Pilots (Hansard, 30 January 2001)

§ Mr. Cohen
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many(a) pilots and (b) fast jet pilots there are in the armed forces; and how many are women. [147695]

§ Mr. Spellar
The number of trained pilots currently serving in the armed forces is set out in the table:

Naval service Army¹ RAF^2,3

All aircraft 461 761 2,184

Of which:

Female 1 12 34

Fast jet 41 — 847

Of which:

Female 0 — 8

¹ These figures do not include non-army air corps officers and soldiers who may have qualified as army pilots in the past but have since returned to their original army or service and are no longer employed as pilots.

² 1,492 pilots (including 30 women) currently fill flying posts in the RAF. This figure includes 561 fast jet pilots, five of whom are women. The remaining pilots are employed in ground based posts that require specialist aircraft knowledge and experience.

³ As at 1 December 2000.

§ Mr. Cohen
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many(a) pilots and (b) fast jet pilots are being trained for the armed forces; and how many are women. [147696]

§ Mr. Spellar
The number of pilots being trained for the armed forces is set out in the table.

Naval Service Army¹ RAF^2,3

All aircraft 220 97 552

Of which:

Female 2 5 19

Fast jet 25 — 46

Of which:

Female 0 — 2

¹ These figures relate only to those individuals who are in the flying training system and do not include army air corps direct entry officer cadets who are currently under training at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. ² Includes 458 personnel (15 women) who have yet to be assigned to a particular role, 17 of whom (one female) are officer designates undergoing initial officer training. ³ As at 1 December 2000.

97W

	Naval service	Army¹	RAF^2,3
All aircraft	461	761	2,184
Of which:
Female	1	12	34
Fast jet	41	—	847
Of which:
Female	0	—	8
¹ These figures do not include non-army air corps officers and soldiers who may have qualified as army pilots in the past but have since returned to their original army or service and are no longer employed as pilots.
² 1,492 pilots (including 30 women) currently fill flying posts in the RAF. This figure includes 561 fast jet pilots, five of whom are women. The remaining pilots are employed in ground based posts that require specialist aircraft knowledge and experience.
³ As at 1 December 2000.