AC pilots flying RAF jets ?

[Silver]

What would be the possibility of coming with an arrangement with the British to allow AC pilots train on/fly their F3 jets , and patrol Irish air space ?

Would be better than the current situation of UK pilots patrolling Irish air space !  

...........and it would free up RAF pilots for other deployments.

Just a thought.

[Fouga]

Quote (Silver @ 25 Oct. 2004,06:50)

What would be the possibility of coming with an arrangement with the British to allow AC pilots train on/fly their F3 jets , and patrol Irish air space ? ...........and it would free up RAF pilots for other deployments.

i reckon the AC have already done stuff like send guys over for training and flight experience Silver. FREE UP RAF PILOTS FOR OTHER DEPLOYMENTS?

Hmmm Silver would they not need their aircraft also?

[Silver]

Yes, but I am not talking about short term training/flight experience. I mean a long term agreement with the UK govt for AC pilots to fly jets in Irish airspace.

We have to get real here !

A. Our govt are not going to buy jets for the forseeable future.

B. We need some form of jet air defence now (hence, thats why RAF jets are quietly being allowed in our airspace at present).

C. It would be better, politically and otherwise, to have AC pilots flying such patrols.


(Fouga, with pilot rotations, etc. I'm sure the RAF would be glad of some 'spare' pilots).

[Fouga]

and would the celtic boss fly off these ac?

[Silver]

I'm sure that some compromise could be agreed if the will was there.

[Fouga]

somehow i dont think the will is there.

[Silver]

you're probably right Fouga  '>

[matt_k]

The RAF have plenty of pilots, some are not getting enough hours and they would only be too gratefull to get more so It's very hard to see the British Government allocating F3 hours to Irish pilots.

[futurepilot]

Also the cost of training fast jet pilots runs into several million per pilot, who`s going to fund that?

[Buran]

Quote

Hmmm Silver would they not need their aircraft also?

good point Fouga, i can picture these freed up pilots running around their barracks with their arms out, going neeyyyarrrmmm

Seriously, its one thing to have foreign pilots on a training program or a cross border co-operation exchange thing, but an on-going operational arangement? Id say there isnt a chance in hell. I dont know what the history of this is internationally, but id say the only likey things would be to just lease the aircraft (which probably doesnt happen in military either) or pay them up front to do the patrols.

I dont get why so many people here see this fact of them doing patrols here as such an indignity on the country. Its always been the way (whether just planned, or in practise) we've never had any proper air cover. The brits have always had to acknowledge that if they want to properly cover their own western coast they have to cover ireland too.
Its only in recent years that we've had any sort of descent SAR cover.
Its just the way it is, and the way its going to be. At least for my lifetime.
I guess i just cant get worked up about this country being half ar*ed about things.
Like the way they can paint a curb red and call it a cycle lane.
Its not right, but its the way its going to be.

[Irish251]

What evidence is there that the RAF patrols Irish airspace, or has done so in the past?  This has been alleged in the media but, apart from the odd SAR Nimrod and transport types, their aircraft have never been known even to route through our airspace.  Given how busy the upper airspace is in Ireland - not to mention the sovereignty issues - I wouldn't buy any suggestion that they would be there without having to be known to and in communication with ATC.

[Silver]

It was reported that the RAF patrols our airspace (on occassion) with the govt's (quiet!) consent.

RAF jets have also been carrying out 'familiarisation' flights over the country - and have (I believe) performed 'touch-and-go' landings in Shannon.

[GoneToTheCanner]

Hi all
Given the volume of American military and leased-commercial aircraft that routinely pass thru our airspace, then it is surely not a great leap to allow RAF combat aircraft fly in our skies,acting on our behalf.Naturally, the Shinners would have a fit and given our Govt's appeasement of that lot, no armed Brits will sully our green isle's skies.As for leasing,a good example would be the British Army Air Corps, who lease all of their helicopters from Westlands(or whatever they're called these days).Previously,the RN leased F-4Js from the USN until their own F-4K/Ms were ready.
regards
GttC

[futurepilot]

Quote (Short finals @ 28 Oct. 2004,19:39)

What evidence is there that the RAF patrols Irish airspace, or has done so in the past?  This has been alleged in the media but, apart from the odd SAR Nimrod and transport types, their aircraft have never been known even to route through our airspace.  Given how busy the upper airspace is in Ireland - not to mention the sovereignty issues - I wouldn't buy any suggestion that they would be there without having to be known to and in communication with ATC.

Usually its kept quiet for political reasons but in the days and weeks following 9/11 there was blatent RAF activity off the coast of Dublin(all at the request of Berti of course). With regard to the sovereignty issue, the government asked them to patrol Irish airspace and personally I`ve no problem with that since we have no way of providing air cover.

[Silver]

I personally haven't got a major problem with RAF jets in our skies either.

However, as a modern (affluent!) independent state, surely we can do better than having our neighbours patrol our airspace ?!

- We should either buy or lease jets for the Air Corps,
- come to an agreement for AC pilots to train on/fly RAF jets
- OR pay the UK govt for their jets to be on standby/patrol our skies.

Having said that, I somehow sucpect that the current 'arrangement' will continue. Perhaps it is "an Irish solution to an Irish problem" ??!

.........or maybe Bertie reckons the Brits 'owe us' and we shouldn't have to pay a cent for their jets to do the job !  :'>