RAF Faces Pilot Shortage After Unlawful Diversity Drive Backfires

[Social Media]

 

The Royal Air Force is scrambling to find combat-ready pilots after a controversial recruitment policy prioritizing women and ethnic minorities was deemed unlawful. Candidates who were previously overlooked are now being encouraged to reapply as the RAF attempts to fill the critical shortage of pilots needed for frontline operations.  

 

 

An internal document reveals that the Air Force is in urgent need of more pilots for training, prompting officials to reach out to personnel from other RAF branches who may have been previously rejected due to suitability assessment scores. Older candidates with flight experience are also being considered to help bridge the gap.  

 

It has been reported that the RAF is facing a 30 percent shortfall in pilots at the ranks of Flight Lieutenant and Squadron Leader. While some officials have challenged these figures, no alternative statistics have been provided. The crisis comes as Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has pledged to put "jets in the sky" to support Ukraine as part of a post-conflict stabilisation force set to be confirmed this week. The Labour leader has already committed to increasing defence spending to 2.5 percent of GDP, with European allies also boosting their military investments following Donald Trump's warning that they can no longer rely on the United States for protection.  

 

Shadow Armed Forces Minister Mark Francois highlighted multiple factors contributing to the RAF’s pilot shortage. “The RAF’s availability of combat pilots has been hit by a perfect storm: including woke manipulation of recruiting practices, the revival of civilian airlines post-Covid, and technical issues with training aircraft, particularly engine reliability on the Hawk T2. All this really matters. If we are now going to see ‘jets in the sky’ defending any Ukrainian peace deal, then we need enough trained pilots to fly them. As we approach VE Day celebrations, it is worth remembering that the RAF never ran out of Spitfires or Hurricanes during the Battle of Britain, but we very nearly ran out of fighter pilots.”  

 

The RAF's recruitment issues intensified after an official 2023 inquiry found that the Air Force had unlawfully discriminated against white male pilot applicants. A group of 31 white male trainees were held back, leading to compensation payouts. The investigation also revealed that the RAF’s targets to have 40 percent female personnel and 20 percent from ethnic minority backgrounds by 2030 were deemed "unrealistic."  

 

Group Captain Lizzie Nicholl, then head of RAF recruitment, refused to implement the policy, citing violations of the Equality Act. The inquiry found that she faced "significant and at times unreasonable" pressure to push forward the unlawful initiative. Meanwhile, former RAF chief Air Chief Marshal Sir Mike Wigston faced calls to resign over the recruitment scandal.  

 

A report by the House of Commons Defence Select Committee that same year accused RAF leadership of "complacency" in addressing delays in producing combat-ready pilots, warning that these setbacks had "serious implications for the effectiveness of our armed forces." Training issues, including frequent breakdowns of aircraft used to train pilots and obligations to train Saudi Arabian pilots under a Typhoon jet contract, further exacerbated the problem. At its worst, the RAF’s training process took up to seven years, though sources now claim it has been reduced to three and a half years.  

 

Despite the ongoing pilot shortage, the RAF insists that it has enough aircrew to carry out current missions. A spokesperson stated, "We have sufficient pilots and aircrew to conduct all current operations and service the front line. Additionally, active management of the flying training system has reduced training times and the backlog of student aircrew in the training pipeline. This good progress has enabled us to reopen aircrew applications for serving personnel."  

 

With mounting pressure to meet defence commitments and the demand for trained pilots growing, the RAF’s leadership faces a crucial test in ensuring that the force is prepared for future conflicts.

 

Based on a report by Daily Mail  2025-03-11

 

 

[thaibeachlovers]

6 minutes ago, Social Media said:

At its worst, the RAF’s training process took up to seven years, though sources now claim it has been reduced to three and a half years.  

Surely not. After all, they were producing Ukrainian combat ready pilots in about 6 weeks or something not so long ago ( remember when those new planes being delivered to the Ukrainians were going to "win the war". Wonder why we never hear about them anymore? ).

