Not nitpicking whatsoever, just clarification on why the VR(T) are, quite rightly IMHO, not currently flying to maintain currency.
You had a Cold since?
Gulf War 1 - I was 2 days away from having my wisdom teeth yanked out by the fang doctor at Bruggen in preparation of deployment to the Ops / Tasking Cell in Riyadh. Lots of aircrew walking around looking like hamsters!
I was earmarked as potential operational Tornado crew “in theatre” should “collateral damage” occur - until my boss pointed out that I was Simulator qualified only!
Ah, cancel deployment, teeth were saved.
Trying to figure out how off topic we are…
Kuiper belt should do it.
Oi. It’s my job to steal pEp’s job!
Unfortunately like a lot of people, the thinking is we are going to come out the other side and as if by magic we’re going to go back to exactly how it was a few short weeks ago. People’s behaviours and the effect on society are going to be a long term and whatever restrictions are imposed or carry over.
I hope we don’t tbh. Being forced to see how much we can achieve via video link, without having to travel, and it being more than we realised, can only be good for the planet.
hearing after the first day of relaxed measures in Denmark the parks have been full of people sunbathing and no one is social distancing at least in the cities so will be interesting to find out their situation in 2 weeks time.
Many times, sadly.
The problem with any sort of wider online approach is people’s broadband, having the kit and the discipline of all concerned to deliver and listen seriously for anymore than a couple of hours, in whichever room of the house they choose to use. Listening to the radio the other day, they were interviewing a bloke and his 4 year old son came in to the room. Then there is the networking and discussions that go on during tea/lunch breaks and wrt cadets forging friendships /relationships in a wider group. An ATC where distance methods are employed will be a pretty desolate place. As has been said the ATC is in many ways about the personal contact and meeting different people. Which remote / distance activities, do not facilitate.
Partly Answered!
Following an operational pause, limited flying will restart at designated 6 Flying Training School units today, including RAF Benson. Activity will be limited to a series of single aircraft sorties for the flying instructors to remain safe, proficient and legally qualified. pic.twitter.com/0GEft427S2
— RAF Benson (@RAFBenson) April 27, 2020
I think we need to consider what the real world will be like and not keeping looking inward to our own organisation.
It is unlikely we will hear anything definite, regardless of the politicians and media bellyaching, until next Thursday. Which ironically is the day before the intended VE bank holiday. So let’s enjoy the break and not worry about anything else until we get a proper steer from the people paid to run the country.
Quite a lot of Tutor activity being seen on https://tar1090.adsbexchange.com/ today, plenty of them up and not just at EFT locations.
Lol, uniformed staff and padres can now claim VA and AA for virtual activities. CIs still get nothing.
I can understand to an extent why this would be the case for in person activities but with virtual stuff does it make sense? I’d argue probably not.
It’s a way to use the budget I think
Claiming VA etc for not actually being somewhere is wrong on about every level. Whoever has endorsed this should be sacked with immediate effect. What happened to all the conditions for claiming it?
Is this just to ‘encourage’ people to engage while they sit in (insert room)?
I don’t think it is too unreasonable as people are still giving up their time to a cadet activity. Of course, they’d need to give up a full 8 hours “on task” as the time travelling to and from the activity will be nil
It’s also a case of “lots of our staff are struggling financially” plus “we have a big bag of money to spend or our budget will shrink next year” why do we pay it out to those who are spending their time working for the organisation?
But absolutely in no circumstances to a CI.
So you can do two long nights on the trot, covering 8 hours; all signed up on SMS and get paid.
I thought that you could not get paid for parade night activities, which VPN are in the main.