Agreed...what I said is "could".

Agreed but I meant "won't" :)

We'd end up with microlights with roundels on them if this lot had there way :ugh:

The banks did get the UK into a mess, as you point out. However, the MOD had a £38Bn black hole in its finances - even after SDSR they found another £1Bn of problems. You cannot blame the Banks for that, that was the Government and MOD.

Not saying Banks are blameless, they are clearly not. But if we hadn't entered this process with £38Bn in overspend, we would not be taking some of the very severe measures we now see.

Purely speculation but

It is not just a pilot issue, many other branches are also facing redundancy however it is possible that one or two might be offered a re-branch to Regiment or similar, but that is a pure supposition.

I think it is pretty certain that there will be no pseudo-PC in the process but I can equally predict that there will be claims that there was a bias against assumed minorities.

The real rub is doing well on their respective courses. Someone might be an absolute natural pilot acing all aspects of the flying but they may not be as strong in OQs. The one who is achieving 80-80 might be preferred over the 90-70 man.

Whether they are winding down OASC I don't know but it has been stated that the pilot tap is turned off until Jul next year so . . .

As little as they can get away with.

Now my question:

What about the young (21 year old) borderline redundee, could be reapply to OASC to rejoin as a former commissioned officer and restart training in 2013 or 2014?

No bets here. There has been a continuous track record of releasing too many and ending up with too few. This has resulted in people rejoining in their 40s or serving beyond 55. It captures experience but goes against the whole ethos of a young service.

QE boosts the Dow, which boosts the FTSE 100 (own QE), wealth abounds.

Russia and China (and a failed USA*)?

* US Municipal Bonds: The Next Crisis? | macrobusiness.com.au

So who's lost their job over this?
Or have they moved to the financial sector :ok:

Do keep up dear boy, the number of new aircraft supposedly coming into service won't nearly match the number of existing aircraft being scrapped.

And even if the 12 Chinooks appear by some miracle, it hardly makes up for the total loss of two large fleets of helicopters, does it?

The press are mentioning the FJ, RW and ME streams but nothing of us who are either in the middle of EFT or just finished and awaiting streaming. I know we aren't as far down the chain but it still stings!

We have all got a meeting at Cranwell tomorrow to be told our fate. Bearing in mind we found out about the meeting after reading it in the telegraph! I think there's going to be a few more than a hundred of us going.

It's pretty devastating really.

I suppose that my son who is at Uni and in the UAS as an Officer Cadet (Volunteer) should just pack it in!

Redundancy pot

MFTS
 

Ironic that Flight International publishes this little gem today...

UK MFTS programme gears to train first students

As a former Service pilot I find this to be hideous situation. The figures don't stack up of course if bums don't match up with available seats but nonetheless we can only imagine the anxiety being experienced across the training bases this evening.

To those who are made redundant tomorrow........difficult to offer any words of comfort and encouragement but for gawds sake try not to let your training go to waste.

I was in that position myself 30 years ago and still deeply regret not banging hard enough on enough doors :ugh:

Easier said than done I know with the army of frozen ATPLs out there to compete with:eek:

I came across this today from a House of Lords debate on Defence on 27 Jan 2011.

Lord Guthrie

" The Last 3 CO's of 22 SAS have either left or are leaving the Army. They are worried about the future and the future of their Families."

Nothing to do with the way this Government is degrading the WHOLE of the UK Forces?? Being honest,I think that the knee-jerk reaction re terrorism is swaying minds!

Cameron is more likely to turn up waving a bit of paper saying "War in our time but we have nothing left to wage one with!

For what it's worth ...

I've had the pleasure of working with Greeners and IMO he's an absolutely top chap. I have no doubt this will be going down like a cup of cold sick for him too.

I have the utmost sympathy for the young lads and lasses who have to face this abominable decision. The only comforting words I can think of are that you were chosen in the first place because you are exceptional people. This short sighted insanity does not change that fact one iota. I very much hope you use your exceptional qualities in your future exceptional careers - after tonight's mahoosive piss-up of course :}

Although I agree in part about what you say ,remember that a lot of those who have/are going through this nonsense have ,since an early age chosen and focussed on from an early age what they wanted to do! Schooling re Subjects were chosen (with the advice from Careers Officers} with the intention of joining the branch of the Armed Forces of their choice! My son has spent the last 5 years modelling his school/Uni courses AND was one of 23 accepted into the UAS from an application of over 200!
What chance his future in the RAF now? By the way he HAS been to Cranwell on Selection. missed his Pilot training by one point!

GeoAC, as crazy as this may sound your son stands more of a chance in the future if the hard decisions are taken now. The alternative to making large redundancies now would be to bear the bulge, have long holds and reduce the intake downstream (we have made that mistake before). There is no simple or painless answer but cuts now mean a healthier system in 2 years time. Although those leaving soon will be deeply upset, the chances are the pain would have been prolonged if they had stayed. I wish them well.

I wonder how the decision process works for this? The unfortunate youngsters learning their fate tomorrow will have had to be "streamed" by the "organisation" into who stays or who goes. This process couldn't have happened overnight - some work must have been going on over the past few days or weeks, or more, to get to tomorrow's "event". Some studes must have continued to fly and work hard towards their goal over the last few weeks not knowing that they never had a chance. Dreadful.

To me it`s a false economy! Why train people up to certain standard then stop? Fine ,if the intention is to save money.So why not just put a put a freeze on new intakes? However,anyone who has had the pleasure of serving with the RAF in whatever way, KNOWS that it cannot be run like a business!