89-559: AirTanker Services Limited , incorporated in England and Wales on 14 June 2007 with the company registration number 06279646, is a private limited company in the United Kingdom (UK), which operates a British airline known as AirTanker ( IATA : 9L , ICAO : TOW , call sign : TOWLINE ), and is also an aircraft leasing and operating company. Under contract to the Government of
178-425: A UK civilian aircraft registration mark (starting at G-VYGA, as an abbreviated homage to its Voyager military service name, through to G-VYGN), and a UK military aircraft registration (starting in series with ZZ330, as a nod to its Airbus A330 type, through to ZZ343); although only one type of registration mark is displayed, dependent on its operator. The airframe with the manufacturers' construction number 1555
267-520: A United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Type A Global operating licence, permitting it to operate as revenue-generating civilian airline; capable of carrying fare-paying passengers, cargo, and mail, on aircraft with twenty or more seats . Prior to the delivery of the aircraft to the Royal Air Force, new facilities were constructed RAF Brize Norton ( IATA : BZZ, ICAO : EGVN) in Oxfordshire,
356-488: A knight 's helmet with two blue ostrich feathers against the backdrop of an arched castle gateway. The gateway represents the station's role as the hub for UK troops and transport aircraft departing on worldwide operations. The helm represents the military personnel carried from the station. The station's motto ( Transire confidenter ) is in Latin and translates into English as Pass through confidently , again acknowledging
445-406: A loiter time of up to four hours, and a range of more than 1,852 kilometres (1,151 miles ) from its departure airbase . The AirTanker Holdings Limited fleet originally consisted of a 'core' fleet of nine military aircraft ; eight with UK military registration marks (starting in series with ZZ330, as a nod to its Airbus A330 type) and one UK civilian registration (G-VYGJ, permanently used for
534-511: A commercial operator with the civilian registration G-VYGL . On 12 May 2012, Sponsored Reservists (members of the Royal Air Force, but salaried by commercial companies) of No. 10 Squadron RAF (nicknamed Shiny Ten) for AirTanker Services Limited began Royal Air Force operations of its Airbus A330 MRTT (role-specific militarised conversion of the civilian A330-243 airliner by Airbus Military at its Getafe facility near Madrid in Spain), known by
623-702: A different aircraft (G-VYGL, MSN : 1555) being leased to Jet2.com in June 2017. During early 2016 , an existing RAF Voyager KC3 aircraft ( military registration : ZZ336, MSN : 1363) was further converted to VIP fitment for use by members of the British Royal Family , the Prime Minister , and senior members of the UK Government . Whilst still retaining its original core military function of aerial refuelling tanker and military transport, ZZ336's passenger cabin
712-479: A low-visibility matt-grey livery , with RAF insignia and roundels , identified by their British military aircraft registration mark : Operated by AirTanker Services Limited civilian pilots and cabin crew. Dependent on primary mission (typically wet lease or damp lease), these are externally painted white with lessor airline logos, or low-visibility matt-grey (identical to the RAF Voyagers) with AirTanker logos for
801-423: A maximum descent rate of 15,800 feet per minute (4,800 metres per minute ). A maximum indicated air speed of 358 knots (663 kilometres per hour ; 412 miles per hour ), or Mach 0.9, was recorded during this descent while the co-pilot was out of the cockpit making a hot beverage in the forward galley . The co-pilot returned to the cockpit to a scene of disarray, audible alarms, and "violent shaking" of
890-511: A new hangar and office complex was opened in the same month. The C-130 Hercules fleet at RAF Lyneham officially moved to Brize Norton on 1 July 2011. The final four aircraft flew to the station, conducting a flypast over Wiltshire. Group Captain John Gladstone, Station Commander of RAF Lyneham, flew the lead Hercules, which carried the standards of the Hercules squadrons. These were presented to
979-507: A pair of Rolls-Royce Trent 772B-60 turbofan jet engines, each with a rated take-off thrust of 316.3 kilonewtons (71,107 pounds-force ) and a continuous rating of 282.7 kilonewtons (63,553 pounds-force). Each aircraft can carry a total fuel load of 111 tonnes (109 long tons ; 122 short tons ). The RAF Voyagers are able to dispense 50,000 kilograms (110,231 pounds ) of fuel, from its existing wing and fuselage fuel tanks , to receiver aircraft via its hose-and-drogue systems. They have
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#17328440633551068-754: A practice which was rare before the middle of the 20th century. Examples are the Welsh Language Acts 1967 and 1993 and the Government of Wales Act 1998 . Measures and Acts of the Senedd apply in Wales, but not in England. Following the Government of Wales Act, effective since May 2007, the Senedd can legislate on matters devolved to it. Following a referendum on 3 March 2011 , the Senedd gained direct law-making powers, without
