AVP0003

Written Evidence submitted by Ascent Flight Training (Management) Limited

1. Ascent Flight Training (Management) Ltd, otherwise known as ‘Ascent’, is the Training Service Partner (TSP), and principal contractor, for the Ministry of Defence’s (MOD) UK Military Flying Training System (UKMFTS) programmes.  UKMFTS delivers Phase 2 aircrew training to the MOD.  Ascent is operated as a Joint Venture between Lockheed Martin and Babcock International Group.  It employs over 370 UK-based staff, predominantly at six main sites. On behalf of the MOD, it operates a fleet of 110 training aircraft, maintains over 100 simulators, and provides dedicated ICT infrastructure and services.  See Figure 1. 

2. The scope of the Defence Select Committee’s inquiry on Aviation procurement includes Military Flying Training.  Ascent is submitting evidence to the inquiry, in its capacity as TSP and principal contractor for UKMFTS, for Phase 2 training.

3. UKMFTS achieved Full Course Capability (FCC), across all of its Phase 2 training services by April 2020, in line with requirements of the 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR).  Ascent and the MOD have acknowledged, and addressed the causes of, previous delays. 

4. UKMFTS will meet the increased requirements from the 2015 SDSR by April 2025, having been contracted for those additional elements in December 2019 (Rotary Wing uplift) and September 2021 (Fixed Wing uplift).  Ascent assesses that the uplifted contracts for Rotary Wing and Fixed Wing will provide sufficient capacity and flexibility for Phase 2 training to meet the MOD’s stated requirements.  If the MOD’s requirements change in future years, the UKMFTS programmes can accept a revised Statement of User Need (SUN) to meet these new capacity requirements.  This could be enacted via a change to the respective UKMFTS contracts, following the same process as the recent Rotary and Fixed Wing uplifts.  Outside of contract changes, MOD can manage year-to-year changes via the annual Flying Training Plan (FTP) process, within the SUN capacity.

Figure 1: Ascent locations and UKMFTS aircraft

5. Overview of aircrew training.  Aircrew training involves students being put through increasingly tailored training to operate different frontline aircraft and systems and undertake specific roles.

6. The MOD’s legacy approach to aircrew training was assessed by the National Audit Office (NAO) in 2000.  The NAO found that ‘the process of training new pilots is complicated and resource-intensive’ and recommended that the MOD ‘look at possibilities for making existing arrangements…more coherent’.[1]  Its assessment led to the establishment of UKMFTS for Phase 2 training (see Figure 2).

Figure 2: Military flying training MOD[2]

7. Aircrew must complete a three-phase training process in order to be able to serve in front-line units.  The MOD selects aircrew students and provides initial military training via the three front-line commands in Phase 1 (Initial). The near majority of Phase 2 aircrew training is provided by Ascent, as MODs principal contractor, with a relatively small number of students undertaking training with international partner Air Forces and bespoke external providers as part of interim plans for Rear Crew students in advance of the final UKMFTS solution being agreed and delivered. Students then progress to Phase 3 – operational training on frontline aircraft – within units across the Frontline Commands.  Finally, students join operational squadrons.  As such, the effective operation of aircrew training system requires both the MOD and Ascent to meet their respective contractual responsibilities and work in a coordinated fashion to ensure the overall pipeline of training is effective and efficient.

8. The scope of UKMFTS includes the training design services, and the training service delivery, for Phase 2 aircrew training for Fast Jet, Rear Crew, Rotary Wing, and Fixed Wing across the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force.  Ascent provides a “turnkey” service to the MOD by creating the overall training system design, providing acquisition services, implementing and certifying equipment and aircraft, and undertaking the operations management of all in-service elements for UKMFTS Phase 2 training.

9. UKMFTS requirements.  The MOD defines the overall capacity, and agrees annual requirements, for UKMFTS (Phase 2) output via three means:-

1. Statement of User Need (SUN): this defines the capacity of UKMFTS using annual student input numbers within each of the training programmes (Fast Jet, Rear Crew, Rotary Wing, and Fixed Wing).  In any single year, the MOD can task Ascent to provide training up to this capacity (see paragraph 9(b)). MOD can update the SUN as and when their requirement changes, one such example was the change from SUN 2012 to SUN 2016 which established the additional capacity within the uplift contracts for Fixed and Rotary Wing. Ascent uses the SUN to set the scale and capacity of the training system, including the acquisition and support services for UKMFTS aircraft, simulators, and facilities, and determining the scale of staffing across the sites for both Ascent and MOD personnel;

2. Annual Flying Training Plan (FTP): this defines the annual flying programme across the UKMFTS programmes.  Within each UKMFTS programme, the MOD sets the total number of aircrews required for the upcoming financial year, up to the capacity defined by the SUN.  Ascent then designs and delivers a detailed FTP, and its performance is measured against the completion of courses within that Plan (to the quality required by the ‘Data Pack’); and

3. Data Pack: this defines the required output standard for each of the MOD’s aircrew positions.  It defines the knowledge, skills, and aptitude that each student must attain before graduating from UKMFTS and moving into Phase 3 operational training.

