§ 20. Mr. WilkinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress he is making to increase the number of aircrew in the Royal Auxiliary Air Force. [22326]
§ Mr. SoamesMembers of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force do not currently serve as aircrew. The RAF has, however, conducted trials to assess the feasibility of recruiting and training volunteer reservist aircrew. The trials were conducted on the Hercules aircraft at RAF Lyneham, and the Wessex helicopter at RAF Benson. The trials were completed earlier this year and the RAF is currently assessing the results.