So in summary LASER (where the mystery staff member who has control over the syllabus for drones is), won’t be doing anything until end of 2023, which means the rest of us are looking Q2 2024 as a minimum.
Classic.
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not quite.
a) the mystery staff member is the same person who sponsored the original IBN banning outdoor drone flying.
b) That same staff member has been running regular teams session guiding/supporting Cadets to gain their CAA Flyer ID so they can be legal when flying drones privately. Any staff around the corps could be doing the same.
c) We can deduce that they are aiming to have a “Drone Syllabus” ready by Q4 of 2023, in theory anyone could run that syllabus in Q4 as well.
It’s hard enough finding time for the things we are allowed to do, I’m not going to go burning my own time for things (that only helps a very privileged few who can afford decent, reliable drones) outside of cadets with zero top cover. Sod that.
Given it’s on Teams, why isn’t it rolled out nationally?
I really do not understand this active banning of activity that fits perfectly not only with our original aviation ethos, but moves into Special K’s STEM and Space themed future.
If this person is leading on drone activity, what is taking so long, where is the communication and what are the hold ups?
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Sure, if you feel that way, but the principle still stands.
Shrug normal poor comms from HQ.
But my understanding is they aren’t HQ, they’re a CFAV. So there doesn’t seem to be any good excuse other than apathy and ineptitude.
I know this isn’t you (and my reply isn’t aimed at you), but rather CFAVs who make lives harder for others to just do stuff.
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But they are leading on behalf of HQ, so in my mind it still stands 
Looks to most of the country as more like enjoying a walled garden. There’s a difference between “leading” and “being the lead member responsible”.
“Drones are banned unless you’re me, because I’m trialling something… For over 2 years. There are some loopholes and things that you can do if you’re interested but I’m not going to lay these things out in a phased interim arrangement which introduces and engages staff and cadets to and with the activity, ultimately benefitting and easing the eventual full launch of whatever the final thing is”.
The perception of this whole situation around drones is not good and little has been done to repair, mitigate, and take the rest of the organisation along on the journey.
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We were doing…. There’s nothing special about what LASER are doing, people across the corps have been doing it for years (myself included). But as per, they just ban it instead of carrying out any meaningful consultation.
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If you have not read this book then I suggest that you indulge the river company for a copy. An ex-padre sat and talked to pilots, sensor operators and intelligence specialists from 13 and 39 Squadrons and their families.
He brings a very serious contribution to the debate about the long-term potential effects of RPV warfare on the psychological health of the crews as operations are totally different to line aircraft units. Published in 2019.
Operating an RPV is nowhere as easy as most people think in a military context.
Almost as if they frightened and are trying to ban the future, just as the Luddites tried to stop the development of the textile industry.
This.
But we know why.
To preserve LASER ‘elitism’.
That looks really interesting, definitely one for the reading list I think, sort of thing you’d want to read before OASC for that sort of role.
Must be very odd going into a shipping container, sitting in a gaming chair for a few hours, seeing some pretty incredible things, then heading back home via Budgens. Where’s the decompression supposed to take place?
It doesn’t, leave work, drive home straight into family life, no decompression at all on a 6 on 3 off work rota 12 hours plus a day for upto 3 years on a tour. Whilst those flying conventionally over the battle area may last 3 to four hours these guys are doing it for far longer than that.
The visual effects of some of the things they see and do will never leave them.
I got this recently, will be an interesting read
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Standard.
I wonder how difficult it would be to get authorisation from 2FTS to fly outdoors.
I also wonder what qualifications the Laser Aviation Officer holds to sign off provision of this activity….
You don’t need any qualifications to say no to everything.
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Sadly a lot of truth in this.
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