Air Corps crisis warning sparked by exodus of pilots

A major crisis has developed in the Air Corps, due to manpower shortages and archaic equipment, with warnings it will get worse if the Government doesn’t take immediate action.

The Air Corps should have a total strength of 850, but is currently short 101 personnel. It should have 100 pilots, but is operating with just 70, and there are less than half the number of technicians required.

A number of pilots are flying aircraft which are twice their age and it is estimated that by 2022 half of the pilots will have less than five years’ flying experience. It can take up to four years to properly train a pilot.