Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Affinity/Ascent contract of 25 years, when during that contract he plans to review the choice of aircraft specified for the UK Military Flight Training System; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
There are no current plans to review the choice of aircraft during the contract period.
Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the ratio is of day to night flying of the T6 Texan II based at RAF Valley.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
The set requirement of night flying on the Texan Ab-Initio Course to gain night flying qualification roughly equates to 95 per cent day flying and five per cent night flying. However, there has never been a military requirement in setting any form of ratio of land to sea training. The primary responsibility is to operate efficiently and safely within available airspace to deliver military training course aims.
For the Texan fleet, the Valley Aerial Tactics Area (VATA) and the RAF Valley/Mona Air Traffic Zones remain the most appropriate airspace to deliver many of these training aims. RAF Valley undertakes to distribute training activity as fairly as possible for all aircraft types based at the station, but the local airspace is surrounded by civil airways over much of the Irish Sea. Although a far greater proportion of Texan training is conducted over-water than a year ago, for all communities under the VATA airspace, a level of flying locally remains inevitable.
Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he became aware of the certification issues with the Texan T1 training aircraft; and whether an assessment was made of the potential merits of purchasing an alternative aircraft.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
The Texan T Mk1 entered service in 2019. It is a Civil Certified aircraft, certified by the Federal Aviation Authority and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency. The Ministry of Defence operates Texan on the Military Register, which requires a Military Type Certificate (MTC) issued by the Military Aviation Authority (MAA). The MAA imposed a restriction in the MTC on initial Release To Service to minimise flight over water in order to drive further improvements to the Texan, so that its operation would be coherent with the protection levels afforded by other UK military aircraft. This has led to work to implement improvements to the Harness, Life Preserver and Life Raft. The Department is now preparing for a review of the MTC Restriction.
During procurement, Texan was assessed as the most suitable training aircraft for the required syllabus. The MTC restriction was imposed after the procurement of the Texan and as such no further assessment has been made of any potential merits of purchasing an alternative aircraft.
Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department made of the suitability of the Texan T1 for operations from RAF Y Fali prior to the transfer of basic flying training to Y Fali from Linton-on-Ouse.
Answered by James Heappey
The Military Flying Training System Fixed Wing Element contract was for a system of training covering three different aircraft types selected by the bidder to provide Elementary Flying Training, Basic Flying Training (BFT) and Multi-Engine Flying Training, along with associated qualified instructors, infrastructure, course-ware, advanced simulation and aircraft engineering support across a multiple training RAF Stations. The procurement of modern glass cockpit turboprop trainer aircraft for the BFT role enabled much more sophisticated training which better prepares our trainee aircrew for the frontline. Coupled with an increase in simulator training, the overall live flying element of the BFT course has been reduced for each student.
Alongside the procurement contract, the collocation of BFT with Texan alongside the Advanced Training of Hawk T2 at RAF Valley provided additional benefits of shared infrastructure and support efficiencies, alongside use of the existing Valley Aerial Tactics Area airspace. This has enabled the wider rationalisation of UKMFTS training estate, delivering better value for money while also generating further job and investment opportunities at RAF Valley supporting the regional economy.
Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the area of operations is for Texan T1 trainer aircraft operating out of RAF Valley.
Answered by James Heappey
The airspace around Wales is crowded and has developed over many years to deconflict safely the competing requirements of both civil and military users. The areas immediately to the north of RAF Valley over the Irish Sea contain some of the busiest civil airways, with stringent civil air traffic control procedures. The Texan Course is split between two primary requirements; roughly half of the course is training in general aircraft handling and military tactics; while the other half of the course concentrates on air traffic control procedures, instrument flying and navigation.
The primary areas of operation for the general aircraft handling phase include the RAF Valley and RAF Mona Military Aerodrome Traffic Zones, the Valley Aerial Tactics Area and the North Wales Military Training Area as these areas offer the best training advantage in this phase and safe deconfliction from the civil airways. The Texan fleet looks to distribute training as much as is practicable within those airspace constraints and will also occasionally use the Aberporth Danger Area complex D201 in Cardigan Bay/Bae Ceredigion when it is available.
In the navigation phase of the course, training is routinely distributed farther afield to other areas of the United Kingdom, often using civil airways and landing at another aerodrome to refuel. The airways of the Holyhead Control Area (CTA) in the Irish Sea immediately north of RAF Valley can also be used during this phase by Texan aircraft to enable these transits.
Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 8 February 2021 to Question 147752, which Department or contractor will pay for the cost of retrofitting safety equipment to the RAF’s fleet of Texan trainer aircraft to allow training over water.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
The over-water safety equipment for the RAF Texan fleet comprises three main elements, a modified harness, the Life Preserver, and the life raft.
The cost of the development, certification and embodiment of the harness modification is £1.858m (ex VAT), which is being funded by the Ministry of Defence.
At present there is no activity to replace the current Life Preserver. Ascent, the Training System Partner, is integrating a water activated light on the Life Preserver to enable night flying over water from RAF Valley.
Consideration is underway within the Department regarding the funding for a replacement Life Raft, and I am withholding the cost information on the basis that it would prejudice value for money.
Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 8 February 2021 to Question 147752, what the estimated cost is of retrofitting the safety equipment of the RAF’s fleet of Texan trainer aircraft to allow training over water.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
The over-water safety equipment for the RAF Texan fleet comprises three main elements, a modified harness, the Life Preserver, and the life raft.
The cost of the development, certification and embodiment of the harness modification is £1.858m (ex VAT), which is being funded by the Ministry of Defence.
At present there is no activity to replace the current Life Preserver. Ascent, the Training System Partner, is integrating a water activated light on the Life Preserver to enable night flying over water from RAF Valley.
Consideration is underway within the Department regarding the funding for a replacement Life Raft, and I am withholding the cost information on the basis that it would prejudice value for money.
Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his letter of 7 December 2020, reference MSU/4/6/2/1/ap, what progress has been made on the acquisition of new harnesses, life jackets and life rafts which would enable the Texan aircraft to operate over seas; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 28 January 2020 to question 142802.
Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the planned timescale is for orders to be placed for safety equipment including harnesses to enable the Texans to operate over the sea.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
As I set out in my letter to the hon. Member of 7 December 2020, to follow up on your question to my Right hon. Friend the Leader of the House on this topic, this remains a priority for the Texan fleet. However, as it is based on three different system elements being individually evaluated and certified, it is not possible for me to give you a definitive timescale at this time. I intend to write to the hon. Member and other local MPs next month advising on the different elements of the project and potential timing and will place a copy of the letter in the Library of the House.
Asked by: Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru - Arfon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his Department's policy is on reducing the noise pollution caused by training planes near North Wales towns and tourist areas.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
As home of two-thirds of MOD’s fast-jet training, RAF Valley has seen significant investment in recent years, cementing the station’s position as one of the largest employers in the area and supporting and strengthening the local economy. This does, however, mean a level of flying locally is inevitable.
However, we continue to make every effort to ensure training flights are fairly distributed, and we are working hard to remove remaining restrictions that reduce overwater activity as part of this. Although much of the airspace over the Irish Sea is reserved for civilian airways and airliner traffic, RAF Valley continues to distribute Texan training to other areas when this is practicable and offers effective training opportunities.