Written question asked by Mike Hancock (Liberal Democrat) on Friday, 9 October 2009, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 12 October 2009. It was answered by Bill Rammell (Labour) on Monday, 12 October 2009 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Military Aircraft: Helicopters

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the capacity of RAF Benson to train and retrain helicopter pilots is: and what such capacity exists elsewhere in the UK.

Answer: RAF Benson trains pilots on Merlin and Puma Operational Conversion Flights (OCF). The normal throughput of pilots on Merlin OCF is 16 pilots and four refresher pilots per year. However, in order to increase the Merlin force to 35 crews by 2010 the throughput is currently 24 pilots and four refresher pilots undergoing Merlin OCF training per year.16 pilots and up to 15 refresher pilots undergo Puma OCF training at RAF Benson per year.Similar training takes place at other air bases across the UK according to helicopter type. Chinook OCF training takes place at RAF Odiham. Sea King pilots undergo conversion training with 848 Naval Air Squadron at RNAS Yeovilton. Army pilots undergo Conversion To Type training onto Lynx, Gazelle and Bell 212 with 671 Squadron and onto Apache with 673 Squadron at Middle Wallop. Apache pilots then go on to Conversion To Role training with the Air Manoeuvre Training and Advisory Team at Wattisham Station.

Secondary information