Initial training for all three Services is provided by the Defence Helicopter Flying School (DHFS) at Shawbury. Around 140 new pilots complete the training each year. On completion of single engine training at DHFS, the three Services conduct separate training streams leading to the final phase in which pilots convert onto specific aircraft types. This is known as Operational Conversion Flight/Operational Conversion Unit training.
The numbers of armed forces personnel who entered and completed helicopter conversion to type pilot training, by each helicopter type, in the last five years, where data are available, are provided in the following tables.
Personnel numbers Merlin Mk1 Lynx Mk8 Sea King Sea King Commando Entered Completed Entered Completed Entered Completed Entered Completed 2004-05 6 6 11 11 4 4 13 14 2005-06 4 4 8 7 0 0 17 17 2006-07 8 7 7 8 0 0 6 6 2007-08 8 4 11 8 0 0 12 14 2008-09 10 8 5 5 3 3 12 12
Personnel numbers Gazelle Lynx Apache Service Entered Completed Entered Completed Entered Completed 2004-05 Royal Navy 2 2 8 8 1 1 Army 19 19 29 29 42 37 RAF 0 0 1 1 0 0 2005-06 Royal Navy 0 0 6 6 0 0 Army 6 6 40 40 24 22 RAF 0 0 0 0 0 0 2006-07 Royal Navy 0 0 4 4 1 1 Army 4 4 39 39 31 31 RAF 0 0 0 0 0 0 2007-08 Royal Navy 1 1 5 4 0 0 Army 9 9 21 21 37 34 RAF 0 0 0 0 0 0 2008-09 Royal Navy 0 0 4 4 0 0 Army 5 5 21 19 33 29 RAF 1 1 0 0 1 1
Personnel numbers Chinook Puma Merlin Mk 3 Sea King Entered Completed Entered Completed Entered Completed Entered Completed 2004-05 21 21 20 20 14 14 n/a n/a 2005-06 23 23 19 19 13 13 n/a n/a 2006-07 18 17 20 20 12 12 n/a n/a 2007-08 28 28 8 8 13 13 13 13 2008-09 19 19 14 14 20 20 9 9
A breakdown by Service of pilots trained on RAF and Royal Navy helicopter types is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Pilots entering training in one year may not complete training in the same year. Therefore, numbers entering and completing training in each of the financial years may not equate.