[phetphet]

Perhaps many people are not willing to put their lives on the line and fight for a country they no longer recognise as their own. I suspect the UK government will have recruiting problems for all the UK armed forces.

 

Still. They have a large pool of "boat experts" they can tap for the Navy.

[impulse]

32 minutes ago, phetphet said:

Perhaps many people are not willing to put their lives on the line and fight for a country they no longer recognise as their own. I suspect the UK government will have recruiting problems for all the UK armed forces.

 

Still. They have a large pool of "boat experts" they can tap for the Navy.

 

 'Specially when the "leaders" are making noises about putting boots on the ground in an already long lost cause to their east.  Reasonable people call them "cannon fodder".

 

 

[JonnyF]

Another DEI failure. 

 

I certainly wouldn't fight for a country that discriminates against me in a 2 tier justice system. Why would I?

[RayC]

2 hours ago, JonnyF said:

Another DEI failure. 

 

I certainly wouldn't fight for a country that discriminates against me in a 2 tier justice system. Why would I?

 

Serious question. I'm intrigued. How has the UK justice system discriminated against you personally?

 

Again, seriously, I will understand if you don't want to discuss this matter on a public forum.

[JonnyF]

10 minutes ago, RayC said:

 

Serious question. I'm intrigued. How has the UK justice system discriminated against you personally?

 

Again, seriously, I will understand if you don't want to discuss this matter on a public forum.

 

https://www.theguardian.com/law/2025/mar/06/ministers-criticise-two-tier-sentencing-changes-england-wales

 

[Hamus Yaigh]

13 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

ttps://www.theguardian.com/law/2025/mar/06/ministers-criticise-two-tier-sentencing-changes-england-wales

Never had you down as a Grauniad reader, there's hope for you yet.

[RayC]

1 hour ago, JonnyF said:

 

https://www.theguardian.com/law/2025/mar/06/ministers-criticise-two-tier-sentencing-changes-england-wales

 

 

Did you even read the article? The government - and opposition - is opposed to the guidance. Who knows, maybe the guidance will be reversed by legislation?

 

However, I understand your grievance. As a black male living outside the country with (apparently) no personal experience of the UK justice system, it must be difficult for you.

 

"At present black and minority ethnic communities are overrepresented at almost all stages of the criminal justice process in England and Wales, and are more likely to be imprisoned and receive longer sentences than white people".

[JonnyF]

1 hour ago, Hamus Yaigh said:

Never had you down as a Grauniad reader, there's hope for you yet.

 

I'm one of their top overseas readers apparently.

 

And I visit their site about twice a month.

 

Just shows how pathetic their numbers must be.  😄

[JonnyF]

21 minutes ago, RayC said:

 

Did you even read the article? The government - and opposition - is opposed to the guidance. Who knows, maybe the guidance will be reversed by legislation?

 

Yet Lammy's own report formed the basis of it. 😄

 

The government's "opposition" to this is a dog and pony show. They don't want to take the flack for it even though Lammy recommended it. Only a fool would think otherwise. 

 

21 minutes ago, RayC said:

 

However, I understand your grievance. As a black male living outside the country with (apparently) no personal experience of the UK justice system, it must be difficult for you.

 

"At present black and minority ethnic communities are overrepresented at almost all stages of the criminal justice process in England and Wales, and are more likely to be imprisoned and receive longer sentences than white people".

 

Just because black people commit more crimes per capita does not mean there should be a 2 tier legal system that favours them in order to keep them out of jail. 

 

But you already knew that. 

 

Saying that one race deserves a pre-sentencing report more than another race is frankly a disgusting blatant form of racism. Not surprised you'd defend it though. 

 

https://www.sentencingcouncil.org.uk/overarching-guides/magistrates-court/item/imposition-of-community-and-custodial-sentences-overarching-guideline/

 

 

[billd766]

6 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Surely not. After all, they were producing Ukrainian combat ready pilots in about 6 weeks or something not so long ago ( remember when those new planes being delivered to the Ukrainians were going to "win the war". Wonder why we never hear about them anymore? ).

