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.

OK, hands up everyone who had to Google RPSAP :O

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?

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).

Beags, yeah that seemed like the case to me, too? But apparently not.

Cheers, WD! That is certainly interesting.

It does sound too good to be true, doesn't it?

Ah, but what's 'normal' flying training these days? The future has arrived. :E

CG

Unfortunately with the current outflow levels and the length of time "normal" flying training is taking....I can absolutely see them doing that..

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.

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?

Are there any DE RPAS(P) ?
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?

DE RPAS(P) have been recruited for a while now.

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.

I think I know the guy you mean.

He is, was, an exceptional case due to his pre Shawbury holding experience.

DW?

Very nice guy.