Parliamentary Search

Written question asked by Nick Harvey (Liberal Democrat) on Thursday, 25 March 2010, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 29 March 2010. It was answered by Bill Rammell (Labour) on Thursday, 8 April 2010 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Military Aircraft: Operating Costs

Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the average total operating cost per flight hour for the (a) Hawk 128 Advanced Jet Trainer, (b) E-3D Sentry AEW1, (c) Hercules C-130J, (d) C-17 Globemaster III and (e) MQ-9 Reaper was in the latest period for which figures are available.
Answer

The average operating cost per hour for E-3D Sentry, Hercules C-130J, and C-17 Globemaster, for financial year 2009-10, is provided in the following table. The cost includes forward and depth servicing, fuel, crew and training costs and the cost of capital charge, depreciation and other overheads.

Aircraft Approx cost (£ per hour)
E-3D Sentry AEW1 33,000
Hercules C-130J 12,000
C-17 Globemaster III 42,000

The Hawk 128 Advanced Jet Trainer is in the process of being introduced into service and has only flown 450 hours in FY 2009-10. A mature estimate of flying hour costs will only be available once it is fully in-service which is not expected until 2012-13.The average operating cost per hour for the Reaper Urgent Operational Requirement is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
508 c1510-1W; 325233
Session
2009-10
Subjects
Military aircraft Operating costs
Contains statistics
Yes
Link
View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk