Don’t want to be that guy, but it may well be a (the) issue.
The parachute has a relatively low wind limit which is then used as an aircraft limit. Have to wear thermals when temperature drops below a certain value etc etc. All based around bailing out. Same for immersion suits in the pointy stuff, based on sea temps, always just in case.
It’s always difficult when someone else’s risk appetite is lower than your own, but realistically that will always be the case where reputational risk exists as well.
I mean, I’m planning to go flying tomorrow with no parachute, no survival suit, no helmet, probably just thermal undies and a flying jacket. But I’ll be solo, so if I kill myself, it’s my lookout. I probably won’t.
The other problem, get to your AEF with cadets and at the end of the day you’re trapped there due to weather, what do you do then?
Phone the duty officer!
Oh I completely agree, don’t think for a second I think the RAF’s ability to assess risk is always even remotely sensible, but it’s their train set.
You’ve made a good list of all the safety stuff they insist on wearing over and above even the most sensible private pilot… But then happily walk around busy aprons wearing olive drab flying suits without a hi vis vest.
I’d say the risk of being run over by a plane/fuel truck is a thousand times greater than having to survive for weeks in the wilderness of Lincolnshire having had the wings fall off. But there you have it. Any worker at any commercial airport wouldn’t even contemplate stepping onto the apron without a hi vis, they’d have their pass pulled before you could say Health and Safety.
Please lets not give them idea of making us wear high-vis in the cockpit
sorry for the thread drift
10 AEF based at Woodvale has very little accommodation available. One Squadron as a two-hour journey from some 45 miles away and weather in that area is very different from one end to the other. What can the duty officer do?
Arrange accommodation and hot meals!
Woodvale has a tiny combined mess therefore accommodation is at a premium, and minimal hot food unless arranged long beforehand such as for functions.
Stop feeding the troll.
Yes the weather can be a mare at this time of year but the amount of admin needs to take cadets to AEF means that we just dont bother accepting allocations now in winter - Too much hassle for the squadron just for it to be sacked off because of weather.
I wonder if cadet flying should be concentrated on weekends and school holidays? Let the Univerity Squadrons fly in term time and weekdays, but at weekends and school holidays give all the tutors and instructors to AEF. Less hassle, less objections from schools and better weather, UAS happy as there uninteruppted. Just need to solve some airfields not being open weekends.
Well, camp in Merseyside Wg HQ…
Only 10 mins away, Travelodge Southport. Fish & chips galore in the area 
Some issues with this, including provision of radar (traffic) service at the weekend by contractor ATC (and indeed RAF units).
CCF will continue to want (some) weekday slots, too.
Also what do you mean by ‘concentrate’? We can’t have 6 aircraft on weekends and not use them in the week.
Who has the credit card and how quick for renumeration?
Well, at today’s quoted price of £30 at Travelodge Southport, 4 (non-refundable) rooms = £120. Bargain.
Why renumerate?
Or did you mean remunerate?
Benson BLACK today due to iced surfaces, so I didn’t fly in the end. That’ll be a good reason for cancellation, unless you want Tutors sliding off the side of the runway…
Contractual issues can be overcome, military even easier.
They may want this, but they don’t need
UAS use in week, AEF at Weekends & Holidays
Where’s the money going to come from for the extra costs? What about the additional manpower?
