Royal Navy trains Omani personnel in flight deck operations

Royal Navy aircraft handlers from Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose have carried out flight deck training of personnel from the Royal Navy of Oman.

During the course of two weeks, Royal Navy aircraft handlers showed Omani students how to supervise a flight deck and deal with emergencies with the Super Lynx helicopter.

The students undertook classroom work at Sultan Bin Said Naval Base in Wudam, followed by hands-on training onboard Oman navy patrol vessel, RNOV Khassab.

Chief Petty Officer Paul Bryant, of Culdrose’s 1700 Naval Air Squadron, said: ‘This course was last delivered more than a year ago so it was very much in demand to maintain the operational capability of Oman’s 14 ships with flight decks.

‘Five students were initially loaded onto the course with a further two requiring upgrading that were added during the sea-training phase. Of these, six students achieved the pass grade required for an unsupervised flight deck officer role.’

700 Naval Air Squadron deploys expert teams of sailors to allow flying operations on British warships and support ships. As well as aircraft handlers and flight deck officers, the squadron also has a wide range of specialists including chefs, stewards, weapon engineers, logistical personnel and medics.

Related Equipment in Defence Insight

Lynx/Super Lynx

Al-Ofouq Class