The way the defence cuts have been going I wouldn't be so sure an ATC minibus is not actually a strategic asset.

Don't think an ATC minibus can be classed as strategic as the MoD do not provide or support them. Do hope the spineless cretins who torched it get all they are owed and that the sqn concerned gets mobile soon. Not sure who parents them but they should be able to borrow any available unit MT providing sqn staff have the required FMT600's signed off.

From the Indymedia report

That would be as opposed to Putin's non aggressive moves into Eastern Ukraine, of course! Tossers.

I used to be on the civilian committee of our local ATC squadron, and most of our time was taken up with fund-raising - mainly to buy string and glue to keep our ancient minibus going. Even 25 years ago when times in the defence world weren't nearly so hard we got no financial help from the RAF, so I wouldnt hold your breath about any being forthcoming now.

It amazes me that they have to fund transport themselves, you would think at least when service vehicles are disposed of at the "end of their military lives" some could not be passed onto the Cadet forces, after all they do that with some ex military aircraft.

And let's face it a lot of the vehicles they get shot off have years of life left in them, if I remember correctly do service vehicles not have a fixed lifetime budget on them and when that's spent they are disposed off ?

I realise that in this day an age that money is a priority and recouping it from assets, but surely this is maximising that asset.

Don't forget they are all "white fleet" now so belong to the contractors ,so no chance of getting them for the ATC.

So when you see the likes of these, they are not from the MOD per se, but from the contractor?

Minibuses and Coaches, MOD Sales, Military Vehicles & Used Ex MOD Land Rovers for Sale

From 1958 to 1963, I was a cadet on 1860 Sqn. I shall contact the Wg HQ and see if they are making a collection for a replacement.


Interesting to see if the insurance company come up with the claim or if they class it as 'riot and civil commotion'.


Old Duffer

Also most white fleet minibuses are over 3 tonnes so require a D1 license to drive, which restricts them to the increasing minority of staff who have D1 by grandfather rights or can give up a week of work to go to Leconfield to do the course. Many Squadron vehicles are under 3 tonnes and are operated on Permit 19s which allow most staff to drive them on their regular car licenses.

Not true, I had the pleasure of charging an arsonist who set light to a vehicle via an accelerant, using his cigarette as the ignition source. He dropped the butt side of the vehicle, and the DNA on it was enough to place him at the scene.

P1

I stand corrected although in my defence I was thinking more about the actual fire than forensic opportunities outside the vehicle.

No disrespect but are you sure? It is quite difficult to buy third party motor insurance and even if you do it costs MORE than Fully Comp. I doubt that vehicle could have been operated legally with minors on board, without fully comprehensive insurance and this is not an act of civil unrest it is arson, which is covered.

If the vehicle is correctly insured the insurance will pay out, no question. If it is not, then somebody is for the high jump

The old fat one.
The minibus was third party insured.
The linked article says so, and so do the squadron.
Insurance policies always have lots of get out clauses built in, and acts of riot or civil unrest often fall into this category.
The 'fire' part of a policy clearly can't cover all fires as there could otherwise be a spate of fires started by vehicle owners when they fancied a new car :)

Even if the insurance covers it probably lowest book price so not nearly enough to buy a replacement vehicle .

Used LDV Minibus Vans for Sale at Auto Trader Vans

It's clear from earlier threads that many ppruners can trace their aviation careers back to ATC (or CCF) units. Where do I send my cheque to help buy another bus?

G-ARZG - if you PM me I'll forward your kind request onto that squadron via the official e-mail.

Thank you again for your kind thoughts.

Regards,

BL

Here here

copy me on the details and I'll contribute a tenner. Any other PPruners up for it?

Nutloose - what's the equivalent of Cmd MT nowadays? I would imagine that the disposals contract covers only vehicles that are allocated as surplus to requirements. What's the chance of linking HQAC up with them to get some kind of dialogue going? This is a low cost no-brainer. I can absolutely guarantee that the return the RAF gets from the contract is nowhere near the prices charged by the "surplus" re-sellers so we would not be looking at cutting the F-35 Fleet to fund something here.

Brokenlink
I've sent you a PM

There's a thought - a PPrune sponsored replacement minibus.....................


OK, PPrune sponsored wheels for a replacement minibus......

Maybe its time for a re-think on cadets.

Cadets are a fertile recruiting ground for the Armed Forces. I'd say easily 25% of those serving have been in one of the cadet forces. Why aren't they properly resourced?

They wear military uniforms (but must buy their own boots), fire military weapons, using military ammo, eat military rations, why can't they use military MT? MT often sits idle on the weekends, when the cadets are busy. Just license the instructors appropriately, or pay ED pay to serving staff to drive for them. In the grand scheme of things, it would cost pennies.

The MT would also live in more secure accommodation. It's not that far of a stretch to suggest that anyone torching a minibus on an RAF station, Army barracks or RN shore establishment leaves themselves open to being shot in the process.

I am told that the police and a local sign painter have come up trumps and a replacement minibus is being provided for the sqn. This is good news and as an old boy of the sqn, I am delighted and pleased for them.


Old Duffer