§ Mr. Mayhewasked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the minimum number of flying hours per month that he is advised is required to maintain Harrier instructor pilots at full efficiency at No. 230 Operational Commission Unit; and how many practice hours on the Harrier simulator are required in conjunction with this.
§ Mr. JohnThe unit referred to should be No. 233 Operational Conversion Unit —[Vol. 904, c. 51.]
The number of flying and simulator hours required to keep an instructor properly efficient varies according to the individual's experience and capability. The target aimed at for an average instructor is 15 flying hours and two simulator hours per month. This allows a significant margin over the minimum hours considered necessary for maintaining flying efficiency.
§ Mr. Mayhewasked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the average of flying hours on Harriers and the practice hours on the Harrier simulator logged by instructor pilots at No. 230 Operational Commission Unit in each three-month period (a) in 1975, (b) in 1974 and (c) in 1973.
§ Mr. JohnThe figures are as follows:
210W
Flying hours Simulator hours 1973 46 1.5 36 1 46 0 1974 41 1.4 42 0.7 50 0 36 0 1975 49 0 52 0.9 43 2.3 44 2 Essential modifications to the simulator to bring it up to the latest aircraft standards reduced the hours available for training during this period.
§ Mr. Mayhewasked the Secretary of State for Defence whether there is a minimum number of flying hours required to be logged by instructor pilots at No. 230 Operational Commission Unit each month; whether this has been reduced since he took office; and, if so, on what occasions, to what extent and for what reason.
§ Mr. JohnThe number of flying hours required to keep an instructor efficient varies according to the individual's experience and ability. The flying hour target set for the unit attempts to reflect this. With the exception of the month of March 1974, the target has remained unchanged since my right hon. Friend took office. For March 1974 only the target was temporarily reduced by 28 per cent. to help overcome the acute national fuel shortage.
§ Mr. Mayhewasked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what is the minimum number of flying hours per month that he is advised is required to maintain Harrier pilots at operational efficiency in the RAF squadrons with which they are in service in conjunction with how many practice hours on the Harrier flight simulator;
(2) what is the average of the flying hours on Harriers and the practice hours on the Harrier simulator logged by pilots in each operational Harrier squadron in each three-month period (a) in 1975 (b) in 1974 and (c) in 1973.
§ Mr. JohnWhilst it would not be in the public interest to disclose the exact information, I am satisfied that the level of operational efficiency in those squadrons is entirely adequate, and this has been confirmed by recent Alliance evaluations.
§ Mr. Mayhewasked the Secretary of State for Defence whether the minimum number of flying hours required to be logged by operational Harrier pilots each month has been reduced since he took office; and, if so, on what occasions, to what extent and for what reasons.
§ Mr. JohnThe flying task of operational Harrier squadrons was reduced for 211W the month of March 1974 only, in order to save fuel.
§ Mr. Mayhewasked the Secretary of State for Defence how many Harrier aircraft in service with the Royal Air Force have been (i) destroyed or (ii) seriously damaged through pilot error, as determined by inquiry, in each three-month period (a) in 1975, (b) in 1974 and (c) in 1973.
§ Mr. JohnOne aircraft was destroyed in the third quarter of 1973 and one in the first quarter of 1974 through pilot error as subsequently determined by inquiry.