Are you really that simple that you think that a fully trained can be churned out in 6 weeks from scratch?

 

Before they even get near an aircraft the need basic military training. then they will spend a couple of months on basic flying training before being streamed into what they are best suited for, helicopters, transport aircraft or fast jets. A very few are further yrained as instructors

 

After that they then undergo further training on aircraft specialisation before being posted to their squadron where they undergo further type training before being allowed anywhere near combat. 

 

As for producing Ukrainian combat pilots in 6 weeks, you will find that the Ukrainian pilots were already fully qualified pilots already combat trained and were undergoing cross training on a different type of aircraft.

 

Why do you bother to post on topics that you know nothing about.

 

Try doing some research before you post.

[RayC]

3 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

Yet Lammy's own report formed the basis of it. 😄

 

The government's "opposition" to this is a dog and pony show. They don't want to take the flack for it even though Lammy recommended it. Only a fool would think otherwise. 

 

"Asked about the new guidelines on LBC radio, Jones said: “We disagree with this decision. I think it’s really important in the country that people are trusting in the justice system that we have and that means you can’t have a two-tier system, it has to be fair, it has to be equal to everybody and so we have asked them to think again about this guidance.”

 

Shabana Mahmood, the justice secretary, said overnight that she would write to the Sentencing Council to “register my displeasure and to recommend reversing this change to guidance”."

 

Could the government's opposition to this guidance be any clearer?

 

The only fools are those who cannot think logically due to their irrational hatred of anything that doesn't fit in neatly with their narrow, blinkered view of what the UK should look like.

 

3 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

Just because black people commit more crimes per capita does not mean there should be a 2 tier legal system that favours them in order to keep them out of jail. 

 

But you already knew that. 

 

You're right for a change, I did know that. But equally, the system shouldn't impose harsher sentences on black people for committing the same crime as whites.

 

However, apparently you can't bring yourself to condemn that two-tier application of justice.

 

 

3 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

Saying that one race deserves a pre-sentencing report more than another race is frankly a disgusting blatant form of racism. Not surprised you'd defend it though. 

 

https://www.sentencingcouncil.org.uk/overarching-guides/magistrates-court/item/imposition-of-community-and-custodial-sentences-overarching-guideline/

 

 

 

Where did I defend it? That's right I didn't. Please don't attribute statements to me which I didn't make.

 

For the record, of course there should not be a two-tier justice system.

[Mike_Hunt]

The UK is a hot mess these days.   

[JonnyF]

1 minute ago, RayC said:

However, apparently you can't bring yourself to condemn that two-tier application of justice.

 

Because it doesn't exist. You made it up.

 

Good to see you've acknowledged the existence of an official 2 tier system of justice now though. I'm sure you will join me in condemning it (even if you continue to pretend Labour oppose it). 

[thesetat]

49 minutes ago, RayC said:

 

Did you even read the article? The government - and opposition - is opposed to the guidance. Who knows, maybe the guidance will be reversed by legislation?

 

However, I understand your grievance. As a black male living outside the country with (apparently) no personal experience of the UK justice system, it must be difficult for you.

 

"At present black and minority ethnic communities are overrepresented at almost all stages of the criminal justice process in England and Wales, and are more likely to be imprisoned and receive longer sentences than white people".

I am aure you are correct in this. Even in America blacks fill the prisons more than whites. 

Now, if the black was a trans or woke as a white man. He would probably get a better sentencing. I understand your government is very supportive of the LGBTQST society. Isn't that the reason for this OP? They wanted 40% female recruits to train as pilots and discharged 30 males to make their quota? 

[RayC]

49 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

Because it doesn't exist. You made it up.

 

Good to see you've acknowledged the existence of an official 2 tier system of justice now though. I'm sure you will join me in condemning it (even if you continue to pretend Labour oppose it). 

