- RNAS Culdrose (HMS Seahawk)
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RNAS Culdrose 
Sky over RNAS Culdrose, before the Annual Air Day, showing contrails IATA: none – ICAO: EGDR Summary Airport type Military Operator Royal Navy Location Helston, Cornwall Elevation AMSL 267 ft / 81 m Coordinates 50°05′10″N 05°15′21″W / 50.08611°N 5.25583°WCoordinates: 50°05′10″N 05°15′21″W / 50.08611°N 5.25583°W Website Map Location in Cornwall
EGDRRunways Direction Length Surface m ft 07/25 1,028 3,372 Asphalt 12/30 1,831 6,006 Asphalt 18/36 1,051 3,448 Asphalt Sources: World Aero Data[1] Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose (ICAO: EGDR) (HMS Seahawk), based in Cornwall, near Helston, on the Lizard Peninsula, has three major roles: serving the Fleet Air Arm's front line Sea King and Merlin helicopter squadrons; providing search and rescue for the South West region; and training specialists for the Royal Navy (see NACSAC).
It is one of only two remaining naval air stations in the UK, the other being RNAS Yeovilton.
History
Admiralty surveyors first started preliminary surveys of land near Helston in 1942. RNAS Culdrose was commissioned as HMS Seahawk five years after these initial surveys. The station was originally designed to be a wartime airfield lasting about ten years.
The initial plans were for Culdrose to serve as a Naval Fighting School, it soon developed other roles. These varied roles included such things as the trials of the Navy's first jets, training of Airbone Early Warning crews and as a home base for carrier based aircraft. Over the years the stations emphasis changed from fixed wing aircraft to rotary wing, although its main role remains largely the same.[2]
Squadrons based at Culdrose
Squadrons currently based at RNAS Culdrose[3]
King Air
Observer Training
Provides training for the Fleet Air Arm's Observers.
Motto: "Teach and Strike"
Sea King HU Mk5
Search & Rescue
771 NAS is responsible for Search and Rescue in Cornwall, the Isles of Scilly and the Western English Channel, in total an area of approximately 200 nmi (370 km; 230 mi). It also administers the Sea Kings on detachment at HMS Gannet.
Motto: "Non Nobis Solum" - "Not unto us alone"
(decomissioned)
Mirach 100/5 unmanned subsonic drones
Air Target Unit
Motto: "Sapienta Vincit Tenebras" - "Wisdom Conquers Darkness"
Merlin HM Mk1
Carrier Based Anti-Submarine Warfare
Motto: "In hoc signo vinces" - "In this sign you will conquer"
Merlin HM Mk1
Carrier Based Anti-Submarine Warfare
Equipped with a Merlin helicopter, fitted with an advanced sensor suite of active/passive sonics, Orange Reaper Electronic Support Measures and Blue Kestrel radar, 820 NAS provides a strong force in Under Water Warfare and Anti-Surface Unit Warfare. Its various roles include protecting the Royal Navy against surface and sub-surface threats, command and control, transport, evacuation and Search and Rescue capabilities.
Motto: "Tutamen et Ultor" - "Safeguard and Avenger"
Merlin HM Mk1
Merlin training, incorporating OEU flight
Motto: "Spectat Ubique Spiritus" - "Behold the Wind from all around"
Merlin HM Mk1
829 Naval Air Squadron is a squadron of the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm. It operates the AgustaWestland EH101 Merlin Helicopter, providing six "flights" capable of deploying with the following Type 23 frigates: HM Ships Somerset, Lancaster, Monmouth, Montrose, Westminster, Northumberland, Kent, Richmond, and Portland.
Motto: "Non Effugient" - "They Shall Not Escape"
Sea King Mk7
Airborne Surveillance and Control
849 NAS provides the Royal Navy with Airborne Early Warning Radar.
Motto: "Primus Video", "The Eyes of the Fleet" - "The First to See"
Sea King Mk7
Airborne Surveillance and Control
Motto: "Audentes Fortuna Juvat" – "Fortune helps the Daring"
Sea King Mk7
Airborne Surveillance and Control
Motto: "Animis Opibusque Parati" – "Prepared In Minds & Resources"
Other units
Maritime Aviation Support Force (MASF)
MASF was established on 1 December 2007 with the primary purpose of providing suitably qualified specialist Officers and Ratings to man, operate and maintain all Royal Naval controlled systems in all aviation capable platforms in both the Royal Navy and the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. The concept is to provide a 'one-stop shop' to meet the personnel requirements to support Naval Aviation operations worldwide. Put more simply, MASF provides tailored manning for the Rotary Wing of the Fleet Air Arm. They operate mainly on RFA ARGUS- providing roughly 50% of the ships company (not including medical staff when embarked). Although MASF HQ is located at RNAS Culdrose they are seen as a separate unit from the rest of the base and once commissioned in the latter part of 2010 all Junior Ratings will start wearing MASF on their Seamen Caps rather than the current HMS Seahawk.
