I'm not sure whether I can answer it exactly, but I'mpretty sure they have legislation that does help them. For example, if a CAPT from the USAF gets out and joins an airline, as soon he is told he gets the job he can take 'military leave' from the airline for 12 months as a reservist and the airline aren't legally allowed to stop him. AND his line number continues to move up while he is on leave. I am not completely sure, but I think that the airlines have to allow pilots in the reserve a certain amount of time off for their reserve/ANG duties. It is how they look on their military, and the fact that their government has put in procedures to make this feasible. I am unsure whether Q or any airline would do this off their own back.

Remember that a lot of the ANG and reserve units over there are not manned solely of part timers. I think in fact a lot of the ANG guys are actually full time.

I think most people can see the pros/cons of having some reservists come in and help out, but I can't see how it would work long term. I agree with the sentiments that the RAAF should use the external knowledge to train its own people, then use them. Are the guys who haven't had time in the military aware of the currencies that are required to be maintained, and I'm not talking about the flying stuff. There is that much crap that needs to be done it's stupid, but could you imagine how the guys in would see it if the 'new guys' didn't have to do it, but they did. Same with all the crap secondary duties, (TIMESO, PUBS, UFSO etc etc) And then theres the poor saps in ground jobs. Can't see this would help in their retention problem!

Basically, I think it has some merit for a short time, but the RAAF should try to avoid too many. The full time reservists pose less of an issue. They are there in big enough chunks to get all the ground **** done and still get some work done. I have seen issues (both here and abroad) where the 'fly in/fly out' reservists can pose a problem by getting their currencies done, and then have to nick off again.

Bit long winded, but just my view!

Like-This ...I agree with you, there could be more opportunities for Reserve Flying if our system if was built and resourced for it, but it is not. Reserve units are widely seen from within the RAAF as small 'plug-on' units that provide extra staffing where it can be used, and pretty much do admin/pay/paperwork behind anyone engaged in flying with a unit in that state. The Army seems more accommodating for their ground-warriers, but moving men and stuff around on the ground is primarily what they have to do.

Silent T made a good comparison with the US Forces. Their system is so massive that they can afford to have complete reserve units as flying squadrons. Ours is so small that we have one RAAF reserve unit per state with relatively small members. Just recall that our entire RAAF is only 13000 people, which is only a small crowd at an AFL match!! Not much to fight a war with, so we punch above our weight so to speak with good equipment and people.

But back to the KC30...the ADF is not bound to follow any CASA or airline norms in keeping people current in flying events (sims etc), but usually the manufacturer's recommendations are followed as a minimum, then any defence requirements are added. You may be surprised that the unit CO can stipulate his/her SOPs, since he/she signs off on them and is legally reponsible for the operation and the risks involved (approved up the chain of course). This aspect is little understood by non-ex mil flyers who fly for an employer under CASA regs and ops manuals.

Thanks for the imput guys.

I ask only as a matter of interest? Knowing that the supposed pilot shortage is reaching everywhere, it may have been an interesting past time to refuel the "fighter jocks."

And I also remember reading that the RAAF do now recognise civilian qualifications. It was in the recent AustAviation mag.

Food for thought......

Civilian quals
 

That CASA recognition is actually very limited. The training framework tops out at CPL, and that is all that CASA will automatically grant to a mil pilot, and only after completion of a post-wings conversion course.

PS2A_yay!

No such luck regarding RAAF recognising civvie flying. But hey, perhaps Aust Aviation knows more than me......

Writing is now on the wall for RAAF reservist pilots. Stand by for an announcement resulting from the Rudd Govt's decree to Defence on the massive savings required.

Non-discretionary days p.a. (i.e. 32) only will be required/allowed. That keeps the numbers looking good - but eliminates the expense.

That rumour is certainly going around. If it's the case then it will close the Museum and probably take the legs out from underneath most of the training units. That'll help with retention..........

Not to mention most of the operational units!:hmm:
Anyway, we're so far behind schedule here at the NW NSW training establishment that it really wouldn't matter if that rumour were to eventuate.:ugh:

I believe that the Reserve Staff Group (RSG) way of reserve working is dying and that War Establishment (WE) is to be used instead. For the uninitiated, this basically that means that instead of units simply bidding for a budget of 'reserve days' to allocate to any reservist aircrew they like, (who can then use these days until they are exhausted) , the units will have to nominate reservists who are then formally 'posted' to established 'WE' positions in the units which carry a nominated 32 or 20 days per year, depending on the banding.

This means also that many reservist pilots may have to run round the track and pass their annual fitness tests to remain on the reserve and 'deployable' (fatties beware).

I hope more WE days become available, otherwise some units will have difficulty keeping staff!!

RM

Every reservist pilot has to pass a PFT (RSG excepted - however no pilot flying positions in the RSG) and has always had to.
It is a requirement to maintain an annual aircrew medical.

As to some of the other aspects discussed on this thread - some of them are a bit dated.
There are in effect no "operational" reservists posted to the reserve squadrons such as 21, 22 et. al any more. The reservists are posted to the operational (or training as the case may be) squadrons utilising their skills - this squadron then wears the admin burden of the reservist - bar the pay requirement which is still handled by the reserve squadron.

They still have to maintain all operational requirements such as the PFT and WHT - no difference to that required by a PAF pilot.

There is some move to reduce these requirements if the reservist is just conducting sims and the like.

RSG days are dead - but I always thought that a particular reservist was posted in as RSG - not a "general" pool of days to be used as required - could be wrong though having never done it.

CSD - what happened to your South African laterals??? 457 visas fall through??

Lateral INFLOWS
 

One of the reasons reservist pilots are losing their guernseys is that the laterals are literally (and laterally) flowing into the RAAF (PAF).

Somebody somewhere ticked too many boxes........

well at least they will be filling all those sort after ground jobs to I bet.....

On site and in uniform awaiting AVMED course and conversion at CFS. Should be on line in two or three months.

On a slightly different topic, a recent flight screening course had to be cancelled because recruiting coldn't find enough candidates!:ooh:

Wouldn't be such a huge problem if the Melchetts upstairs did something meaningful to retain the pilots we already have.:hmm: