Reserve QFIs
 

I see there's a large (and very expensive) ad in the current issue of Flight, looking for ex-service pilots to sign on as flying instructors. I guess the staffing situation must be a bit critical at the FTSs. Are there any current QFIs who can comment? I might just be interested in applying, if they're not too concerned about mature years!

I would. :ugh:

I don't follow your logic, there have been FTRS posts in the FTSs for many, many years now.

The difference, to my mind, is that advertising for the previous posts was comparatively low-key. A full-page colour ad in Flight is a very expensive exercise, suggesting a higher level of need. Perhaps I'm wrong, this wouldn't be unusual.

If the figures quoted in one of the other topics re pilot entry figures are correct then all of the FTSs will need to expand to meet the increased pilot entry. It takes time to 'grow' QFIs so you need to start training them now.

Just as well then that we haven't slashed the RAF down to 41000 and reduced the QFI establishment to minimum manning and need as many pilots on the frontline as we can get and and have gapped many of the FTS posts to allow as many pilots to stay with the frontline and taken the PMA QFI desk officer as a savings measure and...

Oh we have?!?!?!

............ And Swiss Des says we aren't broken!!!!

Not sure I like the bit in the advert about loosing some of your pension! What's that all about then? Why would my pension be any of their business?

Oh, I might consider it when I retire from my current cushy number. Until then, no effing way!

LFFC

Sadly this one of those huge gotchas and is, ISTR, a Treasury rule. God forbid that we might allow someone to earn their pension, leave and then come back in on similar pay + their pension.

Only applies if your pension is a military one, because of course you have to be ex-military to be FTRS. I think that you have to retire at senior Wg Cdr or Gp Capt rank not to lose any of your pension. If you retire as Flt Lt/Sqn Ldr and I think junior Wg Cdr then you will lose an element of your pension if you want to come back as FTRS.

Wrong? Absolutely. But sadly one of those stupid rules that means that FTRS QFI is no longer attractive to many = extreme shortage of FTRS QFIs even around those traditional recruiting grounds of York and Lincoln!!!

Not necessarily. Linton/Valley may be a different issue, but the UAS posts referred to have been in existance for a while. With time though, those people are moving on/retiring and many posts now need filling. The problem with FTRS posts is that they are geographically tied, making some of them very difficult to fill.

Roland - couldn't agree more...we are setting ourselves up for a very big fall in the QFI cadre. But that's OK - the frontline Sqns will just change the rules so as not to need QFIs (just FIs) and crack on as usual.:ugh:

Uncle G

Roland Pulfrew

Has anyone challenged this in Europe?

STH

I suspect that nobody will be a***ed to do so. They will just work as a co-pilot for an airline instead and be better off.

Absolutely crazy!

Why is it wrong?

If they changed the rules so that you could leave, pick up your pension and then rejoin again on a similar wage + a pension, guess what would happen?

Let me have a guess! The military would retain more QFIs?

Isn't that what they are trying to do?

In the short term it makes sense to use the retired QFIs as it frees up the serving guys to move back to operational duties. The immediate balance sheet looks terrific.

Long term, however, the dearth of serving QFIs sounds the death knell for pilot training.

But do the political masters care?

Uncle G is right about the front line, I wouldn't bother coming back and Linton and Valley don't have problems at the moment. Can't really see any problem just yet, it's not that QFI's are leaving, it's that the 30 - 35 yrs pilots are leaving. Front line tour, QFI tour = leave for stability in the commercial sector. I say 'stability' but if we head into recession...!!!

Yes, recessions have saved the military manpower plan on more than one occasion in the past. But it's very sad that the government has to rely on failure (recession) in order to meet its military staffing objectives. :ugh:

Don't be so sure.....it wasn't that long ago that the ad in Flight was a Linton-only calling notice. They've just expanded it this week to all FTRS.

What ad next week??

Uncle G:ok:

VVHA

How about this? I join the RAF and agree to do 16 years or to the age of 38. I reach the exalted ranks of flt lt so I am on about £45K pa. At that point I can leave the RAF and will get a £10K pa pension. Note I have earned this pension and it's mine if I leave.

I can take my pension and join an airline on lets say £42K as first officer + my pension I have now had a nice pay rise and I work for the airline and get to stay in my own house near where I work.

Now maybe I am a QFI when I get to 38. I fancy living in my own house near one of the FTSs and still teach people to fly. I could apply to become an FTRS QFI, still as flt lt on £45k (if I am on full commitment) with the relevant flying pay band.

I am on a contract now (3 - 5 years) so a bit of a risk for long term employment. I should have my pension, note I earned it and would have it if I joined an airline, but because of the rules I can not earn more than I was on when in the RAF.

Incentive to stay? Nil. Result? An inability to recruit FTRS QFIs to fill the many posts that have been converted to FTRS to try and stay within the stupid 41000 manpower cap. Further result? An inability to train the pilots of the future.

Now if I retire at 55 and fancy working on for a few more years the problems get worse because the pension I have earned from 21 - 55 is that much bigger. Incentive to stay on??????

Does that answer your question?

Op Twenty

Not sure where you get that from. Linton were running with 15% gapped posts and Valley at about 5%. PMA view is that all must share the pain. If the frontline is gapped then training units must take their share.

I simply say...

"I TOLD YOU SO!!"

I probably don't have the hours at the moment to look at a position, however I would consider moving from the Army to the RAF. I realise that I would have to go through Cranwell Etc.
Several of my friends have / are doing it, does anybody know the upper age limit to start the application, or who I could speak to at manning and recruitment.
Cheers TOP