 

https://yjlc.uk/resources/legal-updates/ethnicity-and-custodial-sentencing-data-highlights-racial-bias

 

I'm sure that now I have brought the evidence to your attention, you would like to go on record and condemn the bias shown towards BAME under the UK justice system.

[JonnyF]

2 minutes ago, RayC said:

 

https://yjlc.uk/resources/legal-updates/ethnicity-and-custodial-sentencing-data-highlights-racial-bias

 

I'm sure that now I have brought the evidence to your attention, you would like to go on record and condemn the bias shown towards BAME under the UK justice system.

 

A totally flawed study that doesn't even conclude bias.

 

 

But what you appear to be missing (I suspect deliberately) is the 2 tier justice I am talking about is an official policy. It's not an opinion based on dodgy incomplete stats to reach a conclusion that the researchers doing the study needed from the outset. It's not bias or errors of judgement by individual judges. It's the actual official guidelines. In 3 weeks time, the system will officially have different rules for treatment of different races, religions and sexes. Following a recommendation by David Lammy. The Labour MP. The current foreign secretary. 

 

It's absolutely disgraceful. Will you join me in condemning it? Or will you keep deflecting? I think we both know the answer to that... 😄

 

 

[phil2407]

Who would want to be in the UK military these days? <deleted> protection bodywise old weapons etc

budget cuts under current & previous ones 

just let’s give money away to other countries & supporting them but not looking after their own! Let’s just build ships & submarines 

SAS getting done for killing terrorists from the IRA after shooting up a police station 

travesty 🥲🥲

 

 

[Gsxrnz]

In every single European conflict in the near or distant past, it seems odd that all the straight (and a few not so straight) chalk coloured men were selected to don their armour, carry their sword or Enfield .303, mount their equine charger, their Centurion or Panzer tank , Sopwith Camel, Supermarine Spitfire or Junkers 88, and go forth and lose their lives for their Motherland - leaving their families behind in relative safety.

 

And then we were told that 5'0" personages of the opposite gender (or no gender at all) were equally as capable of doing battle. I'm all in favor of gender equality - let's start with the workplace death rate and go from there. 

 

 

[RayC]

5 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

A totally flawed study that doesn't even conclude bias.

 

 

 

5 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

But what you appear to be missing (I suspect deliberately) is the 2 tier justice I am talking about is an official policy. It's not an opinion based on dodgy incomplete stats to reach a conclusion that the researchers doing the study needed from the outset. It's not bias or errors of judgement by individual judges. It's the actual official guidelines. In 3 weeks time, the system will officially have different rules for treatment of different races, religions and sexes. Following a recommendation by David Lammy. The Labour MP. The current foreign secretary. 

 

It's absolutely disgraceful. Will you join me in condemning it? Or will you keep deflecting? I think we both know the answer to that... 😄

 

 

Which bit of my previous post (reproduced below) is unclear? 

 

The authors of the report which I linked to acknowledge the methodological limitations of the study but, notwithstanding this, it still shows that BAME offenders receive tougher sentences than their white counterparts. 

 

Interestingly, the lack of methodological sound studies to support your grievance that white, indigenous males were discriminated against during sentencing as a result of last summer's riots doesn't seem to concern you.

 

---+-+------++-++--

 

"Where did I defend it? That's right I didn't. Please don't attribute statements to me which I didn't make.

 

For the record, of course there should not be a two-tier justice system."

[transam]

7 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Surely not. After all, they were producing Ukrainian combat ready pilots in about 6 weeks or something not so long ago ( remember when those new planes being delivered to the Ukrainians were going to "win the war". Wonder why we never hear about them anymore? ).

Hey, you, anti-West, Western bloke, you are embarrassing yourself yet again.............🥴

You are a disgrace to your country.........🤐

[JonnyF]

5 minutes ago, RayC said:

For the record, of course there should not be a two-tier justice system.

 

Got there in the end.

 

Good to have you on board. 

