MoD missing RAF pilot training quotas by 45% over last six years
Written by News on 04/09/2019
The Ministry of Defence has missed its pilot training quota by an average of 45% over the last six years, according to a new report.
A National Audit Office (NAO) probe found that in the six years to 2018/19, the MoD’s shortfall equated to 125 aircrew a year.
Labour MP Meg Hillier, chairwoman of the Committee of Public Accounts, said: “The military flying training saga continues with the MoD repeatedly failing to train the aircrew it needs.
“Students have experienced long delays waiting to start their training with courses cancelled and delayed.
“To address the long-standing failures of its military flying training, it is more critical than ever that the MoD’s much delayed new programme works.”
The NAO investigation found training has taken longer in the last two years because the MoD does not have the capacity to handle the number of students it needs to train.
In July this year, there were 145 RAF students waiting an average of 90 weeks to start training, compared to an expected 12-week wait for around 26 students at a time, while 12% of planned training courses as of March 2019 had been cancelled.
The report recognised the MoD’s longstanding issues with flying training and efforts to address the shortfalls.
Under the 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review, the MoD halved its aircrew requirement before increasing the training requirement in the subsequent 2015 review, while in 2018/19 alone, the requirement increased by 29%.
The NAO said for the training system to operate effectively, the MoD and private contractor Ascent must both meet their contractual obligations.
A spokesman for the MoD said: “The Military Flying Training System (MFTS) is the biggest transformation of UK military aircrew training in a generation and we welcome the NAO report on this programme.
“Although we acknowledge there have been some challenges, the transition to the new system is now well under way and a steady improvement in aircrew throughput is being seen in all areas.”
(c) Sky News 2019: MoD missing RAF pilot training quotas by 45% over last six years
