Merlin Commando Helicopter Force pilots and aircrew awarded their wings
The latest Merlin Commando Helicopter Force pilots and aircrew have received their wings at a presentation at RNAS Yeovilton.
846 Naval Air Squadron held a Wings Parade for the naval aviators, with the day marking the culmination of an extremely demanding course.
Six pilots and six aircrewmen were awarded their wings and will now move to 845 Naval Air Squadron on the frontline.
They will now be at five days' notice to deploy anywhere in the world in support of the UK government.
Commander James Coleman, Commanding Officer of 846 Naval Air Squadron, told BFBS Forces News the wings have been "a long time coming" for these newly qualified aviators.
"Some of the individuals have trained between four and six years to reach a stage in their career," he said.
"The course has been a long one for them.
"They've been operating for six to seven months on the aircraft, on my squadron, where they've been completing training across the country from basic handling techniques all the way through to advanced flying training and gunnery, towards the end of their course."
After graduating from BRNC Dartmouth, Fleet Air Arm student pilots head to RAF Cranwell to train on fixed-wing aircraft.
They then complete Basic Flying Training at RAF Shawbury before moving on to the Merlin at RNAS Yeovilton.
But, in order to get their wings, pilots must complete a demanding course that uses both an advanced simulator facility and sees them fly the real aircraft.
There is also the Operational Conversion Flight of 846 Naval Air Squadron, which is a tailored course resulting in personnel capable of competently serving as a frontline crew with minimal further training.
Next up, they learn the handling skills to fly by day, night and when in clouds.
This involves low-level navigation, night vision goggle flying, load lifting, mountain flying, gunnery, formation and embarked operations.
This culminates in an exercise in field conditions with real-time tasking and an operational overlay.
This saw two aircraft and roughly 70 squadron personnel deploying to RAF Lossiemouth in Moray where they faced sorties in unfamiliar airspace and challenging conditions.
The final exercise brings together six days of flying and is considered a right of passage.
It sees personnel rapidly plan and execute missions as well as conduct air-to-ground firing.
All personnel will now join the Commando Helicopter Force, whose history lies in the jungles associated with the 1963 Malayan Conflict – earning them the nickname 'Junglies'.
"We're a very close-knit community and family because, obviously, everywhere we go, we go as a large flight or a squadron and operate together," Cdr Coleman said.
"There's a real significant history among us, and it's been lovely today to have old Junglies and new all coming together to celebrate this momentous occasion."
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