To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the average wait time is for a training slot for RAF trainee pilots for (a) Typhoons, (b) F35s, (c) Hawk jets and (d) Hercules aircraft.

The average wait time for RAF trainee pilots from completing the Military Flying Training System (MFTS) to starting their respective Operational Conversion Units (OCU) for Typhoon is approximately 11 months and, for F35 is approximately 12 months.

The Hawk jet is the Hawk T2 trainer aircraft at RAF Valley and used for Advanced Fast Jet Training. The time between phases of training within MFTS are dictated by a number of variables, including the performance standard of the trainee pilot.

There are no training slots for the C130J Hercules, as all training ceased for new pilots in November 2021 in anticipation of the aircraft's retirement.

There have always been planned holds in the flying training pipeline to ensure all courses are fully utilised. The RAF remains able to meet frontline operational commitments and has sufficient qualified aircrew to do so.