Efficient organisation is vital if ten aircraft, personnel and equipment are to arrive safely and fully prepared at every display venue.

The Red Arrows Flight Planning team create a detailed plan of timings, transit routes, flying programmes and aviation publications.

Typically, the Team’s aircraft will require fuel and other local assistance arranged well in advance – both at home and overseas for all of the Team's display and transit routes.

The team is made up of two corporals who are on duty as the initial point of contact and support whilst any Red Arrows aircraft is airborne.

"I've worked as a Flight Operations Assistant or 'Flight Planner' on RAFAT since January 2007, and it has proven to be one of the most challenging and rewarding postings of my time in the RAF. Along with my more capable (and better looking) colleague Cpl Pete 'PJ' Jones, I'm responsible for a whole host of different tasks, all centred around ensuring that the Red Arrows de-conflict with other air traffic, and vice versa.

We are tasked with informing the outside world of the details of every single RAFAT sortie flown, whether it be a simple transit from A to B, a flypast of a small village fete or a full display at an international air show. We are also in regular contact with UK & foreign embassy staff abroad, to ensure that the Red Arrows have the correct diplomatic clearance for any countries necessary.
We do not travel away with the team during the summer season, but remain at Scampton as the friendly voice on the end of the phone, providing the aircrew with up-to-date weather and NOTAM (navigational warnings) information, wherever in the world they may be.

In addition to these tasks, we also maintain all of the Squadron's
aeronautical documents & provide the pilots with all of the analogue &
digital mapping that is required for display planning & execution.
There's never a dull day in Flight Planning!"

- Cpl Si Evans