Deptford Down take off and landings

10 Cadets and 2 staff from 13 (City of Exeter) Sqn ATC travelled to Deptford Down in Wiltshire to watch a pair of RAF C-130J's practicing take off and landings from an unprepared airstrip on Sainsbury Plain.

"Natural Surface Operations" is when aircraft are operated from an unprepared (i.e. non tarmac airfield) known as a Temporary Landing Zone (TLZ) which lacks the normal facilities you would expect such as Air Traffic Aids & airfield lighting.

TLZ's can be set up on almost any surface as long as the ground can take the weight of a C-130, such as fields, beaches, the desert and even dried lake beds. The current war in Afghanistan has seen a big increase in this type of operation. The visit was hosted by the deputy Commanding Officer of the RAF's Tactical Air Traffic Control Unit based at RAF Brize Norton, Flight Lieutenant Dave Rooke. Dave is a former Civilian Instructor with Devon & Somerset Wing ATC.

The Cadets had a talk on the work of the Tactical Air Traffic Control Unit, watched the Hercules training from the edge of the temporary runway, had a tour of one the C130's and finally a look round one of the RAF fire vehicles which had been deployed to cover the days flying.

Cadet Sergeant Will Stokes said "This was a fantastic opportunity to watch one of the RAF's main transport aircraft training and learn about the work of TATCU. It was great to get so close to the action and then get a tour of the Herc on the gound.