The ICAO airport code or location indicator is a four-letter code designating aerodromes around the world. These codes, as defined by the International Civil Aviation Organization and published quarterly in ICAO Document 7910: Location Indicators , are used by air traffic control and airline operations such as flight planning . ICAO codes are also used to identify other aviation facilities such as weather stations , international flight service stations or area control centers , whether or not they are located at airports. Flight information regions are also identified by a unique ICAO-code.
43-608: Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose ( RNAS Culdrose , also known as HMS Seahawk ; ICAO : EGDR ) is a Royal Navy airbase near Helston on the Lizard Peninsula of Cornwall UK, and is one of the largest helicopter bases in Europe. Its main role is serving the Fleet Air Arm 's front line AgustaWestland Merlin helicopter squadrons. Admiralty surveyors first started preliminary surveys of land near Helston in 1942. RNAS Culdrose
86-614: A Mechanical Systems Trainer (MST) and a Weapon Systems Trainer (WST). Merlin Depth Maintenance Facility The Merlin Depth Maintenance Facility (MDMF) performs depth maintenance on AW101 Merlin helicopters of the Royal Navy . MDMF is located at RNAS Culdrose, and is a partnership between the UK Ministry of Defence and Leonardo Helicopters . For UK Merlin helicopters depth maintenance
129-684: A ground exam and a check flight, and may also occur if a squadron has referred them to NFSF(RW). The Engineering Training Section (ETS) at RNAS Culdrose is a unit of the Air Engineering Department that is dedicated to the instruction of Merlin Mk2, Mk3 and generic air engineering training. The primary task of the ETS is to train sufficient air engineering personnel to enable the front line to achieve operational capability. It comprises approximately 20 personnel including both service and civilian instructors and
172-502: A home base for carrier-based aircraft. Over the years the station's emphasis changed from fixed wing aircraft to rotary wing, although its main role remains largely the same. In 1958, HMS Seahawk was given the Freedom of the Borough of Helston , a parade thanking the town was set up in 1958 and is still happening; on 20 September 2018, the parade celebrated its 60th anniversary. From 1968 it
215-573: A mainly Ceremonial role on events such as the Freedom of Helston Parade. Although mainly a wind band as well as a marching band, it also includes jazz ensembles and a corps of drums . In July 2003, the band was awarded the Bambara Trophy, the recipient of which is considered to be the best band in the Fleet Air Arm . On 7 June 2016 the band performed a dawn fanfare on the King Harry Ferry to honour
258-603: A real aircraft carrier. Motto: Nostris in Manibus Tuti (Safe in our Hands) RNAS Culdrose has a satellite airfield at Predannack which it uses primarily as a relief landing ground and night flying for helicopter pilot training; it also houses a small arms range and aircraft fire fighting facilities. The HMS Seahawk Volunteer Band is one of the nine volunteer bands under the Royal Marines Band Service . It performs regularly around Culdrose and Helston, performing
301-613: A result of a series of changes of identity and parent unit. From 1918 until 1939 the Royal Air Force was responsible for naval aviation, including training and provision of aircrew to the Royal Navy. With the return of naval aviation to the Royal Navy on 24 May 1939, the Observer School was established as 750 Naval Air Squadron of the Fleet Air Arm . During World War II the squadron moved to Trinidad to continue training aircrew. It
344-474: Is a pseudo-code, used in flight plans for aerodromes with no ICAO code assigned. ICAO codes are sometimes updated. Johannesburg Airport in Johannesburg , South Africa, for instance, was formerly known as Jan Smuts International Airport, with code FAJS. When the airport was renamed O. R. Tambo International Airport, its ICAO code was updated to FAOR. Some airports have two ICAO codes, usually when an airport
387-531: Is centred on a four year cycle. MDMF has a crew-based maintenance philosophy, in which each aircraft is assigned a crew which oversee all activities from induction to output. Each Merlin has a bespoke package of calendar and hourly tasks, emergent repairs and modifications as detailed in a Statement of Work (SoW). All rotary wing (helicopter) pilots, observers and aircrewmen are assessed bi-annually by NFSF(RW) examiners. This covers all helicopter squadrons at RNAS Yeovilton as well as Culdrose. The assessment consists of
430-507: Is conducted in classrooms as well as in the air and in a computer-controlled simulator. Upon completion of this course they will be ready for advanced flying training and will be streamed for their eventual specialisation. On completion of flying training observers serve in Wildcat HMA2 or Merlin HM2 helicopters. These aircraft help extend the eyes and ears of the fleet at sea and are integral to
