Reserve Air Corps

[clan]

With the new PC9 and new helicopters on the way. Would it not be possible to keep a few A111's which are in prefect condition and some warriors which I am sure are in just as good nick. To create a reserve Air Corp, the pilots are already out there after having the left the Air Corp to join Aer Lingus or Ryanair etc. Why not get them back in some capacity, especially with Smiths idea of allowing the RDF to serve overseas?
Any ex Air Corp pilots think it is a good idea?

[Flyboy]

I think there is no chance of an Air Reserve being formed, where will the money come from. All the kit you mention they want to sell. If they keep the kit they have to maintain it. They will have to pay the ex pilots, need I go on. Nice idea put it won't leave the ground.......... sorry bad pun !!

[sealion]

Baldonell is to be used as a HQ for an RDF unit though. What type of unit has yet to be decided.

[clan]

Why Pay the ex Pilots any more then you pay officers of the RDF. Some of the kit can be sold, others like A111 196 kept for the Museum etc. It would be interesting to see if it could be done.

[Flyboy]

Picture the situation........ I am a Ryanair/Aer Lingus pilot on 80,000 per year and fly Airbus/Boeing during the week, you want me to spend my weekends flying 30 year old 172's for pocket money, I think not.

[clan]

I drive 40k + miles a year on crappy Irish roads, and love nothing better then to thrash my 32 year old Rally car along Irish countries lanes as fast as I possibly can make it go at the weekends, and I pay for the privilege.
So yes I think some pilots would be up for it.

[futurepilot]

Modern airlines pilots spend more time talking to Air Traffic Control then they do actually spend with their hands on the controls. In fact autopilot is on for about 95% of the time so I`m sure if ex Air Corps pilots were being offered the chance to take a pc9 or sf260 up for a spin every week they`d jump at the offer.

[John K]

Over here in the UK plenty of pilots, not all of them from major airlines, give up their weekends to fly Air Cadets in Grob Tutors-hardly state of the art fighters, but fully aerobatic-so I reckon there would be plenty of ex Air Corps pilots willing to do the same over there, plus they would get to swan around the officers Mess again! I think it's an excellent idea and wouldn't need to be too costly.

[Flyboy]

I think Air Cadets and a Reserve Air Corps are very different.

[pilatus]

an air reserve!why not?the army and the navy have a reserve arm each!its a very workable idea as long as you have the budget for it which should not be very high!4 A111 and 4 marchetti to form a reserve wing more geared towards supporting the civil community such as air ambulance and general non-military support flights which would allow the handful of new military choppers to be fully utilised in their support roles.it would be a volunteer force so why pay them?im not saying they dont deserve it but im saying there would alot of ex-aircorps pilots who are bored in civilian employment who would find the chance of flying 2dozen hours a month rather exciting and would do it for free especially the ones who's passion is flying.money is nothing to some its what makes you feel good! '>

[clan]

I really think the idea could work without much hassle at all, and very little expense. As Pilatus said 4A111's and Four Marchettis, and maybe keep the Gazelle for refresher training. So it will not use up any time from the new Helicopters.

[alpha foxtrot 07]

sign me up

[John K]

Hey Flyboy, the reason I used the Air Cadets as an example and not something like the Air National Guard was because as was said before the reserve wouldn't be flying state of the art fighters, come to think of it the regulars don't fly state of the art fighters either!

I seem to remember on a visit to Baldonnel back in 1995 that they were having a reserve day for those pilots who had transferred to the reserve on departing for civvie jobs to refresh their hand on the Alouette and Fouga etc. Everyone who leaves the DF is transferred to the reserve for two years after so it's not a bad idea to let them keep their hand in. I think the A3 and SF260 idea is great, some of the exers are sh1t hot in those aircraft and would make excellent 'historic flight' and veteran air display pilots for air shows etc. I don' t think thay would have a realistic ops role though, because the nature of their jobs outside mean that their notice to work is too unreliable. You couldn't man a roster with them. As for the RDF unit for Baldonnel, I welcome them with open arms, and it may be an Air Defence unit as Baldonnel has no home based airfield defence such as the RAF regiment provides overseas. And as for the comment that 80 grand pilots don't want to fly reserve aircraft for pocket money, there is such a thing as national pride that makes many regular corps pilots hang around after their contract is up to fly for pocket money.

[Silver]

A Reserve Air Corps would be a great idea.

Having the A3's and SF260s available for a Reserve Corps would at least keep a pool of pilots 'fresh', and they would require a shorter training period to transfer to the PC9's (or jets) should an 'emergency' situation ever develop.

Who knows what the future holds ?!!