Written Answers. - Air Corps Recruitment.
Willie Penrose
Question:
65
Mr. Penrose
asked the
Minister for Defence
the present position regarding training for pilots in the Air Corps; the number of pilots who left the Air Corps during the past three years; the plans he has to rectify the problems in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[17498/00]
Currently there are two cadet classes in training in the Air Corps – one class of 13 in the Cadet School, Military College, Defence Forces Training Centre on basic military training and the second class of 11 in Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel, on flight training.
Air Corps cadets undergo six months basic military orientation in the Cadet School before reporting to the Air Corps to commence flying training and complete officer training. The duration of the flying training course is approximately 18 months and successful cadets are conferred with "wings" and commissioned as second-lieutenants in the Air Corps.
The flying training course is divided into three phases: elementary, basic and advanced. The aircraft used on the elementary and basic phases is the Marchetti. Training for the advanced phase is carried out on both the Gazelle helicopter and the Beechcraft.
All flying training is conducted at Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel.
The loss of pilots during the past three years was as follows:
|
Year
|
1997
|
1998
|
1999
|
2000*
|
|
Pilots
|
10
|
12
|
8
|
6
|
*Authorised retirements to date.
A service commitment scheme was introduced in 1997 for pilot officers of the Air Corps with a view to assisting in the retention in service of senior pilots in key appointments in areas such as search and rescue, maritime surveillance and ministerial air transport. From the outset the scheme applied primarily to experienced personnel who were rated on and flying the Gulfstream IV, Beechcraft, CASA and Dauphin aircraft which are the principal operational aircraft in the Air Corps.
The gratuities available under the scheme were designed to strike a fair and reasonable balance between the demands of the external commercial environment and the need to exercise responsibility in relation to public service pay. Such financial incentives are not uncommon in Defence Forces in other countries where similar difficulties exist in retaining highly qualified and readily marketable personnel. The scheme, moreover, was perceived to offer a more acceptable avenue of approach for all concerned than the imposition of any compulsory retention.
The service commitment scheme was open to applications from appropriate personnel over a two year trial period, from August 1997 to July 1999, inclusive. I am satisfied that, as a significant and innovative incentive scheme, it has helped both to stabilise the loss of key pilots from the Air Corps and to create an environment of some predictable manpower certainty for the medium term future in that regard.
A total of 18 pilots had opted to participate under the terms of the service commitment scheme by the time of closure of the scheme, at the end of July 1999. Application for entry to the scheme was, of course, entirely voluntary in nature.
The Air Corps has submitted proposals to reintroduce a new service commitment scheme and these proposals are under active consideration.
