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Written question asked by Liam Fox (Conservative) on Thursday, 16 July 2009, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 20 July 2009. It was answered by Bill Rammell (Labour) on Thursday, 15 October 2009 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Iraq and Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what the (a) planned and (b) actual average flying hours of each aircraft type operating in (i) Iraq and (ii) Afghanistan was in each year since 2003;
Answer

I am withholding the information requested for Afghanistan as its disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of our armed forces. I can say, however, that between November 2006 and April 2009 we increased the number of helicopter flying hours in Afghanistan by 84 per cent.For Op TELIC aircraft supporting operations in Iraq, information on the number of planned operational flying hours is not held by the Department for any fleet. For actual flying hours on operations, this information is not recorded centrally. I am able to provide information for some aircraft types and this is provided in the following tables . For all other fixed wing aircraft and helicopter fleets that have been deployed on Op TELIC the information is either no longer held by the department or could be provided only at disproportionate cost. All statistics have been rounded to the nearest five hours.For Nimrod MR2, Hercules and Tornado GR4 the total number of actual flying hours flown on Op TELIC is given by financial year.

Nimrod MR2 Total actual flying hours by financial year
2003-04 1,040
2004-05 2,350
2005-06 1,975
2006-07 1,385
2007-08 725
2008-09 225
Hercules (all variants) Total actual flying hours by financial year
2003-04 ¹—
2004-05 ¹—
2005-06 ¹—
2006-07 ¹—
2007-08 5,855
2008-09 5,960
Tornado GR4 Total actual flying hours by financial year
2003-04 6,775
2004-05 6,585
2005-06 6,825
2006-07 8,150
2007-08 9,175
2008-09 7,425

For VCIO and Tristar the total number of actual flying hours flown on Op Telic is given by calendar year. VCIO was withdrawn from theatre in July 2009.

VCIO Total actual flying hours by calendar year
2003 2,600
2004 2,695
2005 2,525
2006 3,245
2007 2,995
2008 3,150
January-July 2009 1,150
Tristar Total actual flying hours by calendar year
2003 1,885
2004 20
2005 Nil
2006 5
2007 Nil
2008 Nil
2009 Nil

Over the period 2003-09 Nimrod Rl have flown a total of 1,770 hours and Sentry has flown 1,415 hours in support of Op Telic. It is not possible to break down these totals by year flown, without incurring disproportionate cost.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
497 c1019-20W; 289124
Session
2008-09
Subjects
Iraq Peacekeeping operations Afghanistan
Contains statistics
Yes
Link
View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk