In the days of Hunters, Jaguars and Lightnings with braking parachutes, it was mandatory SOP to raise the upwind barrier for takeoffs and landings in case of chute failure and you always had to advise the pilot of barrier position along with landing/takeoff clearance.
If your runway has cables as well as barriers (which I believe Culdrose and Yeovilton both do), each pilot flying a hook equipped aircraft eg Buccaneer would have to do a practice cable arrest every 3 months. The hooks on Hunters and Lightnings were 'emergency only' so this didn't apply to them.
Don't think the Royal Navy Hawks have hooks, I think it was only the US Navy version which did.
Last edited by chevvron; 3rd May 2015 at 08:08.