One Wild Winter - Tue 14 Jan at 9pm

Programme of RAF interest. Tomorrow evening Tue 14th Jan 14 at 9pm on BBC 4.  The winter of 2012 was one of the coldest, longest and busiest on record in the... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

Prince William on Flt during its busiest year

Newspapers report that Prince William's RAF search and rescue unit was the busiest in the country last year.  C Flight 22 Sqn was scrambled 323 times from... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

Flt Lt Wales completes his final tour of duty with RAF SAR

The Duke of Cambridge has completed his tour of duty with the Search and Rescue Force at RAF Valley. During his last shift, Flt Lt William Wales and his crew had... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

The Armed Forces Celebrate the Royal Birth

RAF Valley, the RAF Station where Prince William serves as a Search and Rescue pilot were among the first to offer official congratulations. Led by the Station Commander Group Captain Adrian Hill, and Search and Rescue Commander Group Captain Sara... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

On the BBC - Thrilling real-life drama is business as usual for RAF Search and Rescue

A new series of Helicopter Rescue lands on BBC One Wales on 8 April and viewers will be able to experience the drama and suspense of thrilling rescue footage featuring... More information

Six months in...

RAF FF Director, Bill Mahon talks to Patrick Eade, BFBS, about how things are looking 6 mths into his tenure and how the Federation is tackling the issues. Bill also discusses pay, rebasing, loss of RAF SAR, NEM... More information

RAF Chinook called in to help save Sheep

As well as all the emergency work being done by RAF SAR a Chinook has also been called in to help - this time to drop fodder for sheep farmers unable to help their own flocks because of the appalling weather. A RAF Chinook arrives at Flying Stn Aldergrove, to be loaded with animal feed for distribution to farms inaccessible by road. Working alongside the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to identify... More information

Good-bye to 70 years of Outstanding Service

The Department for Transport has announced that the Bristow Group will take over search and rescue from the RAF replacing the Sea King with the more modern Sikorsky S-92, ending 70 years of military search and rescue.The ten year contract, is estimated to be worth £1.6bn. It is understood Bristows, which until 1996 was a British company, will operate two aircraft from 10 sites around the UK with all operating bases providing... More information

Gp Capt Sara Mackmin assumes command of RAF SAR

Gp Capt Sara Mackmin assumes command of RAF SAR. On International Women’s Day one of the Armed Forces’ top female aviators has taken command of the RAF’s Search and Rescue Force. Gp Capt Sara Mackmin, will oversee all RAF search and rescue operations across the UK and the Falkland Islands.The appointment is Gp Capt Mackmin’s latest move in a career that has seen her achieve a number of firsts in the RAF. She also a volunteer with the...More information

3 RAF teams involved in Cairngorms rescue

A major search operation was launched over the weekend involving three mountain rescue teams from RAF Leeming, Leuchars and Kinloss. SAR teams and dogs were all involved in the operation to seach for a group of students from Leeds University who had not returned. Five of the party were airlifted by a RAF Lossiemouth Sea King...More information »

RAF SAR Busy all Weekend

With extreme weather conditions affecting most of the country, RAF Search and Rescue teams have had a busy weekend and been on at a constant state of readiness. One rescue involved a heavily pregnant woman. Captain of the aircraft, Flt Lt Taff Wilkins said: "When the crew arrived, conditions were near zero visibility... We popped a smoke grenade onto the ground next to the landing site as we overflew it...More information »

Widow of Tornado Navigator was not involved in the Search Mission

The newspapers report that the widow of one of the aircrew that died in the RAF Tornado incident last week was stood down from the mission to search for him. In response the MoD said: 'Flt Lt Fiona Bailey is a qualified SAR pilot but is not currently operating in a flying role. In her ground-based role she took no part whatsoever in the co-ordination of the SAR response to the recent incident involving two Tornado aircraft...More information »

Confirming the end of RAF SAR

In a written ministerial statement, Armed Forces Minister Nick Harvey, has confirmed the MoDs intention to end the military provision of search and rescue helicopter services. Military provision of SAR cover of the UK and Falkland Islands will end in Apr 16 with the retirement of the Sea King. The announcement comes as part of the long running Defence Rotary Wing Capability Study...More information »

Flt Lt Wales gains his Operational Captaincy

Prince William has qualified as a Search and Rescue Operational Captain. The qualification means Flt Lt Wales is now able to lead rescues in a RAF Sea King in all weathers, day or night. OC 22 Sqn Wg Cdr Mark 'Sparky' Dunlop, said: "Flt Lt Wales demonstrated the required standards needed for the award of Operational Captaincy. Because of the nature of SAR ops, the required standards are always set very high...More information »

'Thank You' from the Russian Ambassador

The Russian Ambassador, Alexander Yakovenko, has thanked Prince William and the crew of the RAF SAR Flt for their attempts to rescue the crew of a sinking Russian cargo vessel. The Ambassador wrote: 'All day long we were anxiously following the operation. We know that you took an active part in the rescue and the two seamen were saved thanks to your selfless effort. Let me express my deepest gratitude...More information »

Demise of Armed Forces SAR in the UK

The Department for Transport has announced the start of the procurement process to replace UK-wide Armed Forces Search and Rescue with a civilian service and civilian crews. The Secretary of State for Transport, Justine Greening, said: "It will enable our Armed Forces to focus on front line operations. It will also ensure the MoD is able to meet its previously announced intention to retire its fleet of Sea Kings by Mar 16...More information »