§ Gregory BarkerTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many students flew at least one hour with the university air squadrons in the last year for which records are available. [86979]
§ Dr. Moonie720 students are known to have flown at least one hour with the university air squadrons last year. This figure consists of 640 student pilots and 80 student navigators.
The university air squadrons also contain engineer, medical and dental students—a total of 300—who are being sponsored through university by the Royal Air Force to meet other specialist requirements. These branch members will have been offered occasional flights, but these could be less than an hour in length.
§ Gregory BarkerTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of students who flew with the university air squadrons subsequently joined the RAF in each of the last five years. [86980]
§ Dr. MoonieThe 15 university air squadrons recruit up to 300 potential pilots every year in order to achieve their annual target of training, up to Elementary Flying Training Standard, the 80 to 90 graduate pilots required by the first stage of the Flying Training System.
The recruited figure may seem high, but is necessary to meet the Royal Air Force's needs. Predictably, a number will drop out at an early stage, as they find they do not have the aptitude, do not enjoy the experience, fail the initial medical, or have difficulty meeting the concurrent demands of a difficult degree course and membership of a university air squadron.
For those that remain, a commitment to join the Royal Air Force is nurtured and Squadron Commanders have instructions as to how to proceed, should they form the view that a student does not intend to apply to join the Royal Air Force.
Specifically at the end of the student's second year, the Squadron Commander will release him or her, should it become apparent that the student has no intention of applying to join.
521WThe following statistics are available for the past three years—the Royal Air Force did not operate such a comprehensive recording system before financial year 2000.
2000–01
The number of students that started the final year of university air squadron training totalled 125. Of these 90 went on to join the Royal Air Force.
2001–02
The number of students that started the final year of university air squadron training was 113. Of these 91 went on to join the Royal Air Force.
2002–03
The number of students now in their final university air squadron year total 120, of these 90 have so far joined the Royal Air Force.
This reply is limited to those university air squadron members that are potential pilots and have undertaken formal flying training. It does not cover members who may have received limited air experience flights, such as potential engineers or medics, or potential navigators who receive a limited amount of flying training.