1157-582: A reference to "England" in legislation included Wales, and so in 1746, Parliament passed the Wales and Berwick Act 1746 . This specified that in all prior and future laws, references to "England" would by default include Wales (and Berwick-upon-Tweed ). The Wales and Berwick Act was repealed by the Welsh Language Act 1967 , although the statutory definition of "England" created by that Act still applies for laws passed before 1967. In new legislation since then, what
1246-505: A single storey temperature controlled facility within the hangar for the TMW's operational stores facilities, office accommodation, a training building and external training area. The facilities opened in July 2013 and allowed the TMW and No. 4626 Squadron to move to Brize Norton from RAF Lyneham. In February 2014, a Voyager flying from the base suffered an accident. A Voyager with the registration ZZ333
1335-620: A time extended to the Antonine/Severan Wall . At that time, most of the native inhabitants of Roman Britain spoke Brythonic languages , and were all regarded as Britons , divided into numerous tribes. After the conquest, the Romans administered this region as a single unit, the province of Britain . Long after the departure of the Romans, the Britons in what became Wales developed their own system of law , first codified by Hywel Dda (Hywel
1424-718: A tri-service unit that tests and evaluates air transportation methods, No.1 Parachute Training School RAF – a training school for airborne forces, and No 1 Air Mobility Wing – an air combat support unit on high readiness to deploy specialist movements personnel worldwide. Flying and notable non-flying units based at RAF Brize Norton. No. 2 Group (Air Combat Support) RAF No. 1 Group RAF No. 22 Group (Training) RAF Royal Logistic Corps Defence College of Logistics, Policing, and Administration A partial list of units previously based at Brize Norton. Brize Norton's badge , awarded in January 1968, features
1513-699: A variety of equipment until it departed in June 1949. No. 297 Squadron returned after the Second World War ended, on 5 September 1946 with the Halifax Mk.A.7 and A.9 from RAF Tarrant Rushton , before leaving on 21 August 1947 for RAF Fairford . After the TCDU left in June 1949, No, 2 Squadron of the Central Flying School , equipped with the Harvard, moved in, followed by No. 204 Advanced Flying School, equipped with
1602-463: Is a notable example: when first delivered to the Royal Air Force after its military conversion to an MRTT in 26 June 2015, it was military registered ZZ341 , and was displayed as such at the 2015 Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT); by June 2017, it had been 'demilitarised' (removal of its aerial refuelling external hardware, its external CCTV cameras, and its internal tanker mission operators station; and extra passenger seats installed), and leased to
1691-815: Is able to operate as a civilian airline named AirTanker (identified by ICAO code: TOW), using any reserve aircraft on short-term air charter , or longer-term damp-lease or wet lease arrangements to other civilian airlines for commercial gain. AirTanker Services Limited (ATS) and AirTanker Holdings Limited (ATH) are both owned by a consortium (in varying percentage stakes for each company); consisting of Airbus , Rolls-Royce plc (23.5% ATS, and previously 23.1% ATH), Equitix Investment Management Limited (23.1% ATH), Cobham plc , Babcock International , and Thales Group . AirTanker Services Limited and AirTanker Holdings Limited both have their headquarters and registered office at AirTanker Hub, RAF Brize Norton , Carterton , Oxfordshire, England, OX18 3LX. In March 2008 ,
1780-464: Is distinct from those of Northern Ireland and Scotland , and from Commonwealth realms . The national parks of England and Wales have a distinctive legislative framework and history. RAF Brize Norton Royal Air Force Brize Norton or RAF Brize Norton ( IATA : BZZ , ICAO : EGVN ) in Oxfordshire , about 75 mi (121 km) west north-west of London, is the largest station of
1869-479: Is operated by AirTanker Services under the Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft contract. AirTanker also operates service to RAF Mount Pleasant , Falkland Islands , on which civilian passengers can book tickets. Civilian passengers had been permitted on flights to and from RAF Ascension Island with reservations handled by AW Ship Management, with some customers doing package deals combined with
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#17328440633551958-407: The 3rd Air Force unit responsible for control of all personnel at Brize Norton, upon receipt of instructions to control base functions. The station was assigned to the 7th Air Division and operated by the 3920th Air Base Group, which was renamed as the 3920th Combat Support Group, and then the 3920th Strategic Wing in 1964. The 3920th ceased operations in 1965. The first major USAF deployment
