A team of experienced instructors from XXIV Squadron, consisting of a Qualified Flying Instructor and a Qualified Mission Aircrew Instructor, provided support to an LXX crew during one of their first missions operating the A400M Atlas aircraft.
The mission involved a return journey from RAF Brize Norton to Bardufoss in Norway, in support of Exercises JOINT VIKING and AQUILA ENABLER, say the RAF in a news release.
The aircraft transported a team of Movers from the Air Movements Squadron, a pair of RAF Police Dog Handlers with their Military Working Dogs, and exercise freight.
Flight Lieutenant Robinson, LXX Squadron Junior Pilot, was quoted as saying:
“Flying the Atlas into Norway for the first time as a Junior Pilot is an unforgettable experience. As part of the Operational Conversion Unit (OCU), we train for cold weather operations in the simulator. This training is invaluable and makes for a seamless transition from the simulator to flying the aircraft into Bardufoss for the first time. What the simulator does not prepare you for, is how breath-taking the Norwegian landscape really is!”
Upon graduation from initial training on XXIV Squadron, A400M Atlas crews are capable of supporting global air transport operations in their new roles on 30 or LXX Squadrons. As their experience grows, they may receive additional support from XXIV Squadron instructors when operating in challenging locations, to assist in their ongoing development.
This specific mission, say the Royal Air Force, presented the junior crew with an opportunity to operate in an extreme cold weather environment, with icy runways and taxiways, testing their aircraft handling, technical knowledge, and pre-flight planning abilities.
The training provided on this route is invaluable in preparing Air Mobility Force aircrew for future worldwide operations, they added.
Still hoping we get a storm shadow update to allow rapid dragon style deployment from A400M and C17. US war games against China show just how important long range aircraft and missiles barrages are in modern warfare and how small software upgrades in JASSM could make it an effective anti ship weapon. The UK stock of 900 storm shadows could become a real strategic asset.
I’d tend to agree that it is a system that might well be worth extending in service.
Whisky not as good as some newer systems the fact there is a stockpile makes it more worthwhile to extend.
Is this press release a joke? This is just really sad.
Wow, indignation from Esteban, there’s a first 😀
No green card for you US fanboy, that’s really sad for you I suppose.
Comments don’t seem to make it through
great news though
🏴🇬🇧