§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what qualifications are required for service personnel to fly helicopters in each of the services. [4424]
§ Mr. Soames[holding answer 15 November 1996]: The qualifications required by service personnel to fly helicopters are as follows:
Royal Navy
- Education—minimum five GCSEs (English and Mathematics) and two A-levels (or equivalent)
- Flying aptitude tests and medical
- Initial officer training
Army
- Minimum rank Lance-corporal (recommended for Corporal)
- Pre-selection course, including aptitude tests, written tests and medical
Royal Air Force
- Education—minimum five GCSEs (English and Mathematics) and two A-levels (or equivalent)
- Flying aptitude tests and medical
- Initial officer training
- Elementary flying training
Basic, advanced and operational helicopter flying training are currently carried out separately by the single services. However, from 1 April 1997 all basic and advanced helicopter training will be provided for the three services by the defence helicopter flying school, a tri-service establishment at Shawbury.
§ Mr. SpellarTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 6 November,Official Report, column 521, what arrangements have been made for industrial participation in respect of the purchase of helicopters. [3664]
§ Mr. ArbuthnotAs part of the Apache industrial participation arrangements, GKN Westland committed that 50 per cent. of the baseline contract work would be placed in the UK. GKN Westland has now identified how this will be achieved. It has already placed contracts for 35 per cent. and its offshore subcontractors have placed contracts for a further 5 per cent., making a total of612W 40 per cent. In accordance with MOD policy, the contract awards from the offshore subcontractors are now being audited to verify their claims. GKN Westland is thus well on course to meet its commitment in full.