§ Mr. Churchillasked the Secretary of State for Defence, bearing in mind the present rate of wastage, how many years he estimates it will take to make good the loss of experienced fast jet pilots for the Royal Air Force; and what estimate has been made of the total cost of making good the shortfall.
§ Mr. Wellbeloved, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 19th May 1978; Vol. 950, c. 345], gave the following information:
Figures for the loss of fast jet pilots are not kept separately from those for all trained pilots. Figures for the costs associated with the departure of experienced pilots from the fast jet force are not readily available. Indeed, the term "fast jet pilot" has been in use only since 1976.
The numbers of trained pilots who have left the RAF in recent years are:
1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 413 305 386 453 306 (8.3)* (6.4) (8.4) (10.9) (8.0) * The figures in brackets are percentages of the average trained pilot strength for the years given.