TNAG-0537-FCO40-632-Strength-of-garrison-in-Hong-Kong-1975 — Page 109

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.

74

CONFIDENTIAL