An aircraft crash exercise is underway at Royal Air Force Wittering this week as the Joint Aircraft Recovery & Transportation Squadron arrives at the Station.
Image By: SAC Jac Welson
The Joint Aircraft Recovery & Transportation Squadron (JARTS) is dedicated to the safe recovery and transportation of crashed aircraft in the United Kingdom and overseas. Consisting of RAF and Royal Navy personnel, JARTS is an A4 Force Element based at MOD Boscombe Down in Wiltshire.
Image By: SAC Kim Waterson
Weeks in the planning, the exercise accurately simulates two crash landings and is thoroughly testing JARTS personnel as they attempt to recover the aircraft and return the situation to normal.
Image By: SAC Kim Waterson
Flight Sergeant Darren Reynolds is part of the assessing team and will evaluate team members as the exercises progresses. He said: “In a real situation we want to protect the scene, ensure the health and safety of everyone, restore the area and make sure we communicate effectively. We’re testing each of those things in this exercise.”
Image By: SAC Jack Welson
Fragments of a jet aeroplane and helicopter have been placed near RAF Wittering’s Vigo Wood training area. The mechanics of safely moving crashed helicopters and aeroplanes are different, so the team has taken this opportunity to test personnel on both types of aircraft.
Image By: SAC Jack Welson
Wing Commander Dan Penter is Officer Commanding No 42 Expeditionary Support Wing, based at RAF Wittering, of which JARTS is a part. He said: “It seems like an odd time, but this is the perfect moment for an exercise. Aircraft crashes can happen at any time and we have to be prepared to work in situations that demand special measures and different ways of working.”
Image By: SAC Jack Welson
Realism is the key to successful training and the exercise was kept a closely guarded secret for weeks. Only a few key people at JARTS had any knowledge of the event. Even the team at No 3 Mobile Catering Squadron, who have set up a field kitchen, as they would in a real crash situation, had no idea an exercise was about to be called.
Image By: SAC Jack Welson
Personnel from RAF Wittering adopted different roles to give the exercise a more realistic feel. As the team from JARTS cordoned off the area to safely move the aircraft, they encounter dog-walkers, agitated land owners and journalists - all of whom are likely to appear during a real crash situation.
Image By: SAC Jack Welson
Both JARTS and No 3 Mobile Catering Squadron are part of the A4 Force Elements, the specialised engineering and logistics squadrons that support the RAF on exercises at home and abroad. The A4 Force Elements have their headquarters at RAF Wittering and are commanded by Group Captain Jo Lincoln, who is also the Station Commander.
Image By: SAC Kim Waterson
Group Captain Lincoln said: “Readiness is everything for the A4 Force, it’s what we do. Whether we are being called abroad to support a military operation, or an aircraft crash situation, we need to keep our people properly trained and qualified to answer the call – and that is exactly why JARTS is here this week. So far, I’m pleased to report that the exercise is meeting all its objectives.”
