§ 116. and 119. Mr. Spenceasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air (1) if he will set up a special inquiry into the regulations and instructions governing formation flying by modern jet aircraft; and to what extent close formations are still necessary in attack and defence and how far the distances between machine and machine have been revised as speeds have increased.
(2) how many fatal accidents have occurred in jet aircraft during the most recent convenient 12 monthly period: how many of these accidents were occasioned by aircraft colliding; and in how many cases these collisions occurred in the course of close formation flying.
Mr. WardFormation flying is necessary for the tactical use of both day fighter and ground attack aircraft in modern war. Practice in formation flying is, therefore, an essential part of the operational training of fighter pilots, and in Fighter Command most flying is done in formation. Without close formation flying pilots would lose visual contact with each other in cloud.
During the twelve months ended 31st October, 1953, there were 135 fatal accidents involving Royal Air Force jet aircraft. Fifteen were collisions, of which seven occurred during close formation flying. These figures suggest that the hazards inherent in flying in close formation have been minimised by careful training and that there is no case for a special inquiry into this matter.
My right hon. Friend the First Lord has asked me to add that what I have said applies mutatis mutandis to aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm.