France and UK conduct Joint Tactical Air Traffic Control training.

Royal Air Force (RAF) Tactical Air Traffic Controllers have joined with their French counterparts near Lyon (France) to enable safe conduct of tactical landings on unprepared surfaces.

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This training provided an outstanding opportunity to develop Training Tactics and Procedures and to gain an insight into how each Air Force conducts such activity in austere environments (Picture source: RAF)

RAF C-130J and A400M, from the 61st Transport Wing of the French Air and Space Force, carried out approaches on to the grass runway with the support of UK and French Tactical Air Traffic Controllers. This provided an outstanding opportunity to develop Training Tactics and Procedures and to gain an insight into how each Air Force conducts such activity in austere environments.

This rough terrain touchdown training took place as part of an allied exchange, which was initiated with the RAF hosting an AAE A400M at Pembrey Beach in Wales earlier in the year.

The grass runway of the Ambérieu-en-Bugey Air Base is the only site in France which allows large aircraft such as the A400M to conduct rough terrain qualifications. As part of Anglo-French cooperation, crews from the 1/61 Touraine transport Squadron from Orléans-Bricy Air Base and Tactical Air Transport aircraft from RAF Brize Norton have conducted training in support of joint exercises such as Wessex Storm operating from Keevil on Salisbury Plain, landing on unprepared surfaces. They also have exchange pilots operating each other’s aircraft.

This rough terrain touchdown training took place as part of an allied exchange, which was initiated with the RAF hosting an AAE A400M at Pembrey Beach in Wales earlier in the year (Picture source: RAF)

"This type of training is essential to maintain the skills and competencies of both the Aircrew and Tactical Air Traffic Controllers ATC personnel who are required to deploy globally and work with partner nations in support of UK operations. It is another demonstration of the strong Bilateral relationship between our two Air Forces.” said Squadron Leader Cannon, RAF Liaison Officer with the French Air Force.

The grass runway of the Ambérieu-en-Bugey Air Base is the only site in France which allows large aircraft such as the A400M to conduct rough terrain qualifications (Picture source: RAF)