2047-596: The Falkland Islands , known as the South Atlantic Air Bridge, a distance of more than 7,900 miles (6,900 nautical miles ; 12,700 kilometres ); mainly for the movement of military personnel and contractors, military cargo, and civilian freight, though fare-paying civilian passengers are also allowed to travel. These air bridge flights originally stopped mid-journey for ground refuelling at Wideawake Airfield (IATA: ASI, ICAO: FHAW) on RAF Ascension Island in
2136-636: The Invasion of France on 6 June 1944 and Operation Market Garden in September 1944, before No. 296 Squadron added the Handley Page Halifax Mk.V to their inventory and moved to RAF Earls Colne on 29 September 1944. No. 297 Squadron also moved there a day later. The HGCU (soon renumbered No. 21 HGCU) returned on 15 October 1944, remaining at Brize Norton until 31 December 1945. The Transport Command Development Unit (TCDU) moved in during 1946, operating
2225-540: The Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed the finalised Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft (FSTA) contract with AirTanker Holdings Limited (ATH) (the legal owner of the aircraft) to provide the Royal Air Force (RAF) with an air transport and air-to-air refuelling capability. The Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft contract stipulated the supply of fourteen Airbus A330 MRTT (A330-243) , with all fourteen airframes being converted to
2314-552: The North American Harvard , moved to Brize Norton in June 1940. On 16 August, the airfield was attacked by Luftwaffe bombers, with thirty-five Oxfords and eleven Hawker Hurricanes destroyed. No. 16 SFTS left later that year, but No. 2 SFTS and No. 6 MU continued to use the airfield, with No. 1525 Beam Approach Training Flight arriving in February 1942. The No. 110 Squadron detachment left Brize Norton on 17 March 1942, when
2403-469: The RMS Saint Helena , which travelled between Saint Helena and Cape Town , South Africa until the opening of St Helena Airport to passenger flights. No. 38 Expeditionary Air Wing was formed at Brize Norton on 1 April 2006 and acts as a deployable command and control headquarters to support Air Mobility Operations. The station is home to Joint Air Delivery Test and Evaluation Unit (JADTEU) –
2492-541: The Royal Air Force (RAF). In turn, AirTanker Services Limited operate those fourteen aircraft for the Royal Air Force, known by the British military service name Voyager , as the RAF's now sole type of tanker aircraft for aerial refuelling , whilst simultaneously being able to operate as military troop and cargo transport , and also configurable for military aeromedical roles. For additional revenue, AirTanker Services Limited
2581-507: The Royal Air Force . It is close to the village of Brize Norton , and the towns of Carterton and Witney . The station is the base for air transport, air-to-air refuelling and military parachuting, with the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III , Airbus A400M Atlas and Airbus Voyager operating from the station. Major infrastructure redevelopment began in 2010, ahead of the closure of RAF Lyneham in 2012, and Brize Norton became
2670-578: The Short Belfast C.1 heavy lift turboprop freighter moved from RAF Fairford in May 1967. As facilities at Brize Norton were still unfinished, they used RAF Lyneham as a passenger terminal until October 1968. In 1970, two squadrons No. 99 Squadron and No. 511 Squadron operating the Bristol Britannia moved from RAF Lyneham. Both squadrons were disbanded in 1976, along with No. 53 Squadron , operating
2759-559: The call sign ISF 63JW, operated by a crew of nine, and carrying 189 passengers, ZZ333 departed BZZ at 12:00 UTC for an estimated flight duration of eight hours twenty minutes. At 15:49 UTC, whilst over the Black Sea in Turkish airspace during hours of darkness, ZZ333 rapidly lost 4,440 feet (1,350 metres ) of altitude in 27 seconds from its autopilot -controlled cruising altitude of 33,000 feet (10,000 metres), and reaching
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2848-619: The de Havilland Mosquito , staying at Brize Norton until March and June 1950 respectively. By 1950, elements of the United States Air Force 's (USAF) Strategic Air Command (SAC) were based at RAF Lakenheath , RAF Marham , and RAF Sculthorpe . The increasing tension of the Cold War led to a re-evaluation of these deployments. By 1953, SAC bombers began to move further west, behind RAF fighter forces, to Brize Norton, RAF Greenham Common , RAF Upper Heyford , and RAF Fairford . As with
2937-478: The 2003 Iraq War , four anti-war protesters managed to access the main runway in an attempt to prevent aircraft taking off. A peace camp was held at the station from 21 to 25 April 2005, along with a demonstration in nearby Carterton. On 12 August 2006, campaigners restricted access at the main entrance for several hours in a protest against British foreign policy in the Middle East . Work to repair and upgrade
3026-640: The Act also formally separated the Welsh Government from the Senedd. There is no equivalent body for England , which is directly governed by the parliament and government of the United Kingdom . During the Roman occupation of Britain , the area of present-day England and Wales was administered as a single unit, except for the land to the north of Hadrian's Wall – though the Roman-occupied area varied in extent, and for
