Recently crews from 47 Squadron, based at RAF Brize Norton, have conducted a low-level formation and simulated airdrop training mission with crews from 67th Special Operations Squadron of the United States Air Force, RAF Mildenhall.
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The Exercise was designed to provide a valuable opportunity to enhance co-operation between the two units, practice the tactical flying skills used by each nation, and to learn from each other’s procedures. The mission designed to achieve this required crews to plan, brief and fly a mission to dispatch stores in mountainous terrain, using a container delivery system, as a 2-ship formation.
Although the airframe is flown by both nations, the crew compliment deployed for a mission of this nature is different. The 47 Squadron Royal Air Force C-130J is operated by 2 Pilots, an Air Loadmaster (ALM) and Air Despatchers from 47 Air Despatch Squadron, Royal Logistic Corps. The USAF MC-130J has a crew compliment of 2 Pilots, a Combat Systems Officer and ALM.
The route that was developed by the operating crews to achieve the mission, utilised the Low Flying Areas as part of the UK Low Flying System in England and Wales. The mission focussed on developing skills that would be utilised in the deployment of the Squadrons anywhere in the world, but also comply with the good practises that exist to operate safely and minimise disruption to those living and working in the Low Flying Areas across the UK.
Non-operating crews were also present from each Squadron to fly on board each other’s aircraft and see first-hand how the Crew Resource Management, differs between each nation whilst flying at low-level, in formation, and whilst conducting airdrop operations.
The aircraft returned to RAF Mildenhall on completion, where the RAF crews were treated to a tour of the 67th Squadron facilities following a debrief attended by all involved. This mission will allow future training to be conducted with increasing levels of complexity, providing crews with valuable experience they will take forwards beyond the retirement of the C-130J from RAF service in 2023.
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