Airport of Embarkation Wing

Airport of Embarkation (APOE) Wing encompasses a diverse range of Airport support functions, ranging from Air Movements, Mechanical Transport Operations, Airfield Support Mechanical Transport, Fuels and Lubricants, In-flight Catering and Contract Monitoring. Large parts of the Station's support services are run under a Multi-Activity Contract (MAC), where Serco Defence & Aerospace provide a significant amount of engineering support and other services.

Air Movements Squadron

Air Movements Squadron at Brize Norton is the largest base Movements Squadron in the Royal Air Force, providing support to Air Transport, Air to Air Refuelling and MoD civilian charter flights between the United Kingdom and destinations worldwide. The Squadron comprises over 200 Service personnel, MoD civil servants and Serco civilian employees. They operate 24 hours a day, 365 a year to move nearly 200,000 passengers and 23 million kg of freight, bags and mail each year in support of the British Armed Forces in all theatres throughout the world. They also co-ordinate and manage the movement of Heads of State, VIPs, medical patients and compassionate cases. The provision of support for civilian aircraft chartered by the MOD and operating through Brize Norton is an increasing task, leading to the Squadron providing manpower, mechanical and IT support for a wide range of aircraft such as Boeing 747, Airbus A340 and Antonov 124, as well as our own fleets of VC10, TriStar and C-17 aircraft.

Mechanical Transport Operations

Brize Transport Squadron comprises 89 MOD civil servants, including 76 drivers, and is responsible for some 400 vehicles ranging from contracted cars, through mini-buses and coaches, to heavy 38-ton freight carriers. Brize Transport provides 24-hour cover in support of the Station's operations, including the transporting of passengers and freight.

Airfield Support Mechanical Transport

ASMT operates and maintains one of the largest and most diverse fleet of specialist vehicles in the Royal Air Force. With over 100 Service and Civilian personnel, they provide a range of services and equipment including: aircraft refuellers, air cargo handling equipment, heavy aircraft tractors, de-icing and snow clearing equipment and vehicles. ASMT is also home to the Royal Air Force's only Specialist Training School which trains in the region of 1200 students per year in preparation for Out of Area detachments on all types of ASMT vehicles.

Fuels and Lubricants Flight

F&L Flight is one of the very few stand-alone Fuels and Lubricant organisations in the Royal Air Force, operating the only UK hydrant aircraft refuelling system. Tasks include the storage of aircraft fuel, maintenance of specialist equipment and the provision of refuelling personnel and equipment. The Ground Fuels element of the Flight manage all ground based fuels, packed stocks and cylinders and is the focal point for special waste management.

Contract Implementation and Monitoring Team

The main element of the CIMT's duties is to monitor the day-to-day output and performance of the MAC service provider. APOE Wg COS acts as the Designated Representative on behalf of the Station Commander in these matters. The CIMT reacts to all reports on contract performance and keeps under constant review all performance standards and indicators relevant to the Contract.

Gateway House

Gateway House provides the transit accommodation for personnel and passengers passing through RAF Brize Norton. Its workload can vary from being minimal one day to catering for several hundred passengers on the next.

Serco Defence and Aerospace

Serco is responsible for providing second line and deeper maintenance to many of the systems on the VC10 and, to a lesser extent, the TriStar. Serco activities cover a wide range of tasks, and include provision of supply support for all of them.

These activities include:

Bay support for avionics, airframes, engines and air-to-air refuelling pods.
Photographic services for all unit requirements.
Role equipment.
Flight line services for visiting aircraft.
Aircraft washing facilities.
Station Workshops, including aircraft welding and carpentry.
IT and computer maintenance for Unit assets, including the Station's Intranet.
Vehicle maintenance for 'grey fleet' vehicles, under local contracts.

In addition, Serco provide support to the Station through Security - Control of Entry and Pass Issue duties, domestic and aircraft cleaning and elements of the aircraft Movements tasks where they are integrated with the RAF Movements staff.

Through sub-contracts Serco also provide domestic services that includes tailoring, general and specialist waste disposal including recycling where appropriate, laundry, window cleaning and pest control services.