3115-579: The C-130 Hercules was retired from and No. 47 Squadron disbanded, with the tactical air transport capability transitioning to the A400M Atlas. The station is home to approximately 5,800 military staff, 1,200 contractors and 300 civilian staff. The station accommodates the RAF's strategic and tactical air transport and air-to-air refuelling fleets, operating the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III , Airbus A400M Atlas and Airbus A330 MRTT Voyager . The A330
3204-786: The Good; reigned 942–950) when he was king of most of present-day Wales (compare King of Wales ); in England Anglo-Saxon law was initially codified by Alfred the Great in his Legal Code , c. 893 . However, after the Norman invasion of Wales in the 11th century, English law came to apply in the parts of Wales conquered by the Normans (the Welsh Marches ). In 1283, the English, led by Edward I , with
3293-1062: The RAF as the Voyager, by operating a military air transport sortie to RAF Akrotiri (IATA: AKT, ICAO: LCRA) in Cyprus from its home airbase of RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire , England. Following the issue of an air operating licence by the UK Civil Aviation Authority, the airline flew its first charter flight to RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus for the UK Ministry of Defence in January 2013. After delays in certification due to issues with its refuelling drogue baskets, its first operational aerial refuelling flight took place on 20 May 2013 ; 11 years ago ( 2013-05-20 ) . Following subsequent successful Voyager tanker aerial fuel delivery operations to all operational Royal Air Force, and allied receiver aircraft, in late 2013, No. 101 Squadron RAF retired all their remaining Vickers VC10s and became
3382-523: The RAF found itself lacking in the strategic transport capabilities required to sustain the expanded military presence there. As a result, No. 216 Squadron was reformed at Brize Norton in November 1984, initially flying six ex- British Airways Lockheed L-1011 TriStars , followed by three more from Pan-Am . During August 1995, the Air Traffic Control Centre here reopened following works to
3471-583: The RAF's largest airbase . Known as AirTanker Hub, these facilities are owned by industry, and act as headquarters and registered office for both ATH and ATS, and contain all support services for operation and maintenance of the AirTanker fleet. In accordance with the dual military and civilian roles, all fourteen aircraft in the fleet must be able to switch between the United Kingdom's Civil Aircraft Register (CAR), and its Military Aircraft Register (MAR). They are thus dual registered, and individually identified by
3560-418: The RAF, it was given the name Vespina by the Royal Air Force. On 13 July 2016 ; 8 years ago ( 2016-07-13 ) , AirTanker Holdings Limited reached the final establishment phase milestone in the Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft (FSTA) programme; with the achievement of Full Service Date on time and on budget, delivering all fourteen A330-243 MRTT aircraft to the Royal Air Force on behalf of
3649-927: The Royal Air Force, AV-8B Harriers and F/A-18 Hornets of the US Marine Corps , along with other probe-equipped coalition receiver aircraft. These Op Shader Voyagers are assigned to No. 903 Expeditionary Air Wing (903 EAW), based at RAF Akrotiri in the Sovereign Base Area on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus. In May 2015 , AirTanker Holdings Limited leased one demodified demilitarised A330-243 aircraft (civilian registration: G-VYGK, MSN : 1498) to Thomas Cook Airlines to be deployed on holiday routes. The contract ran for three years, and involved mainly long-haul flights from Glasgow Airport (IATA: GLA, ICAO: EGPF), Manchester Airport (IATA: MAN, ICAO: EGCC), and London Stansted Airport (IATA: STN, ICAO: EGSS) in
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3738-556: The Short Belfast C.1 In the same year, No. 115 Squadron moved from RAF Cottesmore , operating the Hawker Siddeley Andover in the radar calibration role. The squadron moved to RAF Benson in 1983. No. 101 Squadron reformed at Brize Norton on 1 May 1984, flying the converted former civil VC-10, heavily modified and updated by British Aerospace for military service as aerial refuelling tankers between 1983 and 1993. Of
3827-595: The South Atlantic Air Bridge), along with a 'surge' fleet of five UK civil registered demodified demilitarised aircraft (similar to A330-243 standard configuration) which it uses for additional revenue. The surge fleet can be recalled for military use at any time as required. This fleet balance was subsequently revised; the military-registered core fleet was increased to ten aircraft, and the civilian-registered surge fleet reducing to four. The AirTanker Holdings Limited-owned fleet of fourteen aircraft are known by
3916-589: The Station Commander of RAF Brize Norton, Group Captain Dom Stamp in a welcoming ceremony. In February 2012, work started on converting a Second World War era hangar, located north of the main airfield site, into new accommodation for the RAF Tactical Medical Wing (TMW) and No. 4626 (County of Wiltshire) Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron (RAuxAF) . The work, which cost £15 million, included provision of