10. UKMFTS was designed from the outset as an incremental acquisition, with its scope and capacity growing through a series of contract awards, following the competition and award of the TSP role to Ascent in 2008 (see Table 1).  In parallel to the incremental acquisition of UKMFTS capacity, the MOD maintained a number of legacy arrangements to sustain training output until UKMFTS achieved Full Course Capability in 2020.

Table 1: Incremental acquisition of UKMFTS: Contract award dates

11. In the period 2013 to 2022:-

1. Advanced Jet Training on the Hawk T2 commenced in 2012 at RAF Valley, with the first UKMFTS students graduating in 2013;

2. Rear Crew Training on the Avenger commenced in 2012 at RNAS Culdrose, with the first UKMFTS students graduating in 2013;

3. Rotary Wing Training on the H135 and H145 commenced at RAF Shawbury in 2018, with the first UKMFTS students graduating in 2019;

4. Fixed Wing Multi Engine Training on the Phenom and Basic Flying Training on the Texan commenced in 2019, with the first UKMFTS students graduating in 2020.

12. Figure 3 illustrates the current long-term outlook for the capacity of UKMFTS, as defined by the SUN, and the relationship between the SUN and annual FTP.  The reduction in the SUN, and overall capacity of UKMFTS, from 2023-24 onwards is due to the planned completion of the current Rear Crew programme.  Ascent anticipates the award of the new Rear Crew contracts in this period, which will restore, and likely increase, SUN capacity to accommodate the planned increase in Rear Crew students for the remaining duration of the UKMFTS contracts.

Figure 3: UKMFTS SUN and FTP Totals

13. Previous NAO and Public Accounts Committee (PAC) reports.  The NAO and PAC assessed UKMFTS in 2015.  They noted that, whilst the new approach to Phase 2 training was excepted to be at full capacity by 2014, this had been delayed until December 2019.[3]  Both noted that this delay was due to a combination of contractor performance between 2008 and 2012, MOD budget reductions, scope reductions following the 2010 SDSR, and changes in the MOD’s planned approach to financing.[4]  Ascent’s shareholders and board addressed the concerns about contractor performance, and the MOD has recognised improved contractor performance since the beginning of 2012.[5]

14. In 2019, the NAO again assessed UKFMTS, building on its 2015 report.[6]  It highlighted a further three-month slippage in achieving FCC in UKMFTS (from December 2019 to April 2020).  The NAO report also highlighted a shortfall in Phase 2 training, ranging from 48 (21%) in 2015-16 to 293 (86%) in 2018-19, with an average percentage shortfall of 45% over the six years to 2018-19.  From Ascent’s perspective, during the period 2015 to 2018, a significant proportion of the MOD’s Phase 2 requirements was delivered by legacy and/or other contracts, as the UKMFTS Rotary and Fixed Wing services were in the acquisition phase.[7]  Both Ascent programmes achieved their final FCC milestone in April 2020, in line with the contracts signed in 2016.

15. In response to an increase in the MOD’s requirement for Phase 2 training capacity following the 2015 SDSR, Ascent is on track to deliver the uplift in both the Rotary and Fixed Wing Uplift contracts.

Will the uplifted contracts for both rotary and fixed wing Military Flying Training effectively and rapidly resolve capacity issues?

16. Rotary Wing uplift.  A Rotary Wing uplift contract was awarded by the MOD to Ascent in December 2019.  As a result of the uplift contract, the SUN capacity was increased for both instructor and student numbers, alongside the introduction of a new extended ‘Rotary Only’ course for Royal Navy and British Army students.  Ascent is responsible for:-

1. Acquiring four additional H145 helicopters, with an additional 2,311 hours per annum;

2. Infrastructure work at RAF Shawbury and RAF Valley to accommodate additional students, staff, aircraft, and simulators;

3. Putting in place one additional H135/145 helicopter simulator, and twelve additional Mission Planning Systems;

4. Recruiting and training 17 additional staff, including 8 instructors, 5 operations staff and 3 headquarters staff; and

5. The creation of a new ‘Rotary Only’ pipeline for up to 84 Royall Navy and British Army students per annum.[8]

17. The additional H135/145 helicopter simulator was delivered ahead of schedule on 24 February 2022, enabling the commencement of Rotary Only training for Royal Navy and British Army students.  All other activity on the Rotary Uplift programme will be completed on or before the contracted schedule of 30 May 2022, when final Instructors will qualify and become available for student training.

18. Table 2 illustrates the ability of the Rotary Wing uplift contract to meet the MOD’s stated requirements.  At the start of the annual FTP process, the MOD states its annual requirement up to the SUN capacity (indicated in the middle column of Table 2). In response, Ascent creates the detailed FTP.

