Source · Select Committees · Defence Committee
Recommendation 14
14
Accepted
Paragraph: 94
Provide quarterly updates on pilot numbers and average times in flying training pipeline
Conclusion
The former Chief of the Air Staff told us that current delays will be resolved by mid-2024, and we will hold the MoD and the RAF’s senior leadership accountable for delivering on that promise. In its response to this report, and then on a quarterly basis to the end of 2024, the MoD should provide this Committee with updates on the number of pilots holding between courses at each stage of the flying training pipeline as well as the average time taken for a pilot to pass through each stage.
Government Response Summary
The government agrees to provide regular updates to the Committee on pilot holding numbers within the flying training pipeline, stating they are committed to reducing these to optimum levels.
Paragraph Reference:
94
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.