Military Aircraft: Training
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 8 June 2026, to question 5095 on Military Aircraft: Training, what is the average length of holdover time for pilots between UK Military Flying Training System courses.
Answered by Mr Calvin Bailey
The current average cumulative holdover time for fast jet pilots between UK Military Flying Training System (UKMFTS) courses is 690 days. This cumulative holdover duration is a result of trainees having faced extended legacy holdovers, which has now been resolved.
To ensure resilience and flexibility in the training pipeline, holdover periods of up to three months between UKMFTS courses, amounting to up to 300 days for trainee fast jet pilots, are planned into training journeys to provide trainees opportunity to take leave and complete essential pre-employment training courses.
Training timelines within UKMFTS continue to reduce, with trainee fast jet pilots who completed initial officer training in September 2025 forecast to complete their UKMFTS Phase 2 flying training in 46 months.
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