The figures are even worse for Territorial
Army paratroopers, with only one weekend soldier - a medical
student who reported sick and was granted extra time off passing
the test with the adequate number of jumps last year.
In 2003, 93 per cent of TA paratroopers passed. It is understood
that the shortage of Hercules transport planes, which are
based at RAF Lyneham, near Swindon, is one of the main problems,
along with poor weather and disruption caused by crisis' in
Iraq and Afghanistan.
The RAF currently operates 50 Hercules transport planes from
RAF Lyneham. They are flown by aircrews from 24, 30, 47 and
70 Squadrons. The fleet is undergoing one of its busiest periods
in its 40-year history, with aircrews flying aircraft all
around the world.
Several are on duty in Iraq and Afghanistan and, with the
British role in Afghanistan soon to increase, the fleet is
expected to get even busier.
It has meant that the Hercules fleet has had to take a step
back from paratrooper training flights to concentrate on operational
missions and humanitarian missions such as those in Pakistan
late last year.
To qualify to enter the Para’s, trainee paratroopers
have to complete six drops at the parachute training school.
These are closely followed by two successful drops with their
unit before he or she is able to sew on their wings on to
their beret. But nobody can remain in the Para’s if
they refuse to jump, or haven't got their wings within a certain
period.
A spokesman for the Army's training and recruiting agency,
which provided the figures, said the low pass rate was because
of lack of aircraft availability, inability to jump due to
adverse weather conditions and disruption stemming from operations
in Iraq. Nobody at RAF Lyneham was available for comment. |
