Reply to topic  [ 13 posts ] 
Shortage of RAF pilots for Libya as defence budget cuts bite 
Author Message
Legend
User avatar

Joined: Fri Apr 24, 2009 2:02 am
Posts: 29240
Location: Guantanamo Bay (thanks bobbdobbs)
Reply with quote
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/ ... -bite.html

Quote:
Since the conflict began, a squadron of 18 RAF Typhoon pilots has enforced the Libya no-fly zone from an air base in southern Italy. However, a shortage of qualified fighter pilots means the RAF may not have enough to replace all of them when the squadron has to rotate in a few weeks.
The situation is so serious that the RAF has halted the teaching of trainee Typhoon pilots so instructors can be drafted on to the front line, according to air force sources. The handful of pilots used for air shows will also be withdrawn from displays this summer.
The shortage has arisen because cuts to the defence budget over the past decade have limited the number of pilots who have been trained to fly the new Typhoon.
There are also fewer newly qualified pilots coming through after the RAF was forced to cut a quarter of its trainee places due to cuts announced in last year’s Strategic Defence and Security Review.

_________________
Do concentrate, 007...

"You are gifted. Mine is bordering on seven seconds."

https://www.dropbox.com/referrals/NTg5MzczNTk

http://astore.amazon.co.uk/wwwx404couk-21


Mon Mar 28, 2011 10:21 pm
Profile
Doesn't have much of a life
User avatar

Joined: Fri Apr 24, 2009 12:43 pm
Posts: 1798
Location: Manchester
Reply with quote
Can anyone explain why the UK is playing such a large part in this UN resolution anyway, when there are far bigger countries with better resources that are either scaling down their activity after the initial strikes (USA, for example) or not committing much in the way of manpower in the first place. Why does it always seem to be down to the UK to shoulder the main responsibility, we're hardly in the best shape ourselves financially, are we?

_________________
* Steve *

* Witty statement goes here *


Mon Mar 28, 2011 10:55 pm
Profile
I haven't seen my friends in so long
User avatar

Joined: Tue May 05, 2009 3:29 pm
Posts: 7173
Reply with quote
steve74 wrote:
Can anyone explain why the UK is playing such a large part in this UN resolution anyway, when there are far bigger countries with better resources that are either scaling down their activity after the initial strikes (USA, for example) or not committing much in the way of manpower in the first place. Why does it always seem to be down to the UK to shoulder the main responsibility, we're hardly in the best shape ourselves financially, are we?

I get the impression that the French are doing a lot more than we are. There are also other NATO countries stepping into the fold, and Canada has been involved from the start.

The USA, AFAIK, is stepping back for political reasons.

It is right, IMO, that we step in to save human lives. And TBH I wish we were taking a harder line with Bahrain and Saudi Arabia to stop the murder of civilians there too.

_________________
timark_uk wrote:
That's your problem. You need Linux. That'll fix all your problems.
Mark


Mon Mar 28, 2011 11:03 pm
Profile
What's a life?
User avatar

Joined: Thu Apr 23, 2009 6:27 pm
Posts: 12251
Reply with quote
steve74 wrote:
Can anyone explain why the UK is playing such a large part in this UN resolution anyway, when there are far bigger countries with better resources that are either scaling down their activity after the initial strikes (USA, for example) or not committing much in the way of manpower in the first place. Why does it always seem to be down to the UK to shoulder the main responsibility, we're hardly in the best shape ourselves financially, are we?


Historically, we are involved deeply in the Middle East and Africa. We created situations in the past, tried to rectify it, cocked it up again and so on. The wheel turns, and once again, we’re in an oil-soaked desert sorting out the natives. In 10 years time, we’ll find the need to return.

_________________
All the best,
Paul
brataccas wrote:
your posts are just combo chains of funny win

I’m on Twitter, tweeting away... My Photos Random Avatar Explanation


Mon Mar 28, 2011 11:12 pm
Profile
Legend
User avatar

Joined: Fri Apr 24, 2009 2:02 am
Posts: 29240
Location: Guantanamo Bay (thanks bobbdobbs)
Reply with quote
steve74 wrote:
Can anyone explain why the UK is playing such a large part in this UN resolution anyway, when there are far bigger countries with better resources that are either scaling down their activity after the initial strikes (USA, for example) or not committing much in the way of manpower in the first place. Why does it always seem to be down to the UK to shoulder the main responsibility, we're hardly in the best shape ourselves financially, are we?

From what I have read the French are doing a lot more than we are. We might have a few ships in the area and a few flights but that is pretty much it.

