Phase 2 Training

Question 1

Where?

Answer 1

RAF Shawsbury

Question 2

What does the role entail?

Answer 2

1. Running airfield ops - central ops room
2. Task planning and coordinating flying squadrons
3. Negotiating with foreign partners for use of air space
4. Coordinate UK Forces - advanced planning for overseas deployments
5. Monitoring foreign surveillance satellites - highlighting enemty action/espionage
6. Tracking debris in space and the int. space station
7. Operate ballistic issile early warning system

Question 3

Phase 2 Training Overall View

Answer 3

1. Foundation Module - alongside Control Officer and Air Traffic & Weapons Controller students.
2. Assigned to Surveillance or Flight Operations
3. Complete the appropriate training module for your first role.
4. Can return at a later date to complete a conversion course for other core areas - eg. space command

Question 4

Flight Ops Modules

Answer 4

Module 1
2 weeks
Foundation module: Aerodrome introduction, Station Ops Organisation, NOTAMs, Maps, Charts and Documents.Assessment.

Module 2
4 weeks
Module 2
A3 Watchkeeper/Stn Ops module.
* higher-level theory
* Ops Room environment & Operation Officers’ role
* Aviation Briefing, Royal Flights Protectively Marked Material, Dangerous Goods handling, Air Transport security, Refuelling, and Air System considerations.

SIM 1 & 2
10 days’
SIM 1 and 2 are 75 mins and 50 mins long. Station Operations Room - A3 Watchkeeper in a busy Station Operations.
- daily tasks required in an Ops room, Morning Briefs, Booking Diversion Airfields, Royal Flights and Flight Planning.
-
SIM 2 takes place further into the “shift” with the Watchkeeper shift following, booking required Airspace and reacting to Emergency situations, this tests their ability to react and make decisions under pressure.

Module 3
2 weeks
Module 3 is the A5 Plans Module and gives a baseline introduction into Detachment planning processes, Air Tasking Orders, Air Coordination Notices and Diplomatic Clearances.
Exam - Flight Plans, Diplomatic Clearance, Fuels and Air Transport Security.

Question 5

IDO/Surveillance Modules

Answer 5

Theory Week
* Intro to Air Space & Control Systems
* Radar Theory
* Data Link theory
* Identification categories
* Radar picture
* QRA

Basic Surveillance
* 1-1 Booths with trainer

Advanced Surveillance
* 18 practical sessions for Tactical Simulation 1-1

Question 6

Continued Development

Answer 6

Continued development

Planning missions for the RAF’s varied aircraft and systems

Coordinating and managing transport aircraft schedules

Form part of the 3 person Mobile Air Ops Team (MAOT) providing radio communications and Support Helicopter support to forward Battle Groups and other agencies

As ‘Mission Crew’ on the E-3D ‘Sentry’ Airborne Early Warning aircraft based at RAF Waddington

Part of the UK’s deployable, ground based, command and control unit ‘Number 1 Air Control Centre’ located at RAF Scampton

Instructing ab-initio and postgraduate students

As a Ballistic Missile Early Warning’ Space Operator at RAF Fylingdales in North Yorkshire or the UK Space Operations Centre at RAF High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire

You may also be selected for advancement to higher management roles, responsible for leading large teams of fellow officers and airmen.

Throughout your career, you should expect operational deployments to a range of locations worldwide, together with ad-hoc shorter detachments to such locations as Cyprus, Lithuania, Gibraltar, Canada, Spain, the United Arab Emirates, Malaysia and the USA.

The RAF also has a variety of exchange opportunities which include instructing the US Marine Corps in Arizona; the US Air Force Space Command in Colorado and the Royal Norwegian Air Force.