Like flying model aircraft? Fancy a really big one? And a sun tan?

It's true that you can get almost anything online these days, even jobs. And there's nothing like the Internet for matching people with, shall we say, particular requirements with people who have, shall we say, particular skills.

Even so, I was surprised to see this job offer appear on a UK site. It is reference CS55581/J50030A00059383 (in case the listing goes away but you still fancy applying) for a "UAV Pilot" - someone who sits in a shed and flies a large unmanned plane at a safe distance from the consequences. There's not much call for this outside certain speciality roles - and as what's on offer is particularly suited for those who have experience working "within military infrastructures", who can take a "Flexible approach and proactive management of problems" and are prepared for "Overseas rotational working", it's not going to be cropspraying. Oh, and "Successful applicants will be required to obtain UK MOD security clearance prior to appointment" - that might also be a clue. But there is a share option scheme, a good pension, and 45K.

Some further discreet enquiries reveal that yes, this is a job which involves annoying the hell out of people far to the east of Dagenham - two months on, one month off - on behalf of a certain UK defence contractor where you queue going in and queue coming out. And as the qualifications required don't actually ask for any formal flight certification but do leave the door open for people with experience of flying 'large model aircraft', it's quite possible that you could get the job even if the closest you've come to actual aerial operations in a warzone is watching Top Gun in Peckham while fondling your copy of Aero Modeller World.

What I don't know, and what my discreet enquiry service is being far too discreet to tell me, is whether this job is purely loitering around the skies being part of the Plausible Deniability Caper -- as in when the CIA ran U2 spy flights across Soviet Russia, so the military had nothing to do with it -- or whether it may involve getting tangled up in some of the more esoteric interpretations of the rules of engagement for armed UAVs. Oh, you know. Killing people when you shouldn't, but without actually breaking the rules.

I'm sure that's not what's going on here. And besides, the job's probably recession proof. Fancy it?