4005-505: The UK government. In 2017 , AirTanker Services Limited established a new operating base at Manchester Airport to support its AirTanker civilian leasing operations for its demodified demilitarised A330-243 aircraft. The same year, members of AirTankers' cabin crew were seconded to Thomas Cook Airlines, fostering its existing relationship and facilitating training of A330 cabin crew for Thomas Cook Airlines. In 2022 , AirTanker Services Limited
4094-618: The USAF, its long runway and close proximity to army bases in the south of England, resulted in Brize Norton being selected for the role in 1963. While the base was formally returned to the RAF on 1 April 1965, the last SAC aircraft, a B-47E of the 380th Bombardment Wing left the base on 3 April, while USAF personnel finally left on 31 May. Both No. 10 Squadron , equipped with the Vickers VC10 C.1 jet transport and No. 53 Squadron equipped with
4183-481: The United Kingdom, AirTanker Holdings Limited (company registration number 06279650, incorporated on 14 June 2007 ; 17 years ago ( 2007-06-14 ) ), owns a fleet of fourteen Airbus A330 MRTT multi-role tanker transport aircraft (based upon existing civilian A330-243 wide-body passenger airliner (type code A332), retro-converted to military specification by Airbus Military , now part of Airbus Defence and Space ) primarily for military operations by
4272-526: The United Kingdom. The first commercial flight took place on 1 May 2015 ; 9 years ago ( 2015-05-01 ) , from Manchester to Cancun (IATA: CUN, ICAO: MMUN) in Mexico and Punta Cana (IATA: PUJ, ICAO: MDPC) in the Dominican Republic. In April 2017 , a second aircraft (G-VYGM, MSN : 1601) was also leased to Thomas Cook Airlines; in May 2019, G-VYGM was then leased to Jet2.com , following
4361-658: The Welsh House of Tudor . The Laws in Wales Acts 1535 and 1542 then consolidated the administration of all the Welsh territories and incorporated them fully into the legal system of the Kingdom of England. This was in part to update outdated Welsh laws, but also to control Wales alongside England; through these acts, the Welsh could be seen as equals to the English. This was reflected on both Henry VIII and Elizabeth I 's coat of arms where
4450-431: The aircraft. He reached over to his right-hand side-stick, pulling back to regain control of the aircraft. The sudden descent caused several injuries to twenty-five passengers and seven crew, some of whom struck the ceiling of the aircraft; they were attended by medical personnel onboard as passengers on the flight. A maximum g-force of minus 0.56 g was recorded at the start of the dive , and plus 2.06 g during
4539-473: The airfield's infrastructure, including IT, engineering, housing and personnel. On 25 January 2011, a new station chapel and chaplaincy centre was opened by the RAF Chaplain-in-Chief , The Venerable ( Air Vice Marshal ) Ray Pentland . By March 2011, seventy buildings had been refurbished on the station. As part of work to prepare for the introduction of A330 Voyager aircraft into active service,
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#17328440633554628-508: The biggest army brought together in England since the 11th century, conquered the remainder of Wales , then organised as the Principality of Wales . This was then united with the English crown by the Statute of Rhuddlan of 1284. This aimed to replace Welsh criminal law with English law. Welsh law continued to be used for civil cases until the annexation of Wales to England in the 16th century by
4717-553: The civilian-crewed G-VYGJ; BZZ to MPN on 19 November 2023 in 19 hours 14 minutes, 6 December 2023 in 18:57, 6 June 2024 in 18:30, 20 June 2024 in 18:27, 29 July 2024 in 18:43, 6 October 2024 in 18:50, and 4 November 2024 in 18:23. From late 2014 , up to two AirTanker Holdings Limited RAF Voyager KC3 aircraft (currently ZZ333 and ZZ334) operated by the Royal Air Force (RAF) have been involved in combat missions in support of Operation Shader . They are tasked for tanker sorties supplying AAR fuel to Typhoon FGR4s and F-35Bs of
4806-547: The demodified demilitarised A330-243 aircraft, used as civilian air charter or wet lease, are operated by AirTanker civilian pilots, but draw cabin crew from the respective civilian airline they operate for. AirTanker Holdings Limited has a 27-year contract to provide fourteen aircraft. All airframes are the Airbus A330 MRTT ; based upon the A330-243 civilian airliner with a dual-aisle, two-four-two passenger cabin , powered by
4895-410: The dragon represented Wales and the lion represented England. As soon as the Tudor dynasty ended with the death of Elizabeth I , however, the red dragon of Wales was dropped and replaced with the unicorn of Scotland with the succession of King James I who demoted Wales' status on the coat of arms and on the first adaptation of the Flag of Great Britain . Prior to 1746, it was not clear whether
