Trophy for best student on course
Former pupil of Eltham College in Mottingham South London, James Hume (26), graduated on the 17th May from Basic Flying Training at Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose in Cornwall, to prepare for training on one of the Navy’s maritime helicopters and eventual deployment anywhere in the world.
James joined the Royal Navy in 2010 and is training to be an Observer – one of the Royal Navy’s airborne `warfighters’. He is keen to progress to the front line, where he will deploy anywhere from Afghanistan to the far-east flying from the flight deck of a Royal Navy Frigate or Destroyer.
His training has been rigorous and demanding, and he has had to be selected from the many who apply to fly for the Navy and pass the Basic Flying Training course at 750 Naval Air Squadron – reputed to be one of the toughest in the Royal Navy. Here he has learnt to take command of an aircraft (an on occasion several aircraft) to achieve a mission safely.
James, who grew up in Bromley and graduated from the University of York in 2008, said of the course: “I'm really pleased to have passed Basic Flying Training. It was challenging and hard work, but very rewarding.” He added: “I'm now looking forward to completing the rest of my training and deploying to the Front Line.”
Royal Navy aircrew undergo one of the most intensive selection and training processes in the world, and after 750 Naval Air Squadron based at RNAS Culdrose in Cornwall, they move on to either the Merlin anti-submarine helicopter, Sea King Airborne Surveillance and Control or Lynx Maritime Attack helicopters.