§ Angus RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence which air squadrons are at less than 90 per cent. of full complement of(a) pilots and (b) navigators, indicating a percentage figure for each squadron. [9005]
§ Mr. IngramThe table sets out the overall snapshot position, by service, using wherever possible the early October data used in my answer of 15 October 2001,Official Report, column 942W. In some instances however, the information post-dates that information.
The shortfall in aircrew is a well-recognised problem and the Ministry of Defence is taking a number of measures to tackle it.
Indicating the level to which a squadron is manned in a snapshot in time using a percentage formula risks creating a misleading impression due to the small number of pilots that typically comprise a squadron. The loss or gain of a single pilot can alter the figure by up to 14 per cent.
Furthermore, by providing separate figures for pilots and navigators, squadrons that did not register as being below 90 per cent. of a full complement in my previous response have sometimes done so in this one.
1370W
Percentage Squadron Pilots Navigators Navy 800 63 1— 814 64 100 824 53 65 847 75 100 899 82 1—
Percentage Squadron Pilots Navigators Army 652 88 1— 653 74 1— 659 74 1— 661 85 1— 1Not applicable AAvn is currently undergoing major structural change as it migrates from its old Anti-Tank (Atk) establishment to its new Attack and Utility Aviation establishments. These squadrons might have been shown at full compliment, but for the requirement to under implement personnel in the front line in order to provide the transitional posts required to fill Apache.
Royal Air Force Percentage Squadron Pilots Navigators 2 85 79 5 75 81 6 79 1— 7 86 50 9 86 79 102 74 79 11 78 81 12 88 77 13 100 85 14 85 100 18 97 40 22 66 1— 243 54 1— 25 75 95 28 86 67 30 77 82 31 79 77 33 91 69 41 87 1— 43 88 82 47 98 89 70 94 86 72 80 91 111 82 89 120 89 85 617 79 80 1Not applicable 2Shortages will continue until fleet out of service. Operational output is met by using navigators who normally undertake the training of junior aircrew 324 Squadron is first C-130J Squadron currently training initial crew and will be manned at 100 per cent. by mid 2002 as programmed