Motto: "Auxilio Ad Alta" (Reaching The Heights With Help)
Dummy Deck laid out to practice aircraft handling and manoeuvring in a confined space.
RN School of Flight Deck Operations
The Royal Naval School of Flight Deck Operations provides professional training for all Naval Aircraft Handlers. The school also trains other Naval personnel and personnel from the RAF and Army who will be involved in operating aircraft at sea.
Trainees are thoroughly trained in activities they will be required to carry out during their career, such as tackling aircraft fires and aircraft deck handling amongst others. Equipment used includes; mock-up aircraft within which smoke and flames can be produced and adjusted at the instructors control and the "Dummy Deck", a full-sized replica of an Invincible class aircraft carrier's deck allowing trainees to practice their roles in realistic environments, experiencing training with live aircraft with reduced risk and danger compared to operating on a real aircraft carrier.[4]
Motto: "Nostris in Manibus Tuti" (Safe In our Hands)
Merlin Training Facility
The Merlin Training Facility (MTF) is part of 824 Sqn, and is a first in that it encompasses Pilot, Observer, Aircrewman and Engineering training under one roof. The facility comprises a Cockpit Dynamic Simulator (CDS), 3 Rear Crew Trainers (RCT), 6 Part Task Trainers (PTT), Computer Based Training (CBT) classrooms, a Mechanical Systems Trainer (MST) and a Weapon Systems Trainer (WST).
Fleet Requirements Air Direction Unit (FRADU)
FRADU is operated by the contractor Serco Defence and Aerospace as part of the RN MAC 2004, using 13 Bae Hawk T1 advanced jet trainer aircraft on lease to the Royal Navy from the RAF and based at Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose in Cornwall. Two of these aircraft are permanently detached to Naval Flying Standards Flight (fixed wing) at Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton where they are flown by RN pilots, but maintained by Serco engineers.
Engineering Training Section
The Engineering Training Section (ETS) at RNAS Culdrose is a small unit of the Air Engineering Department that is dedicated to the instruction of Sea King and Generic Air Engineering training.
The primary task of the ETS is to train sufficient Air Engineering personnel to enable the Front Line to achieve operational capability. It comprises approximately 20 personnel including both service and civilian instructors and is headed by a Lieutenant who is responsible to Commander of Air Engineering.
All rotary wing (helicopter) pilots, observers and aircrewmen are assessed annually by NFSF(RW) examiners. This covers all Helicopter Squadrons at RNAS Yeovilton as well as Culdrose. The assessment consists of a ground exam and a check flight, and may also occur if a Squadron has referred them to NFSF(RW).
Predannack Airfield
RNAS Culdrose has a satellite airfield at Predannack which it uses primarily as a relief landing ground for helicopter pilot training; it also houses a small arms range and aircraft fire fighting facilities.[5]
Merlin Depth Maintenance Facility
Merlin Depth Maintenance Facility is responsible for performing all Royal Navy and Royal Air Force EH101 Merlin depth maintenance
See also
List of air stations of the Royal Navy
References
- ^ Airport information for EGDR at World Aero Data. Data current as of October 2006.
- ^ RNAS Culdrose History
- ^ Squadrons at RNAS Culdrose
- ^ School of Flight Deck Operations
- ^ Predannack Airfield
- Peter London RNAS Culdrose, (1999), Sutton's photographic history of aviation series, Sutton Publishing Ltd, 128pp, Gloucester UK, ISBN 0-7509-2230-3.
- Geoff Wakeham Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose 1947 - 1997, (1997), publ. Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose, 103pp, ISBN 0-9530499-0-6
External links
- Royal Navy - RNAS Culdrose
- RNAS Culdrose section of helis.com Helicopter History site
Bases of the Royal NavyHMNB Clyde · HMNB Devonport · HMNB Portsmouth · RNAS Culdrose · RNAS Yeovilton
Categories:- Airports in Cornwall
- Organisations based in Cornwall
- Royal Naval Air Stations
- Military of the United Kingdom in Cornwall
- Military history of Cornwall
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