Downed Apache helicopter in remote location rescued by the 'AA in the sky'
When a distress call comes in, the military's aviation roadside assistance kicks into action.
Sergeant Thomas Smithurst, an Aircraft Senior Supervisor from the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, told BFBS Forces News: "We're basically the AA in the sky."
"We put these aircraft back in the sky so the pilots can achieve their sorties."
For the REME technicians in training at the Defence College of Technical Training, Wiltshire's Exercise Volant Warrior is a five-day test of a year's work.
The aim is to assess their aircraft maintenance skills in a realistic field scenario.
Warrant Officer Class 2 Dave Cater, from the School of Army Aeronautical Engineering, said: "They've had to ascertain what the nature of the faults are on the aircraft.
"They've had to look up all the procedures that they're going to have to follow when they get there.
"All the tools and equipment they need to bring that with them and then also collapse their infrastructure.
"Patrol to the new location and then set up and potentially rescue that aircraft to get it back in the air."
The tempo of the exercise can be increased by adding chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) threats, so respirators and protective equipment need to be worn while they carry out the maintenance work.
Also, there can be the threat of low-flying enemy aircraft, which forces the technicians to take cover and then report details back to HQ.
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