473-586: Is headed by a lieutenant who is responsible to Commander of Air Engineering. 750 Naval Air Squadron provides grading and Basic Observer Training for the Fleet Air Arm's observers and operates the Beechcraft Avenger T1. 700X Naval Air Squadron is the Royal Navy's first squadron of uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAV) using ScanEagle aircraft. In 2014, 700X Naval Air Squadron was one of the smallest naval units with twelve personnel but numbers could double
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#1732859234125516-726: Is shared by civilian and military users. Frankfurt Airport in Frankfurt , Germany, for instance, has been assigned ICAO code EDDF while Rhein-Main Air Base was assigned ICAO code EDAF until its closure. Sion Airport in Switzerland has code LSGS while its military facilities have the ICAO code LSMS. Brussels Airport in Brussels , Belgium, has the ICAO code EBBR for its civilian facilities, and Melsbroek Air Base has been assigned ICAO code EBMB, even though
559-630: Is the Merlin Operational Conversion Unit , incorporating the Operational Evaluation Unit flight. The Merlin Training Facility (MTF) is part of 824 NAS, and is a first in that it encompasses pilot, observer, aircrewman and engineering training under one roof. The facility comprises a Cockpit Dynamic Simulator (CDS), three Rear Crew Trainers (RCT), six Part Task Trainers (PTT), computer-based training (CBT) classrooms,
602-587: The AgustaWestland Merlin HM2 primarily in the carrier based anti-submarine warfare role. The Merlin is fitted with an advanced sensor suite of active/passive sonics, Orange Reaper Electronic Support Measures and Blue Kestrel radar and provides a strong force in under-water warfare and anti-surface unit warfare. The unit's various roles include protecting the Royal Navy against surface and sub-surface threats, command and control, transport, evacuation and Search and Rescue capabilities. 824 Naval Air Squadron
645-599: The Jezero Crater on Mars is assigned the special ICAO code JZRO. Codes beginning with I (Ixx and Ixxx) are often used for navigational aids such as radio beacons, while the Q code is reserved for international radiocommunications and non-geographical special use. In Russia , Latin letter X, or its Morse / Baudot Cyrillic equivalent Ь , are used to designate government, military, and experimental aviation airfields in internal airfield codes similar in structure and purpose to ICAO codes but not used internationally. ZZZZ
688-536: The Royal Air Force , the school was renamed No. 209 Training Depot. Throughout the early 1920s pilots and observers of seaplanes were trained at Lee-on-Solent under a variety of names; from 1921 the base was renamed the RAF Seaplane Training School, and from 1923, the RAF School of Naval Co-operation. Although the school now concentrated on observer training, from 1925 all naval aircrew were provided by
731-535: The ICAO code indicate the country; the remaining letters identify the airport. ICAO codes are used partly for geographical context. For example, the ICAO code for Heathrow International Airport in London, is EGLL, with its first letters reflecting that it is based in the United Kingdom . On the other hand, IATA codes do not provide geographic reference. For example, LHR, representing Heathrow, does not enable one to deduce
774-669: The Olympic Flame started its first leg from Land's End , through Cornwall, to Plymouth . Its final destination was the Olympic Stadium in time for the start of the 2012 Summer Olympics . The air base puts £100 million into the Cornish economy and is one of the largest single-site employers in Cornwall. Flying and notable non-flying units based at RNAS Culdrose. Fleet Air Arm 814 Naval Air Squadron and 820 Naval Air Squadron operate
817-609: The RAF and Army who will be involved in operating aircraft at sea. Trainees are trained in activities they will be required to carry out during their career, such as tackling aircraft fires and aircraft deck handling. Equipment used includes; mock-up can be produced and adjusted at the instructors control and the "Dummy Deck", a full-sized replica of an Invincible class aircraft carrier's deck allowing trainees to practice their roles in realistic environments, experiencing training with live aircraft with reduced risk and danger compared to operating on
860-580: The RAF, and training of naval officers as observers ceased. During this period the primary training aircraft was the Fairey IIID . From 1932 Lee-on-Solent was provided with a full airfield and became the headquarters of the RAF's Coastal Command . Observer training continued apace and the airfield was home to a wide range of naval aircraft including Fairey Seals , Hawker Ospreys , Blackburn Sharks , Supermarine Walruses , and Fairey Swordfishes . Telegraphist air gunners were also trained at Lee-on-Solent in
