These Regulations amend the Air Force Act 1955 (Part I) Regulations 2001 (“the principal Regulations”) which make provision in respect of enlistment of recruits and generally for the carrying into effect of Part 1 of the Air Force Act 1955. Copies of the principal Regulations are available on request in writing to the Air Member for Personnel Secretariat (Legislation), Headquarters Personnel and Training Command, RAF Innsworth, Gloucester, GL3 1AL.

Regulation 2(2) substitutes a new table for that in Part 2 of Schedule 1 to the principal Regulations. The new table prescribes the Air Secretary as a competent air force authority (in addition to the Defence Council) for the purposes of sections 9(1A), (3), (4), (5) and (6) of the Air Force Act 1955. Section 9(1A) was inserted by the Reserve Forces Act 1996 and applies to a category of airmen (principally those who joined on or after 1 April 1997) other than airmen to whom sections 9(3) and (4) continue to apply. Sections 9(3) and (4) remain in force and apply to a category of airmen defined in the Reserve Forces Act 1996, principally those in service immediately before 1 April 1997. The Air Secretary is the director of personnel management for members of the Royal Air Force.