The Sun have an article on this today
RAF pilots’ flight hours axed in MOD cutbacks | The Sun |News|Campaigns|Our Boys
RAF Top Guns are furious after MoD bean-counters slashed their flying time to save money, it was revealed yesterday.
Sixteen crews of the illustrious 111 Squadron were told to cut their 15 hours a month to ten.
The Ministry of Defence aims to save £80,000 a month in fuel and other costs.
But members of 111 Squadron, whose 14 F3 Tornado fighter jets protect Scotland and the north of England, say they are being left "dangerously short" of practice.
One said: "The cutback to ten hours is just enough to make you dangerous. It almost guarantees an accident if the jet is taken near its limits in the role."
The squadron, formed in 1917 and nicknamed the Tremblers, are based at RAF Leuchars in Fife, Scotland.
Following high-level protests, the hours have been "slightly" increased - but pilots are still angry, saying their allocation is worse than Soviet pilots were allowed at the end of the Cold War.
A crewman said: "I saw the results of low flying hours amongst the junior pilots on my last tour.
Knowledge of your own limitations and capabilities - and that of the aircraft - comes from time in the jet. No substitute."
Last night an RAF spokesman told The Sun: "Tornado F3 flying hours were reduced in line with the reduction in its operational role during 2009.
"Following a careful review, it was decided to increase the number of flying hours to a slightly higher level to make absolutely certain that the F3 is both safe and sustainable."