Defending the Irish airspace

[DeV]

EFT on a side by side piston prop is a lot more practical than in a tandem armed TP, don't you think.

Absolutely remember the Marchettis
But they have the numbers that can justify the different aircraft types

To be honest I’m surprised that the RAF couldn’t provide, it’s reported that they are having difficulties recruiting and training sufficient pilots

[na grohmiti]

Weston is a short hop away from the don. Civvy contractor does EFT out of weston. SORTED.

[GoneToTheCanner]

the RAF pilot stream appears to be in some difficulty, with a backlog of accepted candidates waiting for training slots and units short of qualified crews so the entire system is in disarray. This is ammunition for those who hate the privatisation of cadet screening and other privatisations, such as the antics of Crapita with regard to ordinary recruit induction.

[DeV]

Weston is a short hop away from the don. Civvy contractor does EFT out of weston. SORTED.

Or bring them into the Don as contractors

[na grohmiti]

the RAF pilot stream appears to be in some difficulty, with a backlog of accepted candidates waiting for training slots and units short of qualified crews so the entire system is in disarray. This is ammunition for those who hate the privatisation of cadet screening and other privatisations, such as the antics of Crapita with regard to ordinary recruit induction.

Could the delayed introduction of 2 new types onto frontline service have contributed to this?
The F35 is arriving in very small quantities, only 20 of the 138 ordered delivered by December just gone. The Tonkas and Harriers it replaced being disposed of long ago.
The nine P8A Maritime patrol aircraft (replacing 35 of a type removed from service 10 years ago) only coming at a rate of one every few months.
How are pilots supposed to stay current with so few aircraft?

Add to that the retirement of the Meccano fleet, and only 14 Texans available for BFT, replacing the 130 Meccanos that were once available.

[GoneToTheCanner]

That's the thing;there was always a spare aircraft around for a pilot to keep his or her hours up, even a jet provost or a J31 or something rotary. These days,a pilot would have a to mortgage a kidney to find a spare aircraft.

[ancientmariner]

That's the thing;there was always a spare aircraft around for a pilot to keep his or her hours up, even a jet provost or a J31 or something rotary. These days,a pilot would have a to mortgage a kidney to find a spare aircraft.

It is very easy to evolve systems and procedures that will ensure few will make the grade .If the course is designed around the unique then results will reflect that pushing up costs per pilot and producing very few of those. Where do rotary pilots come from?