HC Deb 16 January 1979 vol 960 cc741-6W
Mr. Hardy

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will state the original reasons for the introduction of flying pay to the Royal Air Force; if those reasons still apply ; and if he will state the numbers in each rank and in each aircrew category who receive such payment with the daily rates of payment made for each rank.

Mr. Wellbeloved

Flying pay in its present form was originally introduced in order to encourage sufficient men possessing the requisite personal qualities and physical fitness to volunteer for a flying career in the Royal Air Force. This still applies.

All the numbers and most of the payments requested are given in the following tables. The records are not, however, kept in a form which shows, separately for the categories of pilot, navigator, air electronic operator and air engineer, how many flight-lieutenants and flying officers receive how much flying pay. Flight lieutenant rates range between £3 .51 and £5 .90 ; flying officer rates between £3 .04 and £3 .32.

Officers
Aircrew Category Daily Rate £ Air Commodore Group Captain Wing Commander Squadron Leader Flight Lieutenant Flying Officer Pilot Officer Acting Pilot Officer
Pilots 1.89 54
2.43 154
3.32 400
3.51 910
1,958
124
2.78 95
2.78 2
Navigators 1.89 4
2.43 42
3.32 140
3.51 425
1,268
95
2.78 23
Air Electronic Operators 3.32 7
3.51 90
220
39
Air Engineers 3.51 10
34
5
Air Loadmasters 2.78 1
2.16 16 7
Flying Instructional Pay 0.90 28 75 11 59
Aeromedical Pay 1.28 1 10
58 196 547 1,436 3,535 345 129 61

Total Officers … …6,307

WARRANT OFFICERS AND NCOs
Categories Daily Rates £ Numbers
Pilots 2.43 36
Navigators 2.43 37
Air Electronic Operators 2.16 197
1.74 123
1.47 154
Air Signallers 2.16 34
1.74 12
Air Engineers 2.16 123
1.74 63
1.47 51
Air Loadmasters 1.47 133
1.22 117
0.90 85
Crew Pay 0.66 124
Flying Instructional Pay 0.90 82
0.66 18
Total 1,389