Key facts

257

average number of aircrew the Ministry of Defence (the Department) needs to complete Phase 2 training each year in the six years to 2018-19

45%

average annual shortfall between the number of aircrew completing Phase 2 training against the Department's requirement in the six years to 2018-19

94%

percentage of the 965 Phase 3 front-line training places filled by students completing Phase 2, 2015-16 to 2018-19

Meeting the Department's aircrew requirements

7.1 years

average time for Royal Air Force fast-jet pilots to complete the three-phase training process against the Department's 3.9-year optimum, as at July 20191

145

number of Royal Air Force students waiting to start Phase 2 training against a target of 26 students, as at July 2019

April 2021

Department's expected date to meet its target for the number of students waiting to start Phase 2 training

2023

Department's expected date to have all training components in place to meet its increased aircrew requirements

The Military Flying Training System (MFTS)

76

shortfall between the Department's latest requirement for aircrew completing Phase 2 training (342) against the number which Ascent Flight Training (Management) Limited (Ascent) were contracted to deliver (266) for 2018-19

102

the number of new aircraft Ascent and the Department have brought into service, across seven different aircraft types

94%

current percentage readiness of MFTS helicopter and fixed-wing training2

£514 million

amount received by Ascent from the Department for the MFTS, as at 31 March 2019

Notes

1 Target time assumes students wait no more than one month between training courses.

2 Other training, advanced jet and rear crew, has been in place since 2012.

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