JULY 2015 RAF VALLEY AIR BASE

JULY 2015 RAF VALLEY AIR BASE

PHOTO BY DIEGO CROTTI
Copyright (C) Diego Crotti
SPECIAL THANKS ROYAL AIR FORCE

HISTORY:

The aim of this Station is:
- To train future fast jet aircrew
- To train Search and Rescue pilots and crew
- To save lives through Search and Rescue Operations.
The majority of sorties flown from RAF Valley are Hawk TMk2 operations executed by IV(R) Squadron and 208 Squadron.
The Station is proud to support operational Search and Rescue (SAR) operations with C Flight of 22 Squadron and SAR Training carried out by the SAR Training Unit (SARTU), flying Griffin and Augusta AW139 Helicopters.
In the fulfillment of this task, we are by far the busiest Station in the Royal Air Force

RAF Valley is a Royal Air Force station on the island of Anglesey, Wales. We provide advanced pilot training using the BAE Hawks for pilots.
No. 4 Flying Training School takes RAF and Royal Navy pilots from 1FTS at RAF Linton-on-Ouse and trains them to fly fast jets, prior to training on an Operational Conversion Unit. 4 FTS is divided into two squadrons; 208 Sqn provides the advanced flying training.
Valley is also home to 'C' Flight of 22 Sqn with Sea King helicopters. These are busy in the Search and Rescue role, rescuing people from ships in the Irish Sea, from the mountains of nearby Snowdonia and elsewhere. The mountain rescue work in Snowdonia is coordinated with Plas y Brenin, the Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Organisation and the RAF Valley Moutain Rescue Teams.
RAF Mona, also on Anglesey, acts as a relief landing ground.
After the Welsh Assembly Government in Cardiff gave permission to have commercial flights from Valley, two daily flights take place between Valley and Cardiff International Airport. This forms part of an initiative to boost the economy of North West Wales. The project received £800,000 from the government in Cardiff towards building the civilian enclave on the RAF Valley site.