Military 'responsible for our safety' is recognised

3 hours ago

Lisa YoungSouth West

News image — On Armed Forces Day, serving military describe how their work keeps their colleagues and the public safe

RNAS Culdrose Four people are walking towards a grey Merlin helicopter which is low to the ground. They are wearing hi-viz jackets, hard hats and headphones. — On Armed Forces Day, serving military describe how their work keeps their colleagues and the public safe

On Armed Forces Day, serving military have described how their work keeps colleagues and the public safe.

Lt Jack Clark works in drone technology at RNAS Culdrose in Helston and said they had recently deployed the technology in the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman to search for drugs and weapons.

Survival equipment technician Ethan O'Brien and his team work on kit including life preservers which hold an air supply to help pilots and aircrew breathe under water should a helicopter ditch.

Ahead of events to mark Armed Forces Day in Plymouth on Saturday, Bob Goodman of the Royal British Legion said the day was "our chance to show people exactly what the Armed Forces are all about, they're responsible for our safety".

RNAS Culdrose A pilot wearing a dark green jumpsuit and black helmet and holding a case is walking along the length of a grey Merlin helicopter while it is stationary on the runway. — CPO Aaron Reith said the Merlins "were still going strong"

RNAS Culdrose is home to a range of roles, all of which are vital to keep operations running.

Lt Jack Clark said: "Our drones that we are flying are mostly for maritime intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance, so it's all about watching things.

"We've been working in the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman to seize narcotics, so looking for drug trafficking, and weapon smuggling."

CPO Aaron Reith said his team was responsible for maintaining the Merlin helicopters on a regular basis and after certain numbers of flying hours had been clocked up to ensure they were airworthy.

Merlins were introduced to the naval air station in 1999 and he said "they're still going strong".

Reith said: "Our primary role is anti-submarine warfare but we also do casualty evacuation and we're always ready to do search and rescue.

"We can also do load lifts with an under-slung load, like pallets of food and disaster relief equipment."

He said the aircraft could hold two pilots with aircrew in the front and an observer in the back, although troop seats could be fitted which would fit between 10 and 15 more crew.

RNAS Culdrose A grey Merlin helicopter in flight with a navigation tower behind it on a blue sky day. — Survival equipment technician Ethan O'Brien said the cold water immersion suits were designed to keep pilots and aircrew dry, warm and safe

Survival equipment technician Ethan O'Brien and his team work on the vital kit pilots and aircrew wear.

This includes cold water immersion suits, helmets, life preservers, life rafts and search and rescue kit.

He said: "The immersion suits are waterproof, fireproof and if the aircraft was to ditch in water, it will keep them dry, warm and safe, and prevent hypothermia kicking in."

"The short term air supply system in the life preserver will allow them to breathe for a certain amount of time under water and aid their rescue from the aircraft," he added.