Military pilots ‘at risk’ as training missions are cut

BRITAIN’S military helicopter pilots risk losing valuable flying skills because their overseas training missions are being cancelled to save money, a safety watchdog has warned.

A “resource-driven reduction in activity” has seen overseas exercises for most pilots cancelled by the military’s Joint Helicopter Command (JHC).

Chiefs across the services are being asked to find hundreds of millions of pounds in savings in their budgets this year before the Treasury will release money for new aircraft, warships, submarines and vehicles.

The budgeting is causing “significant resource pressures” across the Armed Forces and “activity reductions”, a report by the Defence Safety Authority said.

The JHC has cancelled the “majority of overseas exercises” except for special forces and crews bound for Afghanistan. Cuts to overseas training “will effectively prevent helicopter air and ground crews from growing and in some cases establishing proficiency in operating in hot, high and desert environments”, the report warned.

“These skills are essential to the safe operation of aircraft in these environments and take years to develop fully. If not maintained, the skills cannot be regained in extended readiness timelines without a significant increase in risk.”

An Army spokesman said: “Joint Helicopter Command is able to meet all its operational commitments and tasks at home and overseas.”

However, Air Chief Marshal Sir Mike Graydon, a former Chief of the Air Staff, warned that while pilots’ expertise would not go away immediately, if the cuts dragged on, gaps in knowledge would start to show.

Sources said the flying conditions of places like Afghanistan’s deserts were very difficult to replicate in Britain and commanders had previously carried out training in areas including North Africa or the Californian desert.