4984-440: The eastern side of the airfield, cost approximately £70 million and provides 24,000 square metres of floor space. In September 2018, No. 2 Squadron RAF Regiment , which provides protection to the Air Mobility Force, moved to the station from RAF Honington in Suffolk . No. 30 Squadron reformed in September 2021 to operate the A400M Atlas, becoming the second frontline Atlas unit. On 30 June 2023, after 56 years of RAF service
5073-404: The entire C-130 Hercules force, together with the entry into service of the Airbus A400M and the A330 Voyager . To accommodate this expansion (with the number of aircraft stationed at Brize Norton increasing from twenty-eight to sixty-seven), a major infrastructure redevelopment, "Programme Future Brize" was established in 2009. The project involved the overhaul of virtually every element of
5162-532: The entire fleet of fourteen Airbus A330-243 aircraft under the terms of its contract with the UK government . AirTanker Services Limited operate the aircraft, and also provides full support infrastructure to service and maintain the aircraft fleet, operational management, personnel training, and some specific aircraft crews. For Royal Air Force operations (identified by its ICAO airline designator : RAF), this latter includes military pilots and engineers who are classed as 'Sponsored Reservists'. Its surge fleet,
5251-422: The event was caused by the captain's improperly stowed DSLR camera being jammed between the captain's armrest and the side-stick controller, forcing the stick forward when the captain adjusted his seat forward. England and Wales England and Wales ( Welsh : Cymru a Lloegr ) is one of the three legal jurisdictions of the United Kingdom . It covers the constituent countries England and Wales and
5340-420: The following official nomenclature, as defined by their primary operator (identified by its ICAO airline designator code ): Primarily operated by Royal Air Force (RAF) military Sponsored Reservist pilots and cabin crew of 10 Squadron and 101 Squadron , along with 1312 Flight of the RAF by AirTanker Services Limited. All aircraft (excluding the gloss-white VIP converted Vespina ) are externally painted in
5429-401: The full Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) tanker specification. This new capability was to provide a modern replacement for the RAF's then ageing fleet of aerial refuelling tankers; namely the Vickers VC10 and Lockheed TriStar . In addition to its primary role of supporting the Royal Air Force, AirTanker Services Limited (ATS) (the legal operator of the civilian AirTanker airline) also holds
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#17328440633555518-440: The individual airframe (currently G-VYGJ) permanently tasked for the South Atlantic Air Bridge. All aircraft are identified by their British civilian aircraft registration mark : Notes: On Sunday 9 February 2014, an RAF Voyager KC3, registration ZZ333, MSN 1312, was tasked with an air transport flight from RAF Brize Norton (IATA: BZZ, ICAO: EGVN) in Oxfordshire to Camp Bastion (IATA: QOZ, ICAO: OAZI) in Afghanistan. With
5607-463: The law applicable to that business entity. A registered office must be specified as "in Wales" if the company wishes to use a name ending cyfyngedig or cyf , rather than Limited or Ltd. or to avail itself of certain other privileges relating to the official use of the Welsh language. Outside the legal system, the position is mixed. Some organisations combine as "England and Wales", others are separate. The order of precedence in England and Wales
5696-447: The middle of the Atlantic Ocean; but due to the deteriorating condition of its runway , the refuelling stop was transferred to Cape Verde (from October 2019 to March 2020). During the COVID-19 pandemic , this refuelling stop was moved to Blaise Diagne International Airport (IATA: DSS, ICAO: GOBD) in Dakar , west Africa, from April to September 2020. However, in early June 2020 , an AirTanker A330-243 civilian registration : G-VYGM,
5785-426: The military commercial flight space regarding permittance of loose article in the cockpit, limits on the time that a flight can be left with a single pilot during flight, and an atmosphere of boredom and inattentiveness during similar flights due to low workload. There were no deaths but the captain received harsh military punishments and was dismissed from service for his negligence in the incident. On 25 August 2017,
5874-475: The need to consult Westminster. This was the first time in almost 500 years that Wales had its own powers to legislate. Each piece of Welsh legislation is known as an Act of Senedd Cymru . For a company to be incorporated in the United Kingdom, its application for registration with Companies House must state "whether the company's registered office is to be situated in England and Wales (or in Wales), in Scotland or in Northern Ireland", which will determine
5963-400: The other stations it occupied, SAC invested heavily in extending the runway (6,000 to 9,000 ft (1,829 to 2,743 m)), taxiways and dispersals, as well as constructing accommodation and weapons handling facilities. This work was completed in April 1951. Command of the station was transferred from U.S. Air Forces in Europe (USAFE) to SAC on 8 December 1952. 30th Air Depot Wing became
