Vol. 482 No. 4
36 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Defence if his attention has been drawn to criticism expressed by PDFORRA of the policy of the Air Corps of only recruiting pilots from the officer ranks; if his Department will follow the policy of other Defence Forces by facilitating the recruitment of pilots from the non-commissioned officer ranks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18133/97]
Recruitment of personnel to be pilots in the Air Corps takes place by way of open cadetship competitions. Such competitions make specific provision for applications from enlisted personnel of all ranks who may seek to be trained to be pilot officers. In this regard recruitment of potential pilots from the non-commissioned ranks is well provided for and quite a number of such personnel have been awarded cadetships over the years.
A review of the Air Corps by the EAG Group will examine all aspects of the corps. In the context of implementing the recommendations of that report I will examine the possibility of expanding the opportunities of NCOs to become qualified pilots.
