asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current daily rate of flying pay for each rank in the Royal Air Force.
Rates of flying pay in the Royal Air Force are dependent upon both rank and aircrew category. The current daily rate of flying pay for each rank and aircrew category is given in the following table.
| Daily Rate | |
| Flying Pay | wef 1 April 1979 |
| £ | |
| (i) Officer aircrew except specialist aircrew and Air Loadmaster | |
| Acting Pilot Officer | 3·17 |
| Pilot Officer | 3·17 |
| Flying Officer | 3·47 |
| Flying Officer after 2 years | 3·78 |
| Flight Lieutenant | 4·00 |
| Squadron Leader | 4·00 |
| Wing Commander | 3·78 |
| Group Captain | 2·77 |
| Air Commodore | 2·15 |
| (ii) Air Loadmaster | 2·46 |
| (iii) NCO aircrew | |
| (a) Pilots and Navigators | |
| Sergeant | 1·98 |
| Flight Sergeant | 2·46 |
| Master Aircrew | 2·77 |
| (b) Air Electronic Operators, Air Engineers(A) Air Signallers | |
| Sergeant | 1·68 |
| Flight Sergeant | 1·98 |
| Master Aircrew | 2·46 |
| (c) Air Loadmasters | |
| Sergeant | 1·03 |
| Flight Sergeant | 1·39 |
| Master Aircrew | 1·68 |
Daily Rate
| |
Flying Pay
| wef 1 April 1979 |
| £ | |
| (iv) Specialist Aircrew (except Air Load-master and Branch Officer Specialist Aircrew) | |
| Flight Lieutenant on appointment as specialist aircrew at the 38/16 point | 5·76 |
| After 5 years continuous service beyond the 38/16 point as specialist aircrew | 6·59 |
| After 9 years continuous service beyond the 38/16 point as specialist aircrew | 7·42 |
| After 13 years continuous service beyond the 38/16 point as specialist aircrew | 8·26 |
| (v)Specialist Aircrew Air Loadmaster | |
| Flight Lieutenant on appointment as specialist aircrew at the 38/16 point | 3·51 |
| After 5 years continuous service beyond the 38/16 point as specialist aircrew | 4·02 |
| After 9 years continuous service beyond the 38/16 point as specialist aircrew | 4·53 |
| After 13 years continuous service beyond the 38/16 point as specialist aircrew | 5·04 |
| (vi)Branch Officer Specialist Aircrew (except Air Loadmaster) | |
| Flight Lieutenant (Branch Officer) on appointment as specialist aircrew | 4·46 |
| Flight Lieutenant (Branch Officer) after 5 years continuous service as specialist aircrew and thereafter | 4·93 |
| (vii)Branch Officer Specialist Aircrew Air Loadmaster | |
| Flight Lieutenant (Branch Officer) on appointment as specialist aircrew | 2·72 |
| Flight Lieutenant (Branch Officer) after 5 years continuous service as specialist aircrew and thereafter | 3·01 |
asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many general duties pilots in the rank of flying officer are in receipt of flying pay;(2) how many general duties pilots in the rank of flight lieutenant are in receipt of flying pay;(3) how many general duties pilots in the rank of squadron leader are in receipt of flying pay;(4) how many general duties pilots in the rank of wing commander are in receipt of flying pay;(5) how many general duties pilots in the rank of group captain are in receipt of flying pay;
(6) how many general duties pilots in the rank of air commodore are in receipt of flying pay.
The number of pilots in the GD (Flying) Branch of the Royal Air Force who, on 1 March 1980, were holding each paid rank from flying officer to air commodore inclusive is given in the following table. Such officers are generally entitled to receive flying pay on a continuous basis provided they remain appointable to flying duties. The number not so appointable—for example, for medical reasons—and consequently not receiving flying pay is not known.
| Rank | Numbers |
| Air Commodore | 53 |
| Group Captain | 163 |
| Wing Commander | 406 |
| Squadron Leader | 890 |
| Flight Lieutenant | 1,942 |
| Flying Officer | 1981 |