Trainee Merlin helicopter aircrew have completed the embarked phase of their course, demonstrating skills in day and night deck landings and operations at sea.
The senior course at 824 Naval Air Squadron, comprising trainee pilots, observers and aircrewmen, recently spent two weeks on exercises in the Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship RFA Tidesurge.
This was an opportunity to put into practice the skills they have acquired flying and training in the simulators at RNAS Culdrose.
They will be back to sea again soon – the next stage of their course, after months of training under the watchful eye of their instructors at 824 NAS, will be to demonstrate their knowledge in a series of anti-submarine warfare exercises.
The students are expected to complete their training and join the frontline squadrons of Merlin Helicopter Force in the spring.
Credit RNAS Culdrose