SARH to go
Heli 1 - valid point.
The rest - keep on blaming the RAF for everything if it makes you feel better about the present situation and the likely future. We'll just keep on doing the best job we can and setting the standards (on which SARH is based) for UK SAR.
Arctic warrior - this was Beirut in the 80's when it was a proper warzone
The rest - keep on blaming the RAF for everything if it makes you feel better about the present situation and the likely future. We'll just keep on doing the best job we can and setting the standards (on which SARH is based) for UK SAR.
Arctic warrior - this was Beirut in the 80's when it was a proper warzone
Crab
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The rest - keep on blaming the RAF for everything if it makes you feel better about the present situation and the likely future.
Crab, I believe that you may have inferred from most posts on this and other threads that people don't respect the RAF's SAR coverage. Not the case from my reading of the forums. If anything it's quite the contrary.
What is noticeable is the response from a group of laconic, long in the tooth pilots to your ripostes. I nearly, repeat nearly, wrote 'arrogant ripostes'.
I wrote a few months ago that it would be better for all parties if you remained in the services and didn't pursue a career with a civilian company. Nothing I have read recently has given me cause to change that view.
It would be an interesting exercise for a reality TV show. "Crab jumps ship." Your first visit to the line shack would be very interesting viewing.
Crab, I believe that you may have inferred from most posts on this and other threads that people don't respect the RAF's SAR coverage. Not the case from my reading of the forums. If anything it's quite the contrary.
What is noticeable is the response from a group of laconic, long in the tooth pilots to your ripostes. I nearly, repeat nearly, wrote 'arrogant ripostes'.
I wrote a few months ago that it would be better for all parties if you remained in the services and didn't pursue a career with a civilian company. Nothing I have read recently has given me cause to change that view.
It would be an interesting exercise for a reality TV show. "Crab jumps ship." Your first visit to the line shack would be very interesting viewing.
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your inside lane seems to be ahead of the rest of us on the SARH situation,maybe you would like to enlighten the readership on your source of information.
On the S92 SAR variant you have no idea of the aircrafts capability and more to the point seem to want to remain ignorant despte fellow SAR crews invitation to enlighten you by a welcome visit to an operational base.
We up north will even fund your visit,the glove is down.
On the S92 SAR variant you have no idea of the aircrafts capability and more to the point seem to want to remain ignorant despte fellow SAR crews invitation to enlighten you by a welcome visit to an operational base.
We up north will even fund your visit,the glove is down.
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RAF set the standards?!
My dear Crab
Just to be naughty, may I remind you that it's the RN that have been setting the standards for SAR over the last few years. There's a little outfit tucked away in Jockland at the top of the heap by a fair margin (again).
Good on Crab for keeping the debate spicy - it wouldn't be PPrune if it didn't degenerate into a slanging match eventually.
It's a shame the civ's feel so precious about their tenure - anyone who knows the likes of the ex-RN SAR pilots/divers working out there knows they're all bon oeufs who can do the business. One probably couldn't say quite the same for the ex-mil non-SAR boys who always find the going tough for a while.
We might as well start dissing the sidewalkers for their lack of spunk when it comes to taking the MR off the hill post-job, or their average age being too old to actually get a job with CHC et al!!!
SB
Just to be naughty, may I remind you that it's the RN that have been setting the standards for SAR over the last few years. There's a little outfit tucked away in Jockland at the top of the heap by a fair margin (again).
Good on Crab for keeping the debate spicy - it wouldn't be PPrune if it didn't degenerate into a slanging match eventually.
It's a shame the civ's feel so precious about their tenure - anyone who knows the likes of the ex-RN SAR pilots/divers working out there knows they're all bon oeufs who can do the business. One probably couldn't say quite the same for the ex-mil non-SAR boys who always find the going tough for a while.
We might as well start dissing the sidewalkers for their lack of spunk when it comes to taking the MR off the hill post-job, or their average age being too old to actually get a job with CHC et al!!!
SB
SB - it depends what you mean by setting the standards - if you mean the most jobs every year, it's a pretty close call between Prestwick, Valley and Chivenor - if you mean providing the best capability, who was it came up to get Prestwick NVG qualified a couple of years ago? Oh yes that would be the crabs then
267.4 I am not at liberty to reveal my sources, I sometimes receive information from various people that I cannot repeat and only allude to on this forum but trust me when I say that I don't make it up. Send me the tickets and I'll be there
Bootneck - so maybe my qualities of being loyal to my employer, a team player, proud of my job and not too shabby a SAR pilot make me unsuitable for civilian work - I guess I'll have to leave it to your superior judgement
267.4 I am not at liberty to reveal my sources, I sometimes receive information from various people that I cannot repeat and only allude to on this forum but trust me when I say that I don't make it up. Send me the tickets and I'll be there
Bootneck - so maybe my qualities of being loyal to my employer, a team player, proud of my job and not too shabby a SAR pilot make me unsuitable for civilian work - I guess I'll have to leave it to your superior judgement
One day, maybe there will be a realization that lots of different operators around the world are equally capable of performing the same function without having to spend the rest of their time proclaiming how spectacularly they do their job and how no-one else could ever be as good as them.
This never ending superiority argument is entirely tedious. Will it ever end?
This never ending superiority argument is entirely tedious. Will it ever end?
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Crab - Paul Humphreys did a grand job for sure! Having gogs first doesn't make you the daddys of SAR, although I must admit the RN are certainly the poor relations of the RAF when it comes to support for the job. I think you'll find there's a fair bit of daylight when it comes to the jobs totals between PWK vs any other base mind you.
I would certainly concede the SARF HQ is the hub about which even we turn but when it comes to "setting the standard" - that could be an argument that could rage well into the small hours of the next Conference!!!
