UK SAR 2013 privatisation: the new thread
 

Was it just me or did Satsuma make a sweeping statement that he was immediately unable to substantiate lol

It was just you.

No it wasn't.

https://heavywhalley.wordpress.com/2015/03/18/202-squadron-d-flight-party-cancelled/

If this is true, and I have no reason to doubt that it is not, then someone should be hanging their head in shame

If you turn up at the planned venue I'm sure you won't be alone!

I would have loved to have been there, but distance precludes. However, I will raise a glass to my first SAR flight and all who have served with such dedication, past and present, from near and far. Have a great time and best of luck for the future, whatever it holds

Indeed.


And who knows what tomorrow will bring.

My first SAR tour too; the most challenging and enjoyable of my entire RAF career. It was a privilege to work at D Flt and is where I learnt my continued and utmost respect for those brave and selfless souls in the 'Knapsack and Bovril Brigade' - MRTs, civilian and military, throughout the UK. :ok:

The end of an era... Onwards and upwards... Hope you all still have a good send off despite what the Fun Police have dictated.

From a dyed-in-the-wool Yellow-hatted war-dodging bed-wetting SAR-buoy. :D

If true. All very sad.

How can you order someone not to go to the pub with a few mates and ex colleagues for a beer. F&@££&g ridiculous if you ask me.

A sad reflection on the times we live in.

P3

Two scenarios occur to me.

1. Media and communications have over-stepped the mark and been far too sensitive about celebration of SAR Force's part in provision of the service across the decades, underestimating the backlash and the resulting reputational damage.

2. D Flight and several former colleagues are flying that evening. D Flight providing an extension to SAR helicopter service and their former colleagues trying to get their NVG hours up on the S-92.

A combination of both is possible.



It feels strange to be hoping it is Scenario 1.

If the decision to cancel was taken by somebody in the RAF command chain I am sure the senior officer responsible will be happy to explain his/her decision in person. Or...

Tonight's news
 

Good coverage on the banned get together on local STV News so there should be a good turnout!

Hilarious. The 'powers that be' ban D Flight's informal goodbye beers to avoid any unnecessary pre-election fuss and the whole thing gets plastered across the local press and National Scottish TV thus achieving exactly what they tried to avoid in the first place. Now that everyone who wasn't invited in the first place knows the details it could make for a very interesting night!

This won't have been the SAR Force Commander's idea - this will have come from much higher up.

It's still a complete disgrace and those responsible should be utterly embarrassed.

Has this got anything to do with the senior echelons realising what a huge mistake they made agreeing to hand over the SAR Force?

Agreed Crab. He's one of the good guys and no doubt his strings are being pulled by those who are very much out of touch with reality. It's such a shame that this example of senior leadership f@ckwittery will taint the end of a magnificent era of RAF Search and Rescue in the Scottish Highlands.

Steady boys! You are beginning to sound like we in the RAF care more about column inches , air time and medals than the task itself.
Why don`t we accept that the provision of SAR services has moved on now and bow out gracefully.
Crab, Llamaman et al could always purchase a croft in the Highlands with a hot line to Inverness and call them up to tell them they are doing it all wrong.

Snarlie,
I'm not sure my comments had anything to do with 'Inverness doing it all wrong.' I was merely pointing out the folly of our military and political leaders denying D Flt the opportunity to have a few beers and say thankyou to the community they have served so well.

Stop trying to stoke up a fight where there is none. For what it's worth I wish the Bristow crews all the best in this new era and have no axe to grind.
Doesn't stop me being supportive of the crews that didn't want MilSAR to end and haven't been given an opportunity to continue doing the job the love dearly though.

Personally i cant see what the "powers" are concerned about really.

When they got rid of the Nimrods with unseamly haste following the enquiry, they at least got a disbandment parade and a flypast.

How cant 202 get the same sort of fecking respect at the end of the month.

Distinct lack of spine somewhere at the top me thinks.

P3

Here is one possible reason.

"The Government has recently announced that pre-election purdah before the next general election will begin on 30 March 2015, the same day as the dissolution of Parliament." :ugh:

Election ?purdah? or the pre-election period - Commons Library Standard Note - UK Parliament

That is really really clever stuff. Every thing in the world of government starts on the 1st April and but we can't know about it because under the new electoral regime it is in the election campaign period. I hope you all got your tax coding already because next week you're screwed. :eek: