Eye In The Sky
Army.ca Legend
- Reaction score
- 3,780
- Points
- 1,160
Do you think this could be helped if the MH community was formally brought back into the RCN to be the RCN Air Arm again ?
The key issue isn't what DEU they wear/could wear, the issue is more related to the "FG/FE" arm wrestle. To put more people thru, the Schoolhouse (406) needs more qualified MHFIs (MH Flying Instructors). The gun Sqn's and other units also need qualified flyers (423, 443, MHTEF, MHSET, MH OLA...) to support their necessary function in the fleet. Generally speaking, RW air ops are harder on aircrew than FW air ops. Not a hard rule, but a good general statement, in my eyes.
Putting more MH Pilots, TACCOs, SENSOs thru the applic courses means more flying. That usually needs more aircraft, maintained by more techs, supported by supply, replenishment, SNIC, ATC. All of those "more people" all need medical and admin support...
TL;DR: I'm not sure the RCN can solve all intertwined aspects of the "qualify more aircrew" better than the RCAF can. Right now, it might just be a "time" issue until "supply - attrition" can keep up to 'demand'. However, senior RCN leadership might have more 'vested interest' in the success of MH aircrew generation than the RCAF writ large, who cares about aircrew generation across all fleets.
My 2 cents worth.