CONFIDENTIAL
2ND DRAFT
Royal Air Force
18. A new pattern of pilot training was introduced towards the end
of 1974 which reduced training time without lowering standards.
Coupled with the new system, pilot training tasks have been re-deployed
within the Royal Air Force Training Command, and substantial economies
have resulted, partly because the number of stations in use has been
reduced. RAF Oakington closed in December 1974; RAF Church Fenton
will be reduced to a relief landing ground by March 1975. In October
1973, all aircrew training, other than pilot, was combined at RAF
Finningley.
19.
The past two years have seen the following training aircraft
developments:-
a.
the Varsity and the Sioux helicopter have been phased out
from the pilot training role;
The Jetstream has replaced the Varsity for refresher
flying and for multi-engine pilot training;7
b. the Gazelle helicopter came into service in April 1973
and is being used in the Royal Air Force for the training
of instructors of the three Services;
C.
the re-equipment of the University Air Squadrons with
the Bulldog, replacing the Chipmunk, started in September
1973 and is now almost complete;
d. the proposal (Cmnd. 5231) that the Argosy should be used
to replace the Varsity in the rear crew training role has
been reconsidered. Developments in synthetic ground train-
ing aids have shown that some airborne training can be
dispensed with, and as a consequence the Argosy will no
longer be required in the flying training role.
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CONFIDENTIAL