What is the purpose of the UAS?
University Air Squadrons are training units of the
Royal Air Force which primarily provide basic flying training and adventurous training to undergraduate students at British universities. These units exist to provide a taste of life in the Service and give experience to their members to take up a career as an officer in one of the many of the RAF's branches.
Do the RAF have a recruitment problem?
Not for Officers and especially not for Pilot training -
Is there any difference in the standard of pilots whom join directly rather than via the UAS?
AS ANSWERED BY A QUESTION IN PARLIAMENT
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.
A SNAPSHOT OF RECRUITMENT FIGURES UP TO 2008
7 July 2008 : Column 1144W
2003-042004-052005-062006-072007-08All RAF applications for Pilot
1,676
1,289
1,129
1,159
1,384
Initial Pilot Training (RAF)
167
92
121
133
148
Selected for Fast-Jet Training (RAF)
75
51
46
54
46
All RN applications for Pilot
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
Initial Pilot Training (RN)
47
45
35
42
44
Selected for Fast-Jet Training (RN)
7
9
5
9
11
Total number of RAF and RN selected for Initial Pilot Training
214
137
156
175
192
Total number of RAF and RN selected for Fast-Jet Pilot Training
82
60
51
63
57
n/a = Not available.
Data has been obtained from the TAFMIS (Training Administration and Financial Management Information System) computer system which was introduced in 2003. Recruitment data prior to 2003 is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
IN SUMMARY
No recruitment issues to address
The standard of pilots between UAS and direct entrant - no difference
Perhaps closing all UAS is the way ahead as it seems that with a shrinking Armed Forces it is no longer required to achieve what it was primarily set up to do -