I do remember having seen (somewhere?) some types of what might have been proposed designs, utilising the RAF/AC letters-logo within a wreath (ie partly-emulating the classic RAF monogram design for pilot wings and the more-recent WESO/WESOp half-wings).
Did this eventually come to pass? I accept that Iâve not been in many RAFAC locations post-Covid where I mightâve had the chance to spot these âin the wildâ, but Iâm also unclear as to where these ânewâ (if approved?) badges might be lurking within online documentation.
I may have just missed all announcements on this (if they were made) and am the last person in the world to require a re-brief on this, but please feel free to offer me your informed facts (or fevered suspicions, if appropriate)
(nb none of the above query relates to PTS badgesâŠunless youâre going to tell me in fact it does!)
I know of a couple of people who argued this case. Both clearly unsuccesfully.
I can see both sides.
RAF dont want loads of CFAVs thinking they are fast jet pilots or equivilanet, when in the mess or on station.
Equally.
For those who have achieved a reasonable civi flying qual such as CPL or ATPL it would seem to me to make sense that in an âair, space and cyberâ focused org, that this is recognised as something worthy of highlightingâŠ?
Wouldnt take much to create a new badge or maybe just let these staff where the white âC badgeâ who knows
Pilots who fly AEF can wear flying badges as appropriate for their role, and those who have a qualification from their service time can continue wearing them.
People who have no service qualifications and donât perform a role for the organisation have no need to wear one.
They perform a role for our organisation. We should be able and willing to recognise the skills of our own members. This is an example of being held to their whim for their benefit and preference.
We give cadets âwingsâ for far less than a civvy pilot has done to earn recognition.
What needs sorting out before the very few CFAVs that have a civvie pilots quals get to wear wings is the mad mad situation where cadets that go to one flying school and get a PPL wear gold wings and them that do the exact same licence at another flying school only get the lesser C Wings. That canât be right.
Whilst Iâm no fan of the two-winged master race, there are countless bods out there who used to be service pilots who continue to wear wings but are no longer in a flying role.
Whatâs sauce for the goose and all that?
IMHO, itâs irrelevant in this context whether one qualifies as a civilian pilot or a service pilot - both are qualifications. In an organisation that is - allegedly - air-minded, staff who hold ATP\CPL or whatever, should be permitted to wear some form of wings. Letâs face it - there are some staff out there who continue to fly for civilian airlines and who have thousands of flying hours to their credit (not permitted to wear a flying brevet), as opposed to a former service pilot who may not have been behind a joystick since they last flew a Sopwith Camel (and continues to wear the pilots brevet).
Or would allowing civilian pilots to wear a flying brevet cause these former service pilots to foam at the mouth because it would diminish their âeliteâ status?
There are more than a few Reg types who are similar, as well!
But again, those are service qualifications, gained in the service, for which there is an approved uniform accreditation. We are talking about external qualifications, gained externally, for which there is no uniform allowance.
Just because theyâre in a related field doesnât make them comparable.
Er, no. I donât have a flying brevet (well, apart from my Gliding Proficiency wings if that counts!).
That said, I have seen Regiment officers some with pilots brevetâs (and one with a MC as well) and my first OC in the Regiment had a Loadies brevet as well as mudguards.
