Written questions

Reserve Forces: Aviation

Commons · Question 115381 · Tabled 24 Feb 2026 · Ministry of Defence · Official record

Answered 4 Mar 2026

Question

Asked by Steve Barclay

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the partnership between KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and the Dutch Ministry of Defence to allow airline pilots to serve as reserve F-35 pilots in the Royal Netherlands Air Force, what assessment has

Answer

Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones, 4 Mar 2026

The Royal Air Force (RAF) has assessed options for reservist pilots to bolster our F35 force and concluded that this model is not appropriate for the RAF at this time.The investment in time and money to train a part-time pilot on F35 and keep them suffici...