6052-407: The previous record by thirty-six minutes, set in 1987 by an RAF Vickers VC10. Its return journey, departing Mount Pleasant on 5 June was also completed non-stop. Following major repairs to the runway at Wideawake Airfield by US contractors, ground refuelling stops resumed at RAF Ascension Island in May 2023. More recent non-stop flights from Brize Norton to Mount Pleasant and return have been made by
6141-506: The radar and associated equipment costing £1.2 million. On 23 May 2001, the RAF's first C-17A Globemaster III arrived at Brize Norton, one of eight to be delivered to No. 99 Squadron. On 14 October 2005, No. 10 Squadron was disbanded, the aircrew and aircraft being merged with No. 101 Squadron. Like other UK military bases (for example RAF Fairford, Faslane Naval Base , RAF Lakenheath , and Menwith Hill ) RAF Brize Norton has been subject to limited protests by peace demonstrators. During
6230-484: The recovery to level flight. After gaining control, the aircraft diverted to Incirlik Air Base (IATA: UAB, ICAO: LTAG) in Turkey and landed without further incident. The incident resulted in the grounding of the entire RAF Voyager fleet for twelve days, until it was determined by a United Kingdom Military Aviation Authority (UK-MAA) report following an investigation by the Military Air Accidents Investigation Branch (MilAAIB) at Farnborough on 14 February 2014 that
6319-433: The remainder of the RAF Voyager KC2 and KC3 fleet. During mid- 2020 , as part of its programmed mid-life upgrades and major servicing, ZZ336 was repainted in gloss-white ' Global Britain ' livery, which includes a stylised Union Jack on its tail fin and winglets , gold United Kingdom lettering, but retaining its Royal Air Force name, RAF roundels, and prominent military aircraft registration. When returned to service with
6408-530: The runways commenced in April 2007, and repatriation of British personnel was transferred to RAF Lyneham at the same time. With the closure of RAF Lyneham taking place in late 2011, the repatriation transferred back to Brize Norton on 8 September 2011. To accommodate the repatriation services, a purpose-built centre was constructed, and an exit gate was refurbished and formally named the Britannia Gate. Brize Norton
6497-451: The second RAF flying squadron alongside 10 Squadron to operate the Voyager. From October 2013 , AirTanker's civilian pilots and flight crews started to provide the twice-weekly scheduled passenger flights using a demodified unmilitarised Voyager aircraft (A330-243, currently G-VYGJ) with a single-class cabin of 291 premium economy seats between RAF Brize Norton in the United Kingdom and RAF Mount Pleasant (IATA: MPN, ICAO: EGYP) on
6586-671: The sole air point of embarkation for British troops. Construction of RAF Brize Norton began in 1935 with the official opening taking place on 13 August 1937. The station was originally to be named RAF Carterton, given its proximity and relationship with the town of the same name, but was instead named RAF Brize Norton to avoid possible confusion with RAF Cardington in Bedfordshire. The station's first unit, No. 2 Flying Training School (No. 2 FTS) transferred from RAF Digby in Lincolnshire on 7 September 1937. On 10 October 1938, No. 2 FTS
6675-531: The south side of the airbase. In September 1964, the USAF announced that Reflex operations would cease and that Brize Norton would be returned to the RAF. With RAF Lyneham , the home of RAF Transport Command's Bristol Britannia and De Havilland Comet fleets operating at capacity, the planned introduction to RAF service of the Vickers VC10 and Short Belfast created a requirement for an additional major strategic transport airfield. The planned withdrawal of
6764-527: The squadron departed for Asia. The two flying training units left on 16 July 1942 to make way for a new user, the Heavy Glider Conversion Unit (HGCU), equipped with Whitley glider tugs and Airspeed Horsa gliders . No. 296 Squadron and No. 297 Squadron both moved in on 14 March 1944 with their Armstrong Whitworth Albemarles , displacing the Heavy Glider Conversion Unit, which moved to RAF North Luffenham . The two Squadrons took part in
6853-452: The station's Air Movements Squadron subordinated to No. 1 Air Mobility Wing (1AMW), a high readiness unit providing early entry air movements support forming part of the RAF's A4 Force which specialises in logistic support for expeditionary air operations. A new maintenance hangar capable of accommodating three A400M Atlas aircraft was officially opened by Minister for Defence Procurement Guto Bebb on 1 February 2018. The hangar, located on
6942-497: The thirteenth and penultimate Voyager ( MSN : 1601) set a new record by flying non-stop direct from Brize Norton to Mount Pleasant without refuelling. Captained by Royal Air Force (RAF) pilot Dave Hall, a former RAF Vickers VC10 pilot, now a 10 Squadron sponsored reservist RAF pilot, departing on 2 June from RAF Brize Norton, it completed the non-stop total distance of 12,657 kilometres (6,834 nautical miles; 7,865 miles) to RAF Mount Pleasant in fifteen hours nine minutes; breaking