_________________
Do concentrate, 007...

"You are gifted. Mine is bordering on seven seconds."

https://www.dropbox.com/referrals/NTg5MzczNTk

http://astore.amazon.co.uk/wwwx404couk-21


Mon Mar 28, 2011 11:59 pm
Profile
I haven't seen my friends in so long
User avatar

Joined: Thu Apr 23, 2009 9:43 pm
Posts: 5048
Reply with quote
steve74 wrote:
Can anyone explain why the UK is playing such a large part in this UN resolution anyway, when there are far bigger countries with better resources that are either scaling down their activity after the initial strikes (USA, for example) or not committing much in the way of manpower in the first place. Why does it always seem to be down to the UK to shoulder the main responsibility, we're hardly in the best shape ourselves financially, are we?

The Italians should do more seeing as they created the country, but then they do get a lot of their oil and gas from Libya so it's a tricky situation for them.

As has been said the US aren't so involved for political reasons and for the long term good, seeing the US heavily involved in another Arab State will not be a good thing. What larger countries are there though aside Russia and China? They abstained in the resolution so they won't take part.

Another reason the UK is involved is because of geography, we can help out there.

_________________
Fogmeister I ventured into Solitude but didn't really do much.
jonbwfc I was behind her in a queue today - but I wouldn't describe it as 'bushy'.


Tue Mar 29, 2011 7:35 am
Profile
Spends far too much time on here

Joined: Fri Apr 24, 2009 9:44 pm
Posts: 4860
Reply with quote
we need to fund are defence budget
not for policing the world but for our own defence

this needs a serious review and upgrading of the defence budget at this time ...

_________________
Hope this helps . . . Steve ...

Nothing known travels faster than light, except bad news ...
HP Pavilion 24" AiO. Ryzen7u. 32GB/1TB M2. Windows 11 Home ...


Tue Mar 29, 2011 8:40 am
Profile
Moderator

Joined: Thu Apr 23, 2009 6:13 pm
Posts: 7262
Location: Here, but not all there.
Reply with quote
MrStevenRogers wrote:
this needs a serious review and upgrading of the defence budget at this time ...


It's also time to consider whether we really can sustain, or even need, three separate parts to our defence forces.

_________________
My Flickr | Snaptophobic Bloggage
Heather Kay: modelling details that matter.
"Let my windows be open to receive new ideas but let me also be strong enough not to be blown away by them." - Mahatma Gandhi.


Tue Mar 29, 2011 8:45 am
Profile
Spends far too much time on here

Joined: Fri Apr 24, 2009 9:44 pm
Posts: 4860
Reply with quote
HeatherKay wrote:
MrStevenRogers wrote:
this needs a serious review and upgrading of the defence budget at this time ...


It's also time to consider whether we really can sustain, or even need, three separate parts to our defence forces.


agreed
a fully armed and equipped 'mobile' force(s) of all the 'armed forces' is needed ...

_________________
Hope this helps . . . Steve ...

Nothing known travels faster than light, except bad news ...
HP Pavilion 24" AiO. Ryzen7u. 32GB/1TB M2. Windows 11 Home ...


Tue Mar 29, 2011 9:10 am
Profile
What's a life?
User avatar

Joined: Thu Apr 23, 2009 6:27 pm
Posts: 12251
Reply with quote
HeatherKay wrote:
MrStevenRogers wrote:
this needs a serious review and upgrading of the defence budget at this time ...


It's also time to consider whether we really can sustain, or even need, three separate parts to our defence forces.


We also need to consider that we don’t have an empire any more, can’t sustain long protracted campaigns abroad and accept that as of now, we are a small European state on the verge of mediocrity. The sooner we can do that, the sooner we can scale stuff back, and tell the USA, who seems to expect us to commit to any idiocy they want to undertake, to take a hike.

_________________
All the best,
Paul
brataccas wrote:
your posts are just combo chains of funny win

I’m on Twitter, tweeting away... My Photos Random Avatar Explanation


Tue Mar 29, 2011 9:39 am
Profile
Doesn't have much of a life

Joined: Thu Apr 23, 2009 6:23 pm
Posts: 710
Reply with quote
Anyone think we may have been hasty to sell of the aircraft carriers and scrap the harriers?

_________________
No Apples were used in the making of this post.


Wed Mar 30, 2011 4:10 pm
Profile
What's a life?
User avatar

Joined: Thu Apr 23, 2009 7:26 pm
Posts: 17040
Reply with quote
mikepgood wrote:
Anyone think we may have been hasty to sell of the aircraft carriers and scrap the harriers?

Look in you wallet, does your driving license say 'David Cameron'? If not, then the answer is 'yes'.

Jon


Wed Mar 30, 2011 4:35 pm
Profile
Doesn't have much of a life
User avatar

Joined: Thu Apr 23, 2009 6:28 pm
Posts: 851
Location: EC1 Baby!
Reply with quote
paulzolo wrote:
we are a small European state on the verge of mediocrity.
I'm sorry but the present financial situation, and all the gloomy predictions of what might lie ahead because of it, will never make Great Britain a mediocre nation.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_En ... iscoveries


Wed Mar 30, 2011 8:03 pm
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Reply to topic   [ 13 posts ] 

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 30 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group
Designed by ST Software.