HC Deb 08 April 1971 vol 815 cc660-1
14. Mr. Wall

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the special training given to Royal Air Force pilots who are to operate aircraft from Her Majesty's ships; and on how many operational tours they will perform.

Lord Balniel

These pilots receive familiarisation training appropriate to the embarked rôle. The number of operational tours is decided in the light of circumstances but would normally be one.

Mr. Wall

Does that reply mean that senior officers of Royal Air Force aircraft in an aircraft carrier will only have done one tour? Can he say who will provide the maintenance of these aircraft when they are afloat and which service will provide the deck crews?

Lord Balniel

My hon. Friend has asked some technical questions, and I would perhaps find it easier to answer him in writing. There will, however, be a significant proportion of Royal Air Force personnel in the "Ark Royal" who have had previous experience of operating from land bases. Perhaps my hon. Friend will allow me to write to him in answer to his specific question.

Mr. John Morris

But the hon. Member for Haltemprice (Mr. Wall) has asked the Minister a basically very simple question. He wants to know the future for fixed wing aircraft in the Royal Navy. Perhaps the Minister can deal with that and say that there is no future for fixed wing flying in the Royal Navy because the Royal Air Force will be undertaking this task.

Lord Balniel

That is not what my hon. Friend asked. As has been frequently announced in the House, there are no plans to reopen recruiting for fixed wing flying in the Fleet Air Arm. As we have explained, we have not yet taken a decision about flying vertical take-off aircraft from cruisers. Therefore, the question of providing pilots for that kind of flying does not yet arise.

Mr. Wall

What I want to know is how the Royal Air Force will perform its new rôle, which most informed opinion thinks it is impossible for it to perform.

Lord Balniel

The future rôle of the Fleet Air Arm lies overwhelmingly in helicopter flying. This is the expanding rôle for the Fleet Air Arm.

Mr. Dalyell

Will the hon. Gentleman be in a position to report on the very considerable technical difficulties, particularly turbulence, of vertical take-off and landing on carriers? When is the report to which he referred expected?

Lord Balniel

The "Ark Royal" is to conduct vertical take-off trials in May, and I shall be attending some of them.