Source · Select Committees · Defence Committee
Recommendation 13
13
Accepted
Paragraph: 93
Unacceptable flying training delays reducing combat-ready aircrew and impacting pilot morale
Conclusion
Flying training is undoubtedly complex. Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton observed that “if you take your eye off it for a moment, it can get out of the tolerances that you set” and it is clear to us that for too long, the senior leadership of the RAF has been looking in the wrong direction. The result of this complacency is simple: a reduction in the MoD’s ability to produce combat-ready aircrew within expected timescales, with serious implications for the effectiveness of our armed forces and for pilot morale. The delays and backlogs of recent years have been completely unacceptable and cannot be allowed to continue.
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges delays in pilot training and has taken concerted action with industry to rectify Hawk engine availability issues. It has also reinforced leadership of pilot training at a 3-star level and created a quarterly Aircrew Pipeline Steering Group, offering regular updates on trainee holding numbers.
Paragraph Reference:
93
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
The UK Military Flying Training System (UKMFTS) continues to meet almost 100% of the tri-service Front Line ab-initio training demand for pilots and mission aircrew. The greatest proportion of the delays currently being experienced by tri-Service aircrew trainees are as they wait to begin Operational Conversion Unit (OCU) flying training, after they have completed the UKMFTS pipeline. The MOD accepts that unforeseen issues, such as Hawk engine aircraft serviceability, has resulted in UKMFTS Fast Jet training capacity being below the required level. However, this has been mitigated through working with Allies and partners, to mutual benefit, to 8 Aviation Procurement: Winging It?: Government Response use international training to ensure the frontline requirement will be met for the next three years, albeit with a minor shortfall this year of two trainees offset by a small surplus in two and three years’ time. The MOD has taken concerted action with industry to rectify engine availability, with modifications being planned and replacement components procured for delivery in late 2024. In parallel, we have introduced novel, cutting-edge use of simulation, synthetics and augmented reality to ensure increased UKMFTS fast-jet training capacity in the future. We are experiencing trainee delays as a result of a number of different factors (COVID-19, aircraft serviceability, changes to the frontline from IR21 decisions), but a number of recent initiatives have been introduced to mitigate these challenges. These measures have increased the numbers of trainees undertaking flying training and reduced numbers in non-flying training holding roles, but this remains a work in progress. A September 2023 Government Internal Audit Agency audit of RAF Pilot Pipeline management confirmed that these initiatives are working and commended the governance and management in place, particularly regarding oversight and planning. Leadership of pilot training has been reinforced and it now sits solely under the Air and Space Commander at 3* level, supported by the RAF’s Air Officer Commanding 22 Group (at 2*) and Head of Flying Training (at 1*). Issues are managed through a 3*-chaired Aircrew Pipeline Steering Group which sits quarterly and addresses the breadth of issues which influence pilot training. We would be happy to provide the Committee with regular updates on holding numbers, which we are committed to driving down to optimum levels (the nature of the system means that there will always be holding periods for trainees), if the Committee would find such an update useful.