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Air Force: Termination of Employment

Asked by Sir John HayesConservativeMinistry of DefenceTabled Answered 17 March 2025UIN 36585

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many RAF pilots have (a) retired or (b) left the profession for other reasons in each of the last ten years.

Answered by Al Carns

The outflow of Regular Royal Air Force Pilots by Training Indicator and Exit Reason by Calendar Years 2015 to 2019 can be found in the table below:

Trained

Untrained

Calendar Year

End of Engagement

All Other Outflow

All Other Outflow

2015

60

92

~

2016

49

84

~

2017

41

81

~

2018

54

57

~

2019

63

61

6

Please note the following:

  • Outflow includes outflow to Civil Life, transfers to another Service, transfers to a Reserve population, and movements within the RAF Regular population to different branches/trades.
  • End of Engagement for Officer includes personnel opting to leave at an option point.
  • Figures which are 5 or fewer are represented by ‘~’ due to the risk of individuals being identified.

The outflow for Calendar Years 2020 to 2024 has been withheld as its disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness, or security of the Armed Forces.

This withholding of data for later years reflects the continual review of information suitable for release and considers a variety of factors including the current threat and risk factors.

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