Night flying and large aircraft activity is expected at Royal Air Force Wittering from Tuesday 16th August until the evening of Thursday 18th August inclusive.
Image By: Cpl Chantelle Gregg
There will be night flying from 2200 until 0000 (local time). As usual, RAF Wittering is reaching out to its neighbours and the nearby equestrian establishments to inform them of a change to the usual pattern of flying activity.
Operating under the cover of night is essential in modern military operations. Night Vision Goggles are a real tactical advantage and enable our crews to land and take-off safely during the hours of darkness for combat, peacekeeping or humanitarian missions.
Image By: Cpl Jamie Hart
NVG training is a method of conducting night flying without lights on an airfield. The RAF transport fleet is based at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, but training constantly in the same place would not be realistic, and so night flying is spread as widely and thinly as possible across suitable airfields the United Kingdom.
The requirement for vital NVG training does not change with the seasons, but is driven by operational requirements and the UK’s interests overseas, and therefore NVG training continues on a year round basis. The NVG training will coincide with Exercise Swift Lion, a major training event for the RAF Support Force.
Wing Commander Case is the Station Commander at RAF Wittering, he said: “NVG training is vital to the operational output of the RAF; operational flying often must be conducted at night. Flying on NVG is a perishable skill that must be practiced regularly. Unfortunately, at this time of year, that means flying sorties late at night to ensure an adequate level of darkness. Therefore, I am grateful for the continued understanding and goodwill we receive from our neighbouring communities.”
