Prasius

iTrader: (1)

Is this more to do with the 'management' and that truly retarded "lean" rubbish that every RAF station seems to be obsessed about at the minute, rather than the actual aircraft though? I've been a 'passenger' on Merlins operationally quite a few times now, and I've been very impressed with it.

I'm actually posted to an RAF Sqn at the moment - and the bureaucratic nonsense that the RAF has to endure in comparasion to the other services is mind-blowing; something I partly blame the ever increasing number of RAF employed civilian contractors for. The same goes for the whole lean thing - its all very well and good not wanting to hold spares on the shelf in peace time on a Squadron that isn't operational; but when your trying to conduct operations, hanging around waiting for a spare to be ordered and delivered simply isn't good enough. I understand the MOD hasn't got a blank cheque, but its having a direct negative effect on our capabilities - I can see that from my lowly position. Also, the habit the RAF has for cannibalising kit makes ME worry.. let alone the tailspin it puts our REME guys into!

The red arrows thing is one of my favourite wind ups at work - pointing out how many useful armored vehicles you could buy for what the red arrows cost. It is a bit tongue in cheek - although I do seriously wonder what the priorities are when they can get 9 Hawks to turn up all over the world, on time, all working; when the RAF struggles to get Tristar troop transports in and out of theater on time - I don't think I've ever had a return flight on a tristar actually happen when it was supposed to!

BooSH

From what i've been told the Merlin isn't the most reliable chopper in the world and yes "lean" has alot to do with the PVR rates, the lads and lasses there are working long shifts to keep them flying, and as you say they seem good on operations, thats because the lads have worked there socks of to keep them up flying, the harrier isn't the most reliable of aircrafts either but out in the Ghan both times i've been there we've never ever missed a sortie or quick response scrammble on my time out there, something which i'm quite proud of . But thats due to being on operations and having first dibs on all the spares.

Unlike back here where sorties are missed left right and centre due to u/s aircraft and lack of spares, and as you say with cannabilisation of aircraft if spares for a u/s jet carn't be found quickly that aircraft can soon find itself relegated to a corner of the hanger and cannabilised to an inch of it's poor life !!

Another thing you say about the civvilians working for the likes of BAE upgrading the harriers some poor RAF souls can find themselves working in the same hanger doing the same job but for half the money the money the BAE lads get but get twice the bull****, who in there right mind would stay in the raf under those conditions !! PVR ??? Yes please !!!

rob878

[quote=BooSH;7789334Unlike back here where sorties are missed left right and centre due to u/s aircraft and lack of spares, and as you say with cannabilisation of aircraft if spares for a u/s jet carn't be found quickly that aircraft can soon find itself relegated to a corner of the hanger and cannabilised to an inch of it's poor life !!

Another thing you say about the civvilians working for the likes of BAE upgrading the harriers some poor RAF souls can find themselves working in the same hanger doing the same job but for half the money the money the BAE lads get but get twice the bull****, who in there right mind would stay in the raf under those conditions !! PVR ??? Yes please !!![/quote]

Come on PVR!! do it, all the cool kids are or just waiting for their current contract to expire like moi, 2 years and 6 months and a few days not that i'm counting.

We don't have BAE but do have MPI, and the civvies are absolutely shocked at the state of the place, lean? lean?? we're feckin anorexic.

Still the RAF's loss is the oil and gas industries gain.

BooSH

A few of my mates have pvr'd to go and work for BAE but as good as the money is, it's all contract work so when they've finshed upgrading the harriers they will be all out of a job, and to be honest i don't know what i want to do when i leave the raf, what i do know is that i don't want to have anything to do with working on aircraft when i do leave.

rob878

Get yourself up here, or do your resettlement at Rosyth. We are getting about six job fairs a year all oil and gas related. Just try and get that HNC that is being punted around at the moment which uses your Q course and either fitter course or tech course, as prior learning and gives you up to 80% of the HNC before you get started.

BooSH

I've not heard about this HNC course what is it ? I plan to see out my 9 years though, and rape the RAF for as many courses as i can before i leave

rob878

YHPM

swampster

iTrader: (1)

Just hope you're your JEngO doesn't take a disliking to ya like mine did.. and basically cancelling my Resettlement Leave from under me when I had courses booked.

To be honest I sometimes miss the RAF, but that's more the lads and the social aspect of it.. it'd gone downhill far enough when I left it 02, but it seemed pretty obvious the rot was there to stay... and from what I've heard since leaving, I'm glad I got out when I did.

Wouldn't have minded a tour on the Typhoon though.. had to laugh about the 'Reds'... mate of mine (rigger) has just been away on a tour of Asia/ME with them.. had a great time apparently

Alan C

I was out in 03 after 22. Spent the last post working out of JFHQ (J2 Comms) at Northwood where the work was some if the best I ever did. Mixing it in a proper Tri-service environment with Royal Marines running the place. Fantastic teamwork with Officers and OR's mixing very close... That place had a proper JuFDI attitude that worked. No bull, no tape just getting things done.

It was a little cocooning so I never got to see how things went down hill, but I got to smell the lean and other 'Corporate' crap from the boys working elsewhere... How he hell a QR fighting force can work on Corporate principles is beyond me, especially as I work in Corporate land now and trust me... it doesn't work there either.

My JuFDI attitude stands out like a sore thumb in a sea of Lean, Six Sigma and other Corporate nonsense (it does have it's uses sometimes though) but I tell you something, I've been promoted 5 times in as many years (fairly unheard of in the department) and I put it down to that mentality. So don't loose faith boys.. I'd give a job to an ex-military person in a flash, you wouldn't believe how much the guys stand out.

Leslie

Only just seen this Boosh. I was interested in when the Harriers went to Cottesmore. I was there for 6 years at the TTTE and the Harriers were at (T)Wittering then.

Les.

BooSH

Whats TTTE ? I've never been good at acronyms, lol.

rob878

Thomas the tank engine or Tri-National Tornado Training Establishment.

If you ever see the dayglo fablon steam engines on road signs train stations etc they are the aftermath of TTTE liney road trips.

God i need to leave, my mind has been turned to jelly with this RAFism pish

BooSH

It's what being in the forces does to you mate, lately i've been completely cutting myself off from the military, making sure i get home no matter what, every weekend to see my non raf mates just so i can get out of it, they have it so much better, they all came back from Amsterdam in the week, sounds like they had an amazing time, somewhere i carn't go while in the RAF, but something to look forward to when i leave.

swampster

iTrader: (1)

Christ you're after getting out and you didnt know what TTTE was? How long you been in?

Edit... I must try and remember that it's been nearly 6 years since I left... lol

JamieMiller

I can't belive there's people moaning about the RAF on here. I'm just clearing this week after 12 long years. If anybody wants some advice on getting there EASA Part-66 Licence send me a pm and I'll be glad to help. It got me a job at my 1st interview.

I thought everybody knew what TTTE was. I was on XV when we took over all there jets.

Leslie

You got your answer then. What about mine?

Les

CyprusScooby

Anyway, happy birthday Royal Air Force!!!!