§ Sir Nicholas BonsorTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many multi-engine pilots are trained each year by the RAF to operational conversion unit input standards; for what reason a contract for training six such pilots is being placed within the commercial sector, as set out in Future Purchase LC1/0012; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. SoamesThe current RAF requirement is to train 61 multi-engine pilots to operational conversion unit input standards each year.
The defence costs study identified a number of ways in which flying training could be carried out more cost-effectively; for example, by the increased use of civilian instructors and contractors. The study concluded that multi-engine pilot training was an area where commonality of syllabus existed between the military and civil sector, and proposed that consideration should be given to transferring this part of RAF flying training to a civilian flying training school. My Department therefore intends to place a contract to train six RAF multi-engine pilots with the civil sector to assess the viability of this strategy.