Britain is regularly examining NATO and international military flying training schemes as it looks at the quality, cost and output of training new fast-jet pilots, according to a parliamentary answer.
The work was set out in response to a written question from Labour MP Luke Akehurst, who asked what analysis had been carried out of training systems operated by NATO allies to identify opportunities to improve value for money and pilot output within the UK Military Flying Training System.
Armed Forces Minister Louise Sandher-Jones said the UK regularly assesses opportunities through three multinational training arrangements.
She said: “The UK undertakes regular analysis of NATO flying training system opportunities via participation in the NATO Flying Training Europe High Visibility Project, the Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training system and the International Flying Training School.”
NATO Flying Training Europe is intended to increase cooperation between allied countries over military aircrew training, while the Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training system provides multinational fast-jet pilot training. The International Flying Training School is another route through which the UK can examine training approaches used alongside international partners.
Sandher-Jones said the results from those arrangements are assessed against several measures before being considered against the requirements of the UK combat-air force.
She said: “Output is reviewed for quality, safety and value for money to ensure the Combat Air requirement is met for new Fast Jet Pilots.”
The answer indicates that the UK is not assessing its flying training system solely against domestic arrangements, but is using participation in multinational programmes to compare the way new fast-jet pilots are trained and the results those systems produce.