903-476: The United Kingdom, but nearby civilian Port Stanley Airport is assigned SFAL, consistent with South America . Saint Pierre and Miquelon is controlled by France, and airports there are assigned LFxx as though they were in Europe. Kosovo is assigned the code BKxx grouping it with Greenland and Iceland rather than its geographical neighbors which have Lxxx (described below). Jerusalem International Airport
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#1732859234125946-598: The continued operation and protection of naval aircraft worldwide. Established in December 2007, the unit was previously known as the Maritime Aviation Support Force (MASF). It was renamed 1700 Naval Air Squadron on 31 October 2017. Motto: Auxilio Ad Alta (Reaching The Heights With Help) The Royal Naval School of Flight Deck Operations provides professional training for all naval aircraft handlers. The school also trains other Navy personnel and personnel from
989-597: The draw-down of the Sea King force and the return of British forces from Afghanistan, 854 NAS & 857 NAS were merged back into 849 NAS in 2014. 771 Naval Air Squadron 771 was responsible for search and rescue in Cornwall, the Isles of Scilly and the western English Channel, in total an area of approximately 200 nmi (370 km; 230 mi). It also administered the Sea Kings on detachment at HMS Gannet . The squadron
1032-572: The first naval air squadron to achieve 50 unbroken years in commission. (Note in 2017 now 75!). Formerly flying the T2 & T3 versions of the BAe Jetstream, 750 NAS is tasked with providing Basic Flying Training for the Fleet Air Arm's observers. After undergoing initial training at Britannia Royal Naval College , trainee aircrew officers join for a seven-month period of training in all aspects of airborne navigation, airmanship and other tactical skills. This
1075-539: The following year. 1700 Naval Air Squadron provides qualified specialist personnel to man, operate and maintain all Royal Naval controlled systems in all aviation capable platforms in both the Royal Navy and the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. The unit provides tailored teams, ranging in size and specialisms and can comprise aircraft handlers, aircraft controllers, fire-fighters, military police officers, logistical personnel, engineers, medics and other specialists to allow
1118-475: The largest ever Merlin squadron. 849 Naval Air Squadron disbanded in April 2020. This previously provided the Royal Navy's airborne surveillance and control . Hawk T1s of 736 Naval Air Squadron provided a maritime aggressor squadron for Royal Navy ships and vessels of other foreign navies, simulating missile attacks and fast jet attacks on warships in the naval exercise areas south and west of Plymouth. The unit
1161-584: The location of the airport LHV with any greater certainty; it is William T. Piper Memorial Airport in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania in the United States . There are a few exceptions to the regional structure of the ICAO code that have been historically for political or administrative reasons. RAF Mount Pleasant air base in the Falkland Islands , for instance, is assigned the ICAO code EGYP as though it were in
1204-441: The name of the airport or the city it serves, while ICAO codes are distributed by region and country. Far more aerodromes (in the broad sense) have ICAO codes than IATA codes, which are sometimes assigned to railway stations as well. The selection of ICAO codes is partly delegated to authorities in each country, while IATA codes, which have no geographic structure, must be decided centrally by IATA. The first one or two letters of
1247-412: The official birthday of HM Queen Elizabeth II . The list of bandmasters are as follows: 700 Naval Air Squadron The squadron was disbanded on 31 March 2008. With two Merlin helicopters, Squadron 700M carried out trial modifications and developed tactics and operational procedure. The Motto was : "Experienta Docet" – "Experience Teaches" Fleet Requirements Air Direction Unit (FRADU) FRADU
1290-479: The same time re-equipped with Fairey Albacores . On 15 January 1941, 21 officers and 121 ratings from 749 , 750 and 752 squadrons sailed from Liverpool on SS Almeda Star bound for Trinidad. Two days later German submarine U-96 sank Almeda Star in heavy seas 35 miles (56 km) north of Rockall . There were no survivors. The squadron operated in Trinidad for the duration of World War II and
1333-506: The same year. ICAO codes are separate and different from IATA codes , the latter of which have three letters and are generally used for airline timetables , reservations, and baggage tags. For example, the IATA code for London 's Heathrow Airport is LHR and its ICAO code is EGLL. IATA codes