HC Deb 24 July 1946 vol 426 cc11-2
6. Mr. Spence

asked the Undersecretary of State for Air whether it is his intention to revert to the prewar practice of using civilian flying schools, on contract, as a means of giving elementary flying instruction to a proportion of Service pilot trainees.

Mr. de Freitas

We did not entirely give up the use of these schools during the war, and some of them are operating today. We have, however, not yet decided what will be needed for the permanent postwar organisation of elementary flying training.

Mr. Spence

Will the Under-Secretary bear in mind the proved economy of this kind of training, and the fact that a large proportion of the pilots in the Battle of Britain did their elementary training in this way?

Mr. de. Freitas

I will bear that in mind.

Mr. George Ward

Will the Undersecretary give some assurance that these schools will be re-equipped as soon as possible with up-to-date machines more suitable for modern flying training than Tiger Moths?

Mr. de Freitas

That is now under consideration.

Forward to