Future of SH Navigators
 

I understand that a delegation including the Air Sec and CinC STC is due to visit SH MOBs next week to give a presentation on the future of Navigators. Sounds to me like the long-expected decision to go 2-pilot... any thoughts?

They could always be offered an upgrade to crewman...
:D

Snoodfeatures...
 

If you are a nav, maybe you can enlighten us as to the popularity amongst navs of this SAR re-role I've heard about recently.
Are people taking this option?
Is it true?

Why are their airshipworthynesses visiting SH bases to talk to crews? Shurley the best place to visit them is in the various poxy holes* the boys are stuck in.

* Ulster not included...

What are the requirements to upgrade a nav to crewmold?

Obviously surgical removal of one of their nav bags is one.

If I were a betting man I would expect something slightly more wide reaching than just the future of SH navigators.

Next week might just be the start...

my understanding is that shmavigators will be phased out gradually from SH (natural wastage, postings etc) over the medium term i.e. 6-10 years. This will mean v little to the shmavs currently working in SH. I will be interested to see if this mythical branch of WISO will apear and offer some sort of solution to the problem of what to do with these bods. Incedentaly, I would have much preffered the new branch to be called Weapons And Nav Kit Specialist, it makes a much more fitting abbrieviation for my future in the mob.

W eapons A nd N av K it S pecialist?

Like it,...... like it lots! New brevet time I wonder.

SRB said: Next week might just be the start...

Thought all good rumours were delayed now `til feb, unless you know different.

T_M

LHS Specialist,

I agree with your assessment of the likely 'party line' (although I have heard that it could take up to 12 years to train enough pilots - wonder if they considered SABR in this?), but I don't really buy the "don't worry, it won't affect you" argument - as I see it, the SH force has never really made use of its navs, and if the intention is to phase them out, nobody is likely to put any effort into enhancing their position.

The force apparently needs the navs to stay in until enough pilots can be trained to replace them - if the official line is that the current navigators are not any use to the force and are just there to make up the numbers, what effect will this have on navigator retention?

Maybe there will be a consultation period to see what the navs think... or maybe not...

Snoodfeatures

Chaps,
Any Navs looking for a long term career could do a lot worse than consider E-3D mission crew. Interesting and very important job, and the requirement to do a year or so down a Fighter Control bunker will hopefully soon be removed for those interested in Weapons Control rather than Surveillance.
We also get a galley although we unfortunately have to live in tents these days as well!
Generally, I suspect that 'Mission Crew' roles for Nav/WSO's will increase in importance due to E-3D, Nimrod R1 and ASTOR over coming years.
Regards
M2

Would that then be the Weapons And Nav Kit (Ex Rotary) Specialist? :D ;)

W eapons A nd N av K it S pecialist - C ombat A irborne T echnical S pecialist....

Any takers?

I exercised my PVR rights and left the RAF a few years ago at the mid point of Nav training - it seems I made the decision give the news on this message board.

The then director of Nav training did my exit interview and told me that there was a fantastic future for Navs - who was he trying to kid!

I am now 29, earn £80k a year in a successful career in the City.

Je ne regret rien!:D :D :D

sh navs
 

Where does the Air Force find the money to train these nav replacements. The through life costs for navs is nil as their training is done on the back of pilots training. I somebody in the MOD has asked the treasury to cough up all this new money!

If the RAF is really trying to phase out SHNavs, how come every time a new OCF output hits the squadron there are more bloody navs than the last time? Not that i care, more P1 for me!

Smug, what no. Nav course were you on then? (if you don't mind me asking).

nav training costs
 

ossie, im not sure where you get the idea that navs have a zero cost of training. We have our own basic nav course (admittedly primarily to train us for fast jet) and then a separate (and very very lengthy) rotary course with about a third of the hours allocated to a pilot. On top of this there is an equally lenghty ocf (third pilot hours). We are cheaper but not free. As to where the extra funding for extra pilots will come from, the "tiny" amount of extra money will be approved in the next budget.

Teeheehee
 

Why are they called 'one wing wonder men'?
"I wonder what this does"
"I wonder where we are"
"I wonder how this is for"...
Teeheehee

I thought that the only SH navs flew on Pumas? Do they also fly on chinooks and fulfil the PNF role?

Sorry if this sounds really stupid, but I'm most interested in Nimrods :D .

Spent alot of time with a LHS specialist next to me. They nearly all (one or two exceptions....got promoted !) gave a fantastic service, one that I could only hope to give when I occupied the left. The arguments for getting shot of them are strong but the ones that are left do a good job. I only hopethey manage to motivate the one left behind as they "phase them out".

As one who never subscribed to the "they nicked our job" forum I have to fully endorse the last post. On the whole, as I remember, they were top blokes, none more so than the Puma guys who saw the end of 18 in BFG!! The idea of two pilots is a good one but lets hope it all works out ok for the Nav's who will inevitably get sh@t on.

all spelling mistakes are "df" alcohol induced