Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many RAF personnel are currently awaiting flying training.

The tables below show the number of RAF personnel currently awaiting flying training at each stage as of September 2022.

On hold pre-flying training (these personnel are awaiting their first flying training course after completing their Phase 1 training):

On hold between Military Flying Training System (MFTS) courses (these personnel are held at various stages of the MFTS):

On hold post-MFTS and pre-Operational Conversion Unit (OCU) (these personnel have completed their MFTS training):

In accordance with the Data Protection Act and our obligations in relation to the protection of confidentiality when handling personal data, data have been rounded to the nearest 10. Due to the rounding methods used, totals may not always equal the sum of the parts. When rounding to the nearest 10, numbers ending in 5 have been rounded to the nearest multiple of 20 to prevent systematic bias.

There have always been planned holds in the flying training pipeline and the number of pilots holding before starting flying training has decreased since 2019. However, focused work to reduce the pre-UKMFTS hold, coupled with a reduction in frontline places available to ab-initio aircrew due to the COVID-19 pandemic and recent changes to the frontline requirement following the Integrated Review, has led to a greater number of pilots holding in the UKMFTS pipeline. The trainees currently on hold within the UKMFTS pipeline enable the RAF to ensure that all courses are fully utilised throughout the flying training pipeline. Aircrew on hold are fulfilling required and essential roles within the Armed Forces with an aim to expand their skills in other areas of MOD business.

The RAF remains able to meet its frontline operational commitments and has sufficient qualified aircrew to do so.