Table 2: Ascent’s 2022-23 Rotary Wing FTP vs SUN

19. For 2022-23, Ascent has been requested to:-

1. Train six additional Rotary Rear Crew instructors, in excess of the SUN capacity;

2. Train 71 Rotary Pilot students (59% of the contracted SUN capacity) and 63 Rotary Rear Crew students (64% of the contracted SUN capacity);

3. Deliver International Defence Training for up to 18 German Air Force students, within the total of 71 Rotary Pilot students;

4. Provide refresher training for 40 students, who await their Phase 3 training having already completed Phase 2 Rotary Training;

5. Train an additional 10 staff pilots to augment the military instructor personnel.

6. Provide frontline training to operational aircrews who will operate the H135 aircraft in frontline roles/units. 

20. Based on this first year of the Rotary Wing uplift contract, Ascent assesses that there is sufficient capacity and flexibility within UKMFTS Rotary Wing service to meet the MOD’s requirements as defined by the SUN capacity and annual FTP requirements.

21. Fixed Wing uplift.  The Fixed Wing service is a combination of the elements shown in Figure 4.  Students undertake Elementary Flying Training on the Prefect T1 aircraft and are then streamed to either Basic Flying Training on the Texan T1, Multi Engine Flying Training on the Phenom, or Rotary Wing Training (Royal Air Force Only).

22. In response to the 2015 SDSR, a Fixed Wing uplift contract was awarded by the MOD to Ascent in September 2021.  The Fixed wing uplift contract increases capacity within Basic Flying Training on the Texan T1 at RAF Valley.

Figure 4: Fixed Wing and Fast Jet Contracts

23. As a result of the uplift contract, the SUN capacity has increased for Basic Flying Training from April 2025 onwards.  The first year of full capacity, in line with the uplift contract, is scheduled for 2025-26.  Ascent is responsible for:-

1. The creation of additional Basic Flying Training student SUN capacity up to 53 per annum from 1 April 2025 onwards, from the current 36 students per annum;

2. Acquiring four additional Texan T1 aircraft, with an additional 1,661 hrs per annum (bringing the fleet total to 14 aircraft);

3. Infrastructure works at RAF Valley to accommodate additional students, staff, aircraft, and simulators;

4. Putting in place one additional Texan T1 simulator, and nine additional Mission Planning Systems; and

5. Recruiting and training 14 additional staff, including eight additional instructors, five operations staff, and one headquarters staff.

24. Work on the uplift contract commenced in late 2021: the four additional Texan T1 were assessed as Ready For Training Use on 21 February 2022; construction work on the new infrastructure at RAF Valley commenced on schedule in March 2022, with a completion date planned for 21 April 2023 to enable the planned installation of the new simulators, mission planning, and other equipment; simulator manufacture is underway, with planned site acceptance at RAF Valley by 28 March 2024; and a programme of recruitment, training, and qualification of instructors and operations staff is underway, prior to the first additional uplift students arriving in April 2025.

25. In addition, Ascent is engaged with the MOD on a joint study of the Fixed Wing pipeline to identify opportunities to reduce the time-in-Phase 2 training for Fast Jet students, who currently undertake Elementary, Basic, and Advanced Jet phases. 

26. Table 3 illustrates the current status of the Fixed Wing serviced provided by Ascent, prior to the delivery of the Fixed Wing uplift contract from April 2025 onwards which will increase the capacity of Basic Pilot Student from the current 36 to 53 students per annum.  At the start of the annual FTP process, the MOD states its annual requirement up to the SUN capacity (indicated in the middle column of Table 3).  In response, Ascent creates the detailed FTP.

Table 3: Ascent’s 2022-23 Fixed Wing FTP vs SUN

27. For 2022-23, Ascent has been requested to:

1. Train 323 students across the Elementary, Basic, Multi Engine and Fast Jet programmes against a SUN capacity of 300;

2. Train 117 Refresher and IDT students across Elementary, Multi Engine and Fast Jet programmes;

28. Table 3 identifies differences between the Ascent FTP and MOD’s stated requirements in the following areas:-

1. Elementary: this is due to priority being afforded to Elementary instructor training, leading to a reduction of 4 students in year;

2. Basic: this is due to Texan aircraft issues in 2021-22 impacting the progress of Basic instructor training and qualification. Priority has been afforded to Basic instructor training in 2022-23, with a plan to deliver 14 instructor courses (exceeding the SUN capacity of 10), with a temporary reduction in student trainees compared to the FTP request. Ascent plans to provide the full SUN student capacity of 36 in 2023-24, having restored instructor numbers in 2022-23;

3. Multi-Engine: This is due to a request to reduce the student numbers and release the capacity for the refresher courses;

4. Fast Jet: This is due to local issues at RAF Valley delaying a number of courses from 2021-22 in to 2022/23, priority is to complete these courses in 2022-23 reducing the capacity by 3 in 2022-23.

29. Notwithstanding these in-year variances, Ascent is delivering in excess of the total SUN capacity of 300 students in 2022-23.

30. Based on the current Fixed Wing contract, and the plan to deliver the additional Basic capacity from April 2025, Ascent assesses that there is sufficient capacity and flexibility within UKMFTS Fixed Wing service to meet the MOD’s requirements.

1st May 2022

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