7031-462: The thirty-nine airline aircraft acquired by the RAF, thirteen were converted, while the remainder were cannibalised for spare parts. These converted VC-10s were all three-point tankers; capable of refuelling one aircraft (typically another large aircraft) using the main hose or two smaller aircraft using the underwing pods. The variants were designated K.2, K.3 and K.4. Following the Falklands War ,
7120-834: Was awarded a contract by Airbus Defence and Space , on behalf of the European Defence Agency (EDA), who are the operator of the Multinational MRTT Fleet (MMF), for its fleet of Airbus A330 MRTT as used by six NATO partner nations. This was to provide engineering support services to the Netherlands-based, but Luxembourg-registered Multinational MRTT Fleet. The contract agreement is for a work share between AirTanker and Airbus Defence and Space for three specific support services; these include Rolls-Royce Trent 772B-60 engine support, Cobham flight refuelling pod support, and maintenance. AirTanker Holdings Limited owns
7209-447: Was closed for runway repairs in 1956. Later deployments included KC-97 and Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker and the first Convair B-58 Hustler and Boeing B-52 Stratofortress bombers to land in the United Kingdom. From 1958, B-47 deployments changed from 90-day temporary deployments to 30-day Reflex Alerts, in which the aircraft did little flying, but were held at a high degree of readiness (armed with nuclear bombs) on special aprons on
7298-407: Was conducting a ferrying flight from Brize Norton, Carterton to Camp Bastion , Afghanistan . On 9 February 2014, the aircraft operating the route, an Airbus A330 MRTT (A330-243MRTT) had an incident occur over Turkey with multiple nonfatal casualties, forcing the captain to divert the flight to Incirlik Air Base in southern Turkey. The cause of the accident was a combination of mismanagement in
7387-583: Was formed by the Laws in Wales Acts 1535 and 1542 . The substantive law of the jurisdiction is English law . The devolved Senedd (Welsh Parliament; Welsh : Senedd Cymru ) – previously named the National Assembly for Wales – was created in 1999 under the Government of Wales Act 1998 and provides a degree of self-government in Wales. The powers of the legislature were expanded by the Government of Wales Act 2006 , which allows it to pass its own laws , and
7476-591: Was guaranteed under the 1706 Treaty of Union that led to the Acts of Union 1707 , and as a consequence English law—and after 1801 , Irish law —continued to be separate. Following the two Acts of Union, Parliament can restrict the effect of its laws to part of the realm, and generally the effect of laws, where restricted, was originally applied to one or more of the former kingdoms. Thus, most laws applicable to England also applied to Wales. However, Parliament now passes laws applicable to Wales and not to England (and vice versa),
7565-544: Was joined by No. 6 Maintenance Unit (No. 6 MU). One of the first operational squadrons to use the airfield was a detachment of No. 110 Squadron which operated from Brize Norton from June 1939 with the Bristol Blenheim Mk.1 and IV. No. 2 FTS was renamed No. 2 Service Flying Training School (No. 2 SFTS) in September 1939, when it re-equipped with the Airspeed Oxford . No. 16 Service Training School, equipped with
7654-564: Was reconfigured to include fifty-eight business class seats up front in a dual-aisle one-two-one configuration, retaining one-hundred premium economy standard-class seats in the standard two-four-two configuration rear cabin. The VIP upgrade also included secure satellite communications system, missile detection , secure weapons storage, and media facilities, similar to other dedicated air transports of heads of state and government . This VIP Voyager originally retained its military low-visibility matt-grey exterior paint scheme , identical to
7743-444: Was referred to as "England" is now "England and Wales", while subsequent references to "England" and "Wales" refer to those political divisions. There have been multiple calls from both Welsh academics and politicians for a Wales criminal justice system . England and Wales are treated as a single unit for some purposes, because the two form the constitutional successor to the former Kingdom of England. The continuance of Scots law
7832-410: Was subsequently redeveloped as the major airbase for the RAF's transport fleet. The end of flying from RAF Lyneham in September 2011 made Brize Norton the sole "Air Point of Embarkation", the main operating base for RAF air transport and in-air refuelling aircraft, and home to 15% of RAF uniformed manpower. All the RAF's fixed wing transport assets were consolidated at Brize Norton, with the transfer of
7921-681: Was that of twenty-one Convair B-36 Peacemaker strategic bombers of the 11th Bomb Wing for eight days in June 1952. Boeing B-29 Superfortress and the KB-29 air-air tankers of the 301st Bombardment Wing were based at Brize Norton on temporary duty from December 1952 to April 1953. From September 1953, units equipped with the Boeing B-47E Stratojet six-engined bombers began to be deployed to Brize Norton on 90-day temporary deployments, with boom-equipped Boeing KC-97G Stratofreighters also being deployed in support from December 1954. Brize Norton
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