Coffee Break

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Sea King Helicopter Force Wins National Award For Engineering Excellence



The 2009/10 winner of the Rolls Royce Engineering Efficiency Trophy has been given to the Navy Command Sea King Helicopter Force based at Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose.

Unusually this year, the highly coveted Trophy has been awarded to the whole Force rather than to an individual unit, in acknowledgement of the exceptional combined engineering achievements of the Airborne Surveillance and Control (ASaC) and Search and Rescue (SAR) Squadrons.

The presentation ceremony took place in 771 Squadron’s newly modernised Hangar with Commodore Marsh (Assistant Chief of Staff, Logistics) and Ian Ritchey Senior Vice President – Engineering and technology (Rolls Royce) as principal guests. Apart from those operating on frontline duties in Afghanistan, the whole of the Sea King Force was present.

Some of the Royal Navy’s Sea King aircraft date from the 1970’s, but they are equipped with the most technically advanced radar and communications equipment available. With its high tempo of operations and training requirements, the Sea King Force places a heavy workload on its engineers requiring them to provide fully serviceable aircraft round the clock and across the globe.

The Sea King Force is made up of five Naval Air Squadrons. 857, 854 and 849 Squadrons provide the Airborne Surveillance and Control (ASaC) capability, while 771 and Gannet SAR Flight provide SAR cover in Cornwall and Scotland.

More: http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/operations-and-support/establishments/naval-bases-and-air-stations/rnas-culdrose/news/national_award.htm