Shortage of aircraft leaves the Paras without wings

[SO19]

This is from today's Daily Telegraph:

Shortage of aircraft leaves the Paras without wings
By Thomas Harding, Defence Correspondent

The RAF has become so stretched by operations that it can no longer spare aircraft or crew to train paratroopers.

Members of the Parachute Regiment are having a major part of their training curtailed because jumps keep being cancelled.

Senior Para officers are worried that commitments in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Balkans are harming the training that is vital to keeping the Armed Forces among the best in the world.

Parachute Regiment commanders have complained that recruits who have passed the tough P Company selection course will be sent to Afghanistan in the spring without gaining their coveted wings.

A company commander said: "The latest batch of recruits will not even have done the basic parachute course."

The Ministry of Defence refused to give the numbers of paratroopers who had passed the two-week course in the past year, suggesting that The Daily Telegraph request them under the Freedom of Information Act.

It is even considering leasing aircraft from the Polish air force to help with the parachuting crisis.

One TA soldier has gone on three courses but each time failed to do the required six jumps. On the latest course, this month, the reservists were promised two sorties at the start of the week but both were cancelled.

"Good quality people are becoming increasingly brassed off," the soldier said. "It is a complete waste of money, effort and resources." A Para officer said: "The regiment has a first-class esprit de corps, possibly the best in the Army, through the common experience of the combined challenges of P Company and parachuting.

"If you start dismantling this training process that is common across the ranks then you risk losing what binds the officers and men together to make such a feared, effective and disciplined force."

The situation has been aggravated because the new Hercules Mark 5 transport aircraft can safely drop paratroopers from only one door instead of two because of the propeller wash.

The RAF admitted that "a lot of courses were being cancelled at the last minute" because operations always had to take precedence over training.

Anyone here on the short end of this? I know operations will always divert resources away from other areas, but should it be allowed to affect something as crucial as training?

[hc00]

Ignore this if its stupid but couldn't they just hire out civilian parachuting planes for training if they have none of thier own?

[longrifle]

Couldn't they at least do baloon jumps? Not exactly the same but better than nothing.

[Sandy The Guvnor]

Couldn't they at least do baloon jumps? Not exactly the same but better than nothing.

NO

[Greenronnie]

The Balloon was canned some time ago, as the Skyvan will be next year, which will leave us with even bigger problems, as it's the only short take-off aircraft in service. The problem is that the Hercs are getting beasted in Iraq and Afghanistan, and when you add humanitarian ops (such as Pakistan) into the equation then there's bugger all left. I think going over to other NATO countries such as Germany, Holland etc may offer a short term solution for jump platforms.

[Doc]

Ignore this if its stupid but couldn't they just hire out civilian parachuting planes for training if they have none of thier own?

See you got ignored there fella as it was stupid

Mil planes and mil parachuting is totally different to the civvy jump out, arch like fark, whilst wearing multicoloured jump suits and jumping in clean fatigue.

So civvy planes arent really a good option. Plus a cessna only allows about 6 jumpers at freefall tops. Mind you I did love dropping off the wing struts at 12 grand, especially after hitting my elbow once going out of the door....hurt a tad.

Sad state of affairs though, no planes due to operational requirements or maintainence and maybe having to approach the REMF countries to borrow a few.

Sandy if I ever hear of you outside the depot chipping the concrete anchor points off the dakota I'll know we're in deep shit!!! (is it up at catterick??)

[Greenronnie]

Sorry about ignoring the stupid question!
A Turbolet, Twin Otter or Skyvan could do the job, they are probably the only civvi aircraft that are big enough that are used for skydiving. However, there are very few in this country, most DZs use an Islander or Cessna which just aren't big enough.

[Greenronnie]

Just had another thought about 'the silly question'. The only civvi aircraft in the UK that has military clearance is the Skyvan leased by the MOD anyway. There's no way that any other aircraft could be used.

[Tab]

Tell me Sandy why can't the balloon be used to get the first couple of jumps in just as it was a few years back. I don't know if you ever jumped from one but they were great. The silence was incredible and so was the drop for with out the slip stream you fell so much further before your chute opened

[got1]

Lots of blokes didn't like the balloon, but I thought it was ok. Drop of almost 200ft before your chute fully developed.

[Sandy The Guvnor]

Tell me Sandy why can't the balloon be used to get the first couple of jumps in just as it was a few years back. I don't know if you ever jumped from one but they were great. The silence was incredible and so was the drop for with out the slip stream you fell so much further before your chute opened

One word MONEY

[Tab]

Sandy.... the balloon is the cheapest way ever of getting some jumps in, no plane, no aircrew, no fuel, you just wind it up and down all day and all you need is some erk operating the winch.

[Sandy The Guvnor]

Sandy.... the balloon is the cheapest way ever of getting some jumps in, no plane, no aircrew, no fuel, you just wind it up and down all day and all you need is some erk operating the winch.

Ok so the RAF PJI's were lying when i asked them "why dont you bring the balloon back" and there reply " the cost of it"

[harry hackedoff]

I used to live close to Weston O T G and balloon jumps stopped about 97/8 ish. What I`d like to know is, did anyone ever manage to jump out of the basket with an erection?
I know several Bootys who"nearly made it"

Couldn`t the Crabs do a lease-back deal with the Iraqi air force?

Incommminnnggggg

[Tab]

Just check on what it cost for an hour flying time in a Herc, the check just what it would cost to run a balloon for a month. Still I should with luck be able to check all this my self next year as I have been invited back to No1 Parachute Training School at Brieze Norton for a few days.