[RayC]

1 hour ago, thesetat said:

I am aure you are correct in this. Even in America blacks fill the prisons more than whites. 

Now, if the black was a trans or woke as a white man. He would probably get a better sentencing.

 

It's possible but there needs to be evidence to support that premise.

 

1 hour ago, thesetat said:

I understand your government is very supportive of the LGBTQST society.

 

If by that you mean that that group should not be discriminated against, then the answer is 'Yes'.

 

1 hour ago, thesetat said:

Isn't that the reason for this OP? They wanted 40% female recruits to train as pilots and discharged 30 males to make their quota? 

 

I'm not sure that 'positive discrimination' is the answer (especially when it comes to military operations).

[RayC]

3 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

Got there in the end.

 

Good to have you on board. 

 

I was there at the outset.

 

What about my other point? i.e. that in the absence of methodological sound studies we can't conclude that white, indigenous UK nationals faced discrimination when being sentenced in the aftermath of last year's riots. 

 

If you are going to be consistent in your reasoning, surely you must agree?

[JonnyF]

1 minute ago, RayC said:

 

I was there at the outset.

 

What about my other point? i.e. that in the absence of methodological sound studies we can't conclude that white, indigenous UK nationals faced discrimination when being sentenced in the aftermath of last year's riots. 

 

If you are going to be consistent in your reasoning, surely you must agree?

 

Speak for yourself. I can conclude exactly that.

 

The fact Ricky Jones is still walking around a free man after publicly calling for throats to be slit, while the indigenous social media posters are sat in jail on multiple year sentences as we speak tells me all I need to know.

 

You can deny it all you like. The evidence is staring you in the face. 

 

All these latest guidelines do is put the official stamp on it. 

 

 

[quake]

This guy has some views on this. ( ex RAF pilot) 

Lots of very good stuff on his channel.

 

 

[RayC]

15 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

Speak for yourself. I can conclude exactly that.

 

The fact Ricky Jones is still walking around a free man after publicly calling for throats to be slit, while the indigenous social media posters are sat in jail on multiple year sentences as we speak tells me all I need to know.

 

You can deny it all you like. The evidence is staring you in the face. 

 

All these latest guidelines do is put the official stamp on it. 

 

 

 

You won't acknowledge that the harsher sentencing of BAME criminals compared with their white counterparts illustrates bias because the studies are methodologically flawed: However, the complete absence of any studies whatsoever showing bias towards white, indigenous individuals convicted of crimes during last summer's riots you deem to be irrelevant. 

 

It's inconsistent reasoning and it indicates prejudice.

[Photoguy21]

6 hours ago, JonnyF said:

Another DEI failure. 

 

I certainly wouldn't fight for a country that discriminates against me in a 2 tier justice system. Why would I?

DEI is a stupid idea no matter which way you look at it.

[JonnyF]

1 minute ago, RayC said:

 

You won't acknowledge that the harsher sentencing of BAME criminals compared with their white counterparts illustrates bias because the studies are methodologically flawed:

 

Correct. The study is complete nonsense. It clearly began with the intended conclusion and worked backwards from there to achieve it. 

 

1 minute ago, RayC said:

 

 

However, the complete absence of any studies whatsoever showing bias towards white, indigenous individuals convicted of crimes during last summer's riots you deem to be irrelevant. 

 

I don't need a study by the Pro-rain society to tell me it's wet in the middle of a thunderstorm either. The facts speak for themselves. I've provided plenty of examples of the 2 tier sentencing. It's now official. Rubber stamped in black and white on the official website. Link already provided. 

 

1 minute ago, RayC said:

 

It's illogical and it's prejudice.

 

The only prejudice here is your prejudice against right leaning indigenous British people. Especially if they dare to be patriotic and working class. 

 

You clearly think the answer to perceived historical racism is equal and opposite official racism. I disagree. A racist policy is a racist policy. Anyone recommending, supporting or justifying it is by definition a racist. Like Lammy.