK equivalents which seem to be in a rush to produce new officers by comparison.
This doesn't actually seem a bad idea to me but I really can't see the money to match remuneration being forthcoming. Presumably there would be a reserve type commitment?
Could this be managed with pilots? Would it be possible to keep current on both military and civil types? I can see a possible mutual benefit with certain airlines.
TRAINING AND ESTATE
“This needs an absolute revolution,” states Air Mshl Turner. With over 5,500 people in some form of school, college or academy, we need to move away from rote learning towards more learning at the front line and more skills taught on-the-job. “We need to move from our current 17.4 percent of our people in some type of training institution to around seven percent.”
“This needs an absolute revolution,” states Air Mshl Turner. With over 5,500 people in some form of school, college or academy, we need to move away from rote learning towards more learning at the front line and more skills taught on-the-job. “We need to move from our current 17.4 percent of our people in some type of training institution to around seven percent.”
I assume he isn't referring to aircrew? For the technicaI trades/professions I trust this wouldn't lead to aircraft and weapons systems being worked on by the unqualified without intensive supervision.
I grant its a long time since I had direct experience but I have always been struck by the different approach of Annapolis, Colorado Springs and West Point compared to their UK equivalents which seem to be in a rush to produce new officers by comparison.
He notes that the flexibility and remuneration offered by industry needs to be matched if people are to be attracted to the service and retained over the long term. He adds that there also needs to be “a more flexible relationship with industry to allow personnel to move in and out of the organisation, as they will be civil qualified which will make transitions easier. We have called this developing the ‘zig-zag’ career.”
I am very interested in allowing people to be more flexibly employed and move towards a more Full Time Equivalent approach
I believe it was this project that coined the slogan “Train less- be better” . Good luck squaring that circle! That whirring sound you can hear is Trenchard spinning in his grave.
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Turner and ASTRA
I agree completely with Easy Street's earlier post. Having been forced to sit through Turner pontificating at Shawshank a few years ago, I came away with the distinct impression that his immense ego and ambition are the main driving forces that produce the numerous visions for unachievable vanity projects that he loves to try and impress everyone with, instead of sensible, pragmatic and achievable solutions. Only the Treasury and the current economic situation will determine how the RAF are resourced and what can subsequently be achieved, no matter how many cloud-nine visions he chooses to generate. He has a track record of having introduced poorly thought through visions that subsequently failed to achieve the desired effect and I confidently predict the ASTRA will only add to this list.
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We did experiment with reservists at Lyneham for a short period of time but matching their availability to the tasking was ultimately impossible. I can well remember having a conversation with someone's personal assistant about getting someone to crew a flight, a day trip to and from Europe, only to be asked if we could delay it until the following week when they would have a space in their diary. The only one's who were available tended to be those who'd retired and were at a bit of a loose end - i.e. unemployed or pottering around the garden tending to their petunias whilst waiting for gin-o-clock.
Whether it is still the case I have no idea, but in the past once one was posted away from a particular (military) type one was deemed to be 'non-current' with immediate effect. It would certainly be possible to remain current having left, returning for essential BCRs and the like, but I suspect 'the system' isn't really set up for that sort of thing.
We did experiment with reservists at Lyneham for a short period of time but matching their availability to the tasking was ultimately impossible. I can well remember having a conversation with someone's personal assistant about getting someone to crew a flight, a day trip to and from Europe, only to be asked if we could delay it until the following week when they would have a space in their diary. The only one's who were available tended to be those who'd retired and were at a bit of a loose end - i.e. unemployed or pottering around the garden tending to their petunias whilst waiting for gin-o-clock.
We did experiment with reservists at Lyneham for a short period of time but matching their availability to the tasking was ultimately impossible. I can well remember having a conversation with someone's personal assistant about getting someone to crew a flight, a day trip to and from Europe, only to be asked if we could delay it until the following week when they would have a space in their diary. The only one's who were available tended to be those who'd retired and were at a bit of a loose end - i.e. unemployed or pottering around the garden tending to their petunias whilst waiting for gin-o-clock.
For reservist aircrew, is it much of a cost saving? I’d have thought with abatement etc, but the loss of HDT, it must be exactly the same cost as a regular?
And one of these 'leaders' might come up with a radical plan:
Employ a few extra bods for each sqn so aircrew don't drown in BS secondary duties.
Then aircrew are tasked fulltime with flying , study flying and air warfare and preparing themselves mentally and physically for the job.
As a parallel look at professional sport and the understanding of the small differences between winning and losing.
Would a junior pilot on a Typhoon Sqn train the same way as a Manchester United striker?
and if not why not?
Avoid imitations
Join Date: Nov 2000
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As someone once said, “Isn’t it a shame that those who know better than everyone else only ever get to cut hair or drive taxis?”
The company...have poached 3 x blue suits that were desperate for ground tours. Rather than offer respite, the RAF put up barriers and dug pot holes to encourage them to leave
