The numbers and types of helicopters used by the Army Air Corps, Fleet Air Arm and Royal Air Force which are in service, in the forward fleet and considered fit for purpose are detailed in the following table. "In service" has been taken to mean the effective fleet which covers all aircraft barring those which are redundant, declared as surplus or awaiting disposal. Aircraft in the "forward fleet" are those that are available to the front line command for operational and training purposes, including those that are classed as "short-term unserviceable": aircraft undergoing scheduled depth maintenance, or planned routine fleet maintenance are excluded. Fit for purpose aircraft are those in the forward fleet considered capable of carrying out their planned missions on a given date.
The following figures represent averages taken for May 2009.
Helicopter Type/Mark Departmental fleet Effective fleet In-Service Forward fleet Fit for purpose Fit for purpose Royal Navy Lynx Mk3/Mk8 68 61 90 26 26 100 Sea King Mk5 15 15 100 7 7 100 Sea King Mk7 13 13 100 6 6 100 Sea King Mk4/6 42 42 100 129 16 55 Merlin Mk1 42 42 100 20 14 70 Army Air Corps Augusta 109 4 4 100 2 3 150 Apache 67 67 100 44 16 36 Gazelle 91 42 46 22 20 91 Lynx Mk7/9 108 94 87 53 31 58 Royal Air Force Merlin Mk3/Mk3a 28 28 100 19 11 58 Puma 43 34 79 25 17 68 Chinook Mk2/2a 40 40 100 29 18 62 Sea King Mk3/3a 25 25 100 117 10 59