Flying Training (Hansard, 31 March 1995)

HC Deb 31 March 1995 vol 257 cc870-2W 871W

§ Mr. Bill Walker
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the number of flying training units which were active in the years(a) 1965 and (b) 1975 and the number which will be active after the "Front Line First" changes have been implemented and the number of training aircraft in use in each unit in each year. [17423]

§ Mr. Soames
The information requested, by individual service, is as follows:
Royal Navy

(a) The number of flying training squadrons in 1965 and the number of training aircraft could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

(b) The flying training squadrons (Sqn) in 1975 were as follows:

705 Sqn. Gazelle¹

750 Sqn. Sea Prince

706 Sqn. Sea King¹

737 Sqn. Wessex/Sea King¹

849 Sqn. Wasp¹

Phantom training unit—Fixed Wing training squadrons

Buccaneer training unit—Fixed Wing training squadrons

Records are no longer available of the numbers of training aircraft in this year.

(c) Post "Front Line First" squadrons are:

750 Sqn. Jet Stream: 17 Aircraft

706/810. Sqn Sea King 5/6¹: 20 Aircraft

849 Sqn. Sea King W (AEW)¹: 2 Aircraft

848 Sqn. Sea King 4¹: 4 Aircraft

702 Sqn. Lynx 8¹: 12 Aircraft

899 Sqn. Sea Harrier FA2: 6 Aircraft

¹Denotes helicopter squadrons.

¹Airborne early warning.

Army

(a) and (b) all Army flying training in 1965 and 1975 was undertaken at Middle Wallop. The numbers of training aircraft could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

(c) Following the establishment of the Defence helicopter flying school at RAF Shawbury in 1997, Army flying training will be conducted at both Middle Wallop and RAF Shawbury. The number of training aircraft at both sites has yet to be finalised.
Royal Air Force (a) and (b) From the records available, the following flying training units and aircraft were operated by the RAF in 1965 and 1975:

1965 1975

Flying School

1 Flying Training School (FTS) 39 28

2 FTS 42 —

3 FTS 42 40

4 FTS 49 36

5 FTS 21 —

6 FTS 42 34

7 FTS 42 —

1 Air Navigation School (ANS) 24 —

2 ANS 22 —

Central Navigation School 36 —

Refresher Sqn. 38 —

Central Flying School (CFS) 50 38

CFS (Helicopter) 24 22

RAF College 77 23

Air Engineer School 13 —

(c) Once the "Font Line First" changes have been implemented, the active RAF flying training units and aircraft numbers will be as follows:
872W

Aircraft

Main Operating Bases

RAF Cranwell 40

RAF Linton on Ouse (1 FTS) 54

RAF Valley (4 FTS) 73

Relief Landing Grounds

RAF Barkston Heath 17

RAF Newton ¹—

RAF Topcliffe 19

¹ To be decide