845 NAS SCOOPS BAMBARA FLIGHT SAFETY TROPHY
In the last year, 845 Naval Air Squadron (NAS) has operated safely in over 22 different countries from as far West as the Caribbean to as far East as Guam. The Squadron has excelled at spreading Flight Safety awareness whether embarked in the Arctic, on land or in the contested waters of the South China Sea.
Rear Admiral Keith Blount CB OBE FRAeS Rear Admiral Fleet Air Arm presented 845 NAS with the coveted Trophy saying;
“It gives me great pleasure to award the 2017 Bambara Flight Safety Trophy to 845 Naval Air Squadron.
845 has had an impressive and productive year, flying in exercises and operations across the globe in a wide range of environments, while embracing a vibrant and effective Flight Safety culture.
Having operated safely in a variety of hostile environments and broken new ground at every turn, it is evident that 845 NAS has championed Flight Safety with aplomb – while maintaining exceptionally high operational output.
845 NAS is a thoroughly deserving winner of the Bambara Flight Safety Trophy. BZ”
Ex CLOCKWORK 17 saw the Squadron fly almost 300 hours in just two months, operating 200 miles inside the Arctic Circle with no accidents or incidents. The detachment qualified 7.5 contingent-capable crews and trained 50% of Squadron engineers to maintain the Merlin Mk3/A in an extreme cold weather environment.
Concurrently, the Squadron embarked A Flight and two aircraft in the French Ship MISTRAL for JEANNE D’ARC 17, a five month deployment to the Fast East. This was the first embarkation of JHC aircraft in a foreign warship and also the longest and furthest-reaching yet for CHF Merlin. The Squadron participated in exercises with French, USMC, Japanese and Australian land, air and sea components. 845 implemented a standalone Flight Safety culture in a Ship where no UK-equivalent Flight Safety organisation existed. A successful ‘whole ship’ approach to Flight Safety was created.
Ex WESSEX STORM, a Lead Commando Group validation exercise centred on Salisbury Plain, introduced another angle to Flight Safety. Deployed in the field for two weeks, B Flight maintained aircraft in conditions open to the elements and operated in mixed formations of up to four different types, from three Services.
Sep 17 saw 845 NAS embark again, this time in HMS OCEAN for SNMG 2. Following events in the Caribbean, Her Air Group’s focus switched to Humanitarian Air and Disaster Relief and what became Op RUMAN.
BZ 845! #flynavy