§ Mr. Menzies CampbellTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the average number of flying hours undertaken by fully trained operational RAF pilots, not including pilots on staff/ground tours, in (1) 1998 and (2) 1999 in aircraft type (a) BAe 125, (b) BAe 146, (c) Canberra, (d) Chinook, (e) Harrier, (f) Hercules, (g) Jaguar, (h) Nimrod, (i) Puma, (j) Sea King, (k) Sentry, (l) Tornado F3, (m) Tornado GR1/4, (n) Tristar, (o) VC10 and (p) Wessex; and if he will make a statement. [109493]
§ Mr. Spellar[holding answer 17 February 2000]: We do not centrally record the flying hours undertaken by individual pilots. Such information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
We do calculate the average hours which crews fly in a given year. This calculation ignores the individual crew rotations and provides only a broad estimate of the flying undertaken. Against these averages, the amount of flying undertaken by individuals might vary considerably.
The average number of flying hours undertaken by a typical crew in 1998 and 1999 is as follows:
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Total hours Aircraft type 1998 1999 BAe 125 339 374 BAe 146 232 258 Canberra 224 171 Chinook 344 261 Harrier 198 194 Hercules 539 458 Jaguar 222 214 Nimrod 388 390 Puma 338 376 Sea King 467 359 Sentry 467 546 Tornado F3 206 205 Tornado GR1/4 291 209
Total hours Aircraft type 1998 1999 Tristar 649 624 VC10 419 423 Wessex 299 279 Notes:
1. Hours do not include Reserve squadron (OCU) data.
2. Operational flying is all flying undertaken in active theatres, principally the former Yugoslavia and the Middle East.