Two members of the Welsh Assembly visited RAF Valley recently to gain an insight into life at one of the busiest RAF stations in the UK, and the only remaining RAF flying station in Wales. Assembly Members Darren Millar (Conservative-Clwyd West) who chairs the cross party group on the armed forces and cadets in the national assembly for Wales, and Lindsay Whittle (Plaid Cymru-South Wales East) spent a full day visiting four flying units on the Anglesey base, as well as meeting a cross-section of the stations’ personnel.

Following a briefing by the station commander - Group Captain Pete Cracroft - on the future of RAF Valley within the UK’s military flying training system, the assembly members were introduced to the two fast jet squadrons, numbers IV(R) and 208(R), who fly the Hawk T2 and T1 aircraft respectively. Both squadrons train pilots from the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy to operate the UK’s front line combat aircraft; Typhoon, Tornado and soon, F-35 Lightning II. The systems in place at RAF Valley not only use aircraft, but also employ advanced synthetic technology to prepare pilots for the front line. The assembly members were shown the full range of simulators at RAF Valley operated by Ascent Flight Training that allow the aircrew to practice sorties and procedures on the ground, saving time and money.

Following on from the fast jet simulators, the assembly members visited RAF Valley’s Search & Rescue Training Unit for some hands on experience with their virtual reality trainer. In a heartening display of cross-party unity, Plaid Cymru did a sterling job piloting the virtual Griffin helicopter and the Conservatives successfully operated the virtual winch, successfully rescuing a (virtual) damsel in distress! The members then visited the headquarters of the RAF Search and Rescue Force for a full brief on how the transition of search and rescue from the RAF and Royal Navy to the Coastguard was progressing.

Darren Millar: “It was a pleasure visiting RAF Valley and it was great to hear of the positive engagement of the local authority on Ynys Môn with the armed forces community there. The base makes a significant contribution to the economy of north west Wales and I was delighted to hear more about the plans for tens of millions of extra investment at RAF Valley over the next few years. It’s not very often you see politicians from different parties working together in Wales as closely as Lindsay and I did on the virtual rescue helicopter, so I’m glad we managed to pull off a successful mission!”

Lindsay Whittle, Plaid Cymru assembly member for South Wales East said: “It was a pleasure to have the opportunity to visit RAF Valley. It is important that all assembly members get out of the Cardiff Bay bubble and speak to people from all walks of life across Wales. RAF Valley deserves enormous praise for developing close working relationships with the local community and the RAF at the same time is helping to ensure that those living on the island of Anglesey have the skills necessary to enjoy rewarding careers”.