RAF Training (Hansard, 1 July 2002)

§ Mr. Willis
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the savings to the RAF would be if all subcontracted hours for initial training of pilots were transferred from the University Air Squadrons to private sector trainers. [65390]

§ Mr. Ingram
The University Air Squadrons already have significant private sector involvement with a contractor providing flying hours and support services. Significant savings arose from this contract and they will be quantified by the post project evaluation, which is due to be undertaken later this year. University Air Squadron instructors are RAF officers. We view it as an important element of training that trainee pilots have the benefit of a military environment and contact with military personnel.

§ Mr. Willis
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many pilots trained by(a) the Joint Elementary Flying Training School at RAF Church Fenton and (b) University Air Squadrons have subsequently (i) joined the RAF and (ii) chosen not to do so in each of the past five years. [65392]

§ Mr. Ingram
All of the pilots trained by the Joint Elementary Flying Training School at Church Fenton are already members of the RAF.
In the case of the University Air Squadrons, the numbers are not immediately available and I will write to the hon. Member when the information has been gathered and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

§ Mr. Willis
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many flying hours the 15 University Air Squadrons were contracted to provide to the RAF during each of the years of their existing contract; and how many hours were delivered in each of these years. [65294]

§ Mr. Ingram
Flying hours, using the Tutor aircraft, are provided to the University Air Squadrons as part of the light aircraft flying task contract. Although this contract was let in April 1999, it was phased in with the last aircraft delivered in September 2001. Consequently, there is not yet a history of delivery of flying hours against the contract. The contract also provides flying hours to the Air Cadet Air Experience Flights and the Central Flying School at RAF Cranwell, to train instructions and also to conduct elementary navigator training. The contract provides 30,500 hours with an option to fly up to 50,000 hours. The additional hours are paid for only if used. In the year ending March 2002 just under 40,000 hours were flown.

§ Mr. Willis
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to renew the contract of the Joint Elementary Flying Training School at RAF Church Fenton. [65389]

§ Mr. Ingram
The contract with Babcock HCS to provide Firefly aircraft and instructors for the Joint Elementary Flying Training School, which operates at RAF Barkston Heath, RAF Cranwell, RAF Church Fenton and the School of Army Aviation at Middle Wallop, ends 37W on 7 July 2003. The cost effective means of meeting the Joint Elementary Flying Training School's requirement after this will be to absorb the RAF element of the task, which is undertaken at Church Fenton, into the University Air Squadrons, where the majority of RAF pilots are already trained. The balance of the task has been the subject of a competition and a contract will be let shortly.

§ Mr. Willis
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the Joint Elementary Flying Training School at RAF Church Fenton provided the contracted hours per year to the RAF during the existing contract. [65394]

§ Mr. Ingram
Yes.

§ Mr. Willis
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the criteria used by his Department to evaluate the success of the Joint Elementary Flying Training School at RAF Church Fenton to train RAF pilots in the elementary stage of their flying career; and if he will make a statement. [65297]

§ Mr. Ingram
Success is judged by the output of students on time, to the required standard, and with a failure rate of less than 15 per cent. The School at Church Fenton has met these criteria.

§ Mr. Willis
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the proposed saving to the RAF is if the Joint Elementary Flying Training School at RAF Church Fenton's contract for flying hours is returned to the university air squadrons. [65296]

§ Mr. Ingram
Significant annual savings are anticipated.

§ Mr. Willis
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what criteria are used by the Department to evaluate the success of the 15 university air squadrons in training RAF pilots in the elementary stage of their flying careers; and whether comparative evaluation has been made with the Joint Elementary Flying Training School at RAF Church Fenton. [65388]

§ Mr. Ingram
Elementary flying training for members of University Air Squadrons is undertaken to a defined syllabus and output standard. A direct comparison of University Air Squadron trained and Joint Elementary Flying Training School trained RAF pilots is seen at the point of streaming to aircraft type (fast jet, rotary wing, or multi-engine), which follows immediately after elementary flying training. At this point, there is no discernible difference between them. Historically, a comparison of success rates through to the more difficult fast-jet front line has shown a small advantage for University Air Squadron trained students.