Ab-initio EFT

[gr4pilot]

Hey guys, when coming from graduate entry your EFT's supposed to be done through a UAS right? But who does it for ab-initio DE's? I've heard both that you're sent to a UAS (Pilot info sheet from AFCO) and that it's done at Barkston Heath on the Firefly at the JEFTS: http://www.raf.mod.uk/equipment/firefly.html. Anyone know which is right and if the firefly is BFT for ME pilots how long does it last for?

Cheers

[Scooby]

The RAF pulled out of JEFTS a few years ago leaving it to the RN and the Army. All EFT is now done on direct entry flights on various UASs, but there is an announcement due soon on the future of UASs.

If you end up in the ME stream, you will undergo a MELIN course (Multi-Engine Lead IN) at RAF Cranwell on the Firefly after EFT and prior to starting on the King Air. MELIN is conducted by instructors from JEFTS, although it is part of 45(R) Sqn.

Hope this helps.

[gr4pilot]

Many thanks, just what I needed. Come to think of it I'd read that somewhere before.

[Blackhawk]

There're also two different Fireflies; the more powerful Firefly M260 is used for RN and Army EFT (they've stopped calling it JEFTS since the RAF left; it's now something like RNEFTS or DEFTS; whatever, it's part of No 1 EFTS), while the 160hp variant's used at MELIN.

MELIN's a separate flight within 45(R) Sqn, but the instructor's aren't from JEFTS (or whatever it's called). They have a handful of reservist civilian instructors who do it under Babcock HCS' contract, and it's their only job.

[King_duck]

Does anyone know when this announcement on the UAS is to be made? My friend (who is in a UAS) said they were thinking of cutting the flying?!!

[Scooby]

MELIN's a separate flight within 45(R) Sqn, but the instructor's aren't from JEFTS (or whatever it's called). They have a handful of reservist civilian instructors who do it under Babcock HCS' contract, and it's their only job.

All MELIN instructors are employed by Babcock and they have all worked at JEFTS before coming to MELIN. They are not in anyway reservists.

[Slider]

Well, they're certainly not reglar military instructors, which I think is the point. They're also only employed to teach MELIN, hence why they're not JEFTS instructors. They're similar to FTRS and AVO reservists.