Operations Wing Headquarters

The Operations Wing Headquarters is responsible for co-ordinating the activities of the flying squadrons, the Joint Helicopter Support Unit, Forward Support Wing and Administration Wing to meet the Station’s mission. Individual cells within the Headquarters are responsible for aircraft operations, tasking, intelligence, exercise planning, contingency planning, logistics planning and training co-ordination. Elements of the Headquarters are at high readiness to deploy with the Chinook squadrons to provide command and control functions. The Headquarters is also responsible for, the Air Traffic Control Squadron, the Meteorological Office and the Station Regiment Flight together with, Community Relations and Flight Planning.

Air Traffic Control Squadron

The Air Traffic Control (ATC) Squadron at RAF Odiham is 30 strong and is commanded by a Squadron Leader who is also responsible for the Fire Section. The Squadron task is to support the flying squadrons at RAF Odiham and to maintain the safe and expeditious flow of air traffic in and out of the airfield. Aerodrome control is a varied and interesting task as all areas of the airfield are used for helicopter manoeuvres; additionally, the Aerodrome Controller is also responsible for the co-ordination of the crash/rescue vehicles during practice or real incidents.

The Squadron provides a radar service within approximately 30 miles of Odiham to aircraft arriving and departing the airfield as well as providing a service to aircraft flying within Low Flying Area 1B which is Odiham’s Dedicated User Area. To assist in poor weather or for practice, precision approaches into RAF Odiham are possible using Precision Approach Radar (talkdown) or Instrument Landing System equipment.