RAF 'not good enough' for SAS parachute training

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Telegraph
By Thomas Harding
(Filed: 01/04/2005)

The Special Air Service is to move its parachute training to the United States because it believes that the Royal Air Force no longer has the skills to train its soldiers in Britain.

SAS officers and the Parachute Regiment have accused the RAF of being more interested in preserving "jobs for the boys" than providing adequate parachute training for live operations, according to a leaked e-mail.

There are fears that combat parachute skills will be further eroded if plans go ahead for training to be contracted out to a civilian company.

Some senior Army officers have accused RAF officers of failing to understand the equipment and training requirements for specialised parachuting because they have no operational experience.

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