RAF 'To Cut One In Four Trainee Pilots'

[Rockville]

A quarter of the RAF's trainee pilots - some just a few hours from qualification - are to be sacked in the latest stage of the Government's defence cuts, MoD sources have confirmed to Sky News.

Up to 100 student pilots are expected to be told on Tuesday that they have no future in the service.
They will include some who are just a few flying hours away from earning their wings as fully qualified pilots.
Up to 20 fast jet pilots, 30 helicopter pilots and 50 transport aircraft pilots are to go, the Daily Telegraph claims.
Air Vice Marshal Mark Green, the head of RAF training, is said to be preparing to visit the three training schools to inform them of their fate.
The cuts will mean that the Ministry of Defence will effectively have to write off the £300m spent on their training, which can cost up to £4m per pilot.
Some trainees are said to have made last-ditch appeals to be given a year's sabbatical while others, it is claimed, have offered to take a pay cut in order to complete their qualification.
One told the paper: "It's a real kick in the teeth and I would be devastated if I was chosen for redundancy as this is something I have worked for my entire life, through school, air cadets and university."
Shadow defence secretary Jim Murphy said the government was too engrossed in cutting the deficit and not thinking about Britain's long-term defence capabilities.
He told Sky News: "While the deficit is temporary, these cuts are permanent. Much of this is not coming back to the UK, much of this capacity will be lost forever and the Government has to stop and think carefully again."
The MoD pointed out all three services are facing cuts under plans set out in last year's Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR).
"The SDSR has already made clear there will be a reduction in the number of assets and airframes across all three services, and that the RAF would be reduced by around 5,000 personnel to a total of about 33,000 by 2015," a spokesman said.
"However, any reductions in the RAF will not affect operations in Afghanistan and priority areas of capability will not be compromised."
The airline pilots' union, Balpa, said it would increase the help it gives to its military members over job opportunities, guidance on entering the world of commercial aviation and access to pilot mentors.
Balpa general secretary Jim McAuslan pointed out: "The more strategic approach is to continue to press individual airlines to shoulder more of the responsibility for training.
"With few exceptions, airlines have walked away from their responsibilities to put something akin to apprenticeship back into the industry. The military's decision adds to the problem."
Meanwhile, The Times has reported that figures to be published on Tuesday would show that the cost of military equipment to be scrapped as a result of the SDSR was £12bn.
It includes the carrier HMS Ark Royal and the Harrier jump jet fleet. The paper claims that the figures, in the spring supplementary estimates, would also show that a further £2.3bn worth of military hardware had been designated as "lost".
A MoD spokesman said: "When equipment has not been used for its full anticipated life, this needs to be reflected in the department's accounts - this has no impact on the MoD's spending power."

Sky News, 6:46pm UK, Monday February 14, 2011