Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many instructors qualified to conduct gliding lessons through the Volunteer Gliding Squadrons have been available to offer lessons in each of the last five years.

The numbers of cadets that have completed gliding courses and been awarded wings in each of the last five years are as follows:

2013 - 11,748

2014 - 1,705

2015 - 53

2016 - 142

2017 - 741

In 2013 and 2014 these courses were across all Volunteer Gliding Squadrons (VGS). In 2015 and 2016 these were with Central Gliding School (CGS) Syerston. In 2017 in addition to CGS, these also include courses with the three VGS that have returned to flight, 637VGS at Little Rissington, 644VGS at Syerston and 635VGS at Topcliffe.

Prior to the gliding pause, which commenced in Apr 2014, there were circa 560 qualified gliding instructors spread over the VGS. Many of these gliding instructors are undertaking ground duties while awaiting completion of their 'return to flying' package. This includes instructing groundschool topics and on the Part Task Trainers which are our ground based simulators.

61 instructors have now completed their 'return to flying' package and regained their gliding instructional qualifications to deliver airborne training to cadets.