Tremblers in Gibraltar
The only runway in the world with a main road across it!
Over the period 21 June - 2 July, 6 jets and around 100 personnel deployed to RAF Gibraltar, on the the Southwestern tip of Europe. The exercise provided invaluable training for everyone involved: The pilots were able to fly in hot climes, from a smaller airfield than they are accustomed to, complete with the famous runway that poses several challenges to every takeoff and landing. The WSO's were able to hone their flight planning skills; preparing detailed trails out & back that involved time critical air-air tanking over the Scilly Isles and close liaison with foreign nation airbases for emergency & diversion cover.
The engineers, many of them quite junior, gained valuable experience in working on our jets in weather conditions quite unfamilliar to anyone stationed in Fife! The movers & suppliers who accompanied us produced miracles by unpacking many ISO shipping containers to set up the Eng line before our jets arrived. Finally, our Ops team had to take over areas of the ATC and Station Ops building and in tight timeframes turn it into a briefing & debriefing facility that the crews could use, complete with the setup of several different complex (and heavy!) IT systems.
A big thankyou must be given to all involved at RAF Gibraltar, and also back home at RAF Leuchars, who so ably supported our exercise.
The engineers, many of them quite junior, gained valuable experience in working on our jets in weather conditions quite unfamilliar to anyone stationed in Fife! The movers & suppliers who accompanied us produced miracles by unpacking many ISO shipping containers to set up the Eng line before our jets arrived. Finally, our Ops team had to take over areas of the ATC and Station Ops building and in tight timeframes turn it into a briefing & debriefing facility that the crews could use, complete with the setup of several different complex (and heavy!) IT systems.
A big thankyou must be given to all involved at RAF Gibraltar, and also back home at RAF Leuchars, who so ably supported our exercise.