SB
I would certainly concede the SARF HQ is the hub about which even we turn but when it comes to "setting the standard" - that could be an argument that could rage well into the small hours of the next Conference!!!
SB
As I see it the RAF SAR bases have to do some clever/flexible crew rostering and the 'liberated' front end crews will probably be converted to the Chinook and sent to Afganistan to relieve the present crews.
What is happening to the RN SAR crews, shouldn't they be scheduled in a similar manner to fly the RM around or dare I say the Army?
As a civilian I have little knowledge of the air operations out there but it is obvious that every service is overstretched.
What is happening to the RN SAR crews, shouldn't they be scheduled in a similar manner to fly the RM around or dare I say the Army?
As a civilian I have little knowledge of the air operations out there but it is obvious that every service is overstretched.
Bootie,
Why is it me thinks crowbars and other mechanical devices will be required to shift some of the SAR folks to (Heaven forbid....) mere combat operational duties in the 'Stan?
There will be some real need for extra strenght chin straps should all that come to pass.
It is noble work the SAR folks do....but it is not like the billets were ever meant to be for homesteaders as it is only part of the RAF.
Why is it me thinks crowbars and other mechanical devices will be required to shift some of the SAR folks to (Heaven forbid....) mere combat operational duties in the 'Stan?
There will be some real need for extra strenght chin straps should all that come to pass.
It is noble work the SAR folks do....but it is not like the billets were ever meant to be for homesteaders as it is only part of the RAF.
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so maybe my qualities of being loyal to my employer, a team player, proud of my job and not too shabby a SAR pilot
If not Chinook rated ,might the SeaKing crews not be rostered to the SeaKing 4s in 'Stan...cross cutting services and all that..Experience flying the Carson Blades might come in handy !
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The SAR King has been offered two overseas trips. One to a hot and dusty clime, requiring lots of spare undies, or G'zunders as our Glaswegian brethren would say.
The second is a trip up north to the dreaded civilian types.
Both options holds terrible consequences for Crab. (Or quincequonces as the late Spike Milligan was fond of saying). In both cases his eyes would be opened, in the former his eyes would be co-ordinated with a darker orifice.
The book is open. I bet he doesn't avail himself of either offer; preferring to remain behind with his trusty dog, and labrador.
The second is a trip up north to the dreaded civilian types.
Both options holds terrible consequences for Crab. (Or quincequonces as the late Spike Milligan was fond of saying). In both cases his eyes would be opened, in the former his eyes would be co-ordinated with a darker orifice.
The book is open. I bet he doesn't avail himself of either offer; preferring to remain behind with his trusty dog, and labrador.
Bootneck and others - it is particularly amusing that you stereotype all SARboys as stayathome chickensh8ts who would rather stick pencils up their noses than go to a war zone. There are plenty who have done their bit and plenty more who would jump at the chance to go.
It's strange that only those who are not eligible to go to war are the ones bravely suggesting that we do
It's strange that only those who are not eligible to go to war are the ones bravely suggesting that we do
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It's strange that only those who are not eligible to go to war are the ones bravely suggesting that we do
Ah. The old eligibility ploy. Very good. I must remember that when they recruit for the Home Guard.
Crab, 'tis only a few mild japes at your expense. If you can't deal with our incoming how the hell will you deal with Mohammed's?
Crab arrives at Camp Bastion and is directed to his Yurt.
Ah. The old eligibility ploy. Very good. I must remember that when they recruit for the Home Guard.
Crab, 'tis only a few mild japes at your expense. If you can't deal with our incoming how the hell will you deal with Mohammed's?
Crab arrives at Camp Bastion and is directed to his Yurt.
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I have been reading this thread for some time and what seems to come across is that those who support the civil side of SAR and who are always having a go at Crab seem to be a mean spirited bunch who take great delight in inferring that Crab and his fellow RAF SAR crews would shirk the responsibility of going sandy side.
The comments about slippers and pipes seem to come up often, mainly from people who don't know what they are talking about. Many SAR crews have done their bit in the SH force and are rightly getting a spell away from the constant deployments.
The rumours are that the civil SAR bases are not particularly fun places to be with infighting, politics and resentment that CHC took over the contract from Bristow’s. Crab may well do well to stay away from such places!
While rivalry and good humoured banter has its place I think some are taking things too far. As has been said al SAR crews are there for one purpose and that is to save life.
2strops
The comments about slippers and pipes seem to come up often, mainly from people who don't know what they are talking about. Many SAR crews have done their bit in the SH force and are rightly getting a spell away from the constant deployments.
The rumours are that the civil SAR bases are not particularly fun places to be with infighting, politics and resentment that CHC took over the contract from Bristow’s. Crab may well do well to stay away from such places!
While rivalry and good humoured banter has its place I think some are taking things too far. As has been said al SAR crews are there for one purpose and that is to save life.
2strops
When the Falklands war broke out I can still remember the wide-eyed panic in the Bristow crew room when all the recently resigned from the RN pilots were discussing whether they would be called up.
Being ex Royal Air Force and English I have had a fair amount of 'japes at my expense'. I have noticed that in Scotland, Australia and inter-service gatherings that any 'japes at their expense' are returned with the threat of a bunch of fives.
I see that Bootneck recently posted a series of pictures of 332s being unloaded at Hong Kong in 1984. I would suggest that he knows damned all about the sandy side, the same as me.
Being ex Royal Air Force and English I have had a fair amount of 'japes at my expense'. I have noticed that in Scotland, Australia and inter-service gatherings that any 'japes at their expense' are returned with the threat of a bunch of fives.
I see that Bootneck recently posted a series of pictures of 332s being unloaded at Hong Kong in 1984. I would suggest that he knows damned all about the sandy side, the same as me.
Last edited by Fareastdriver; 9th Aug 2008 at 08:40.