Prestigious flight safety trophy awared to RNAS Culdrose

It was all smiles at Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose as Captain Willy Entwisle OBE MVO received the esteemed Bambara Flight Safety Trophy on behalf of the Air Station from Rear Admiral Russ Harding OBE, Rear Admiral Fleet Air Arm and Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Aviation & Carriers)

The Bambara Trophy presented each year to the ship, squadron or unit which does the most to promote and endorse safety in the world of naval aviation, was won by Culdrose after major disruption at the Base in 2012. Notwithstanding the Air Station being involved with the Queens Diamond jubilee celebrations and security duties at the summer Olympics, over two thirds of the runway surfaces and supporting infrastructure underwent major refurbishment. With disruption to busy training schedules and operational procedures amongst the Merlin and Sea King forces. A special mention went to the handling and management of those involved in enabling the Flight Safety message remaining firmly at the forefront of peoples planning.

 “It gives me great pleasure to award the Bambara flight safety trophy for 2012 to RNAS Culdrose. Embracing all tenets of flight safety, the station has been forward leaning in the education of not only its military personnel, but the large numbers of civilian contractors”, Admiral Harding said in his citation. “Complete engagement across the board resulted in comprehensive flight safety awareness amongst the workforce which enabled the station to maintain its operational commitments and support all Culdrose based units. BZ”

The Bambara flight safety trophy is a silver cup, originally allocated to the Royal Navy’s Air Command in 1959. A recent RNAS Culdrose winner of the trophy was 820 Naval Air Squadron who scooped the Bambara Trophy and three other prestigious Fleet Air Arm awards in 2010.

The Commanding officer, Captain Entwisle added. “Flight Safety is everybody’s business at Culdrose, so this award is a reflection of how well all personnel have done at the Air Station in this regard this year.  Whether aviator, engineer, support staff, service person, civil servant or contractor, the whole Culdrose team should be proud of their achievement”.