I propose to take Questions Nos. 15, 17 and 41 together.
The position is that 24 non-commissioned officers who are due to complete a potential officers course in May 1992 have been given the opportunity of applying to become trainee pilots in the Air Corps following their commissioning as officers. Two of these NCOs have applied for flying training.
In 1943, from a class of 31 trainees, 20 sergeant pilots were qualified to fly but by 1950 all of these had left the Air Corps. That was the last occasion on which NCOs were given pilot status. The question of training NCO's for pilots duties is under consideration.
A break-down by rank of the current number of pilot officers in the Air Corps is as follows: Brigadier-General 1; Colonel 1; Lieutenant-Colonel 6; Commandant 12; Captain 35; Lieutenant 27 and Second Lieutenant 5. This makes a total of 87.
In 1991, seven pilot officers submitted applications for early retirement. Four of these applications were subsequently withdrawn, two applications were granted and the remaining application was refused.