airborne_artist
8th Jun 2007, 12:52
The number of RAF and Royal Navy pilots going through the elite training programme has more than halved over the past five years, according to new figures.
Last year, 45 pilots entered the specialist fast jet training scheme, compared to 110 in 2002-03.
The sharp fall comes as the Ministry of Defence estimates it needs a total of 790 fast jet pilots this year, even though only 680 were available during the past year.
At the same time, ministers are planning to reduce the official requirement for fast jet pilots to 750 over the next four years.
Mr Fox [shadow defence secretary] said: "At a time when our fast jet fleet is being asked to carry out an increasing number of missions in Iraq and Afghanistan this drop in Britain's elite pilots is alarming. The reduction in those entering the fast jet course is bound to have an impact upon the flying hours expected of the existing number of pilots.
"The MoD needs to explain why they are cutting the number of RAF and Royal Navy fast jet pilots. Ministers must outline how they plan to deal with this reduction."
Full report
(http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/06/08/nraf108.xml)
Last year, 45 pilots entered the specialist fast jet training scheme, compared to 110 in 2002-03.
The sharp fall comes as the Ministry of Defence estimates it needs a total of 790 fast jet pilots this year, even though only 680 were available during the past year.
At the same time, ministers are planning to reduce the official requirement for fast jet pilots to 750 over the next four years.
Mr Fox [shadow defence secretary] said: "At a time when our fast jet fleet is being asked to carry out an increasing number of missions in Iraq and Afghanistan this drop in Britain's elite pilots is alarming. The reduction in those entering the fast jet course is bound to have an impact upon the flying hours expected of the existing number of pilots.
"The MoD needs to explain why they are cutting the number of RAF and Royal Navy fast jet pilots. Ministers must outline how they plan to deal with this reduction."
Full report
(http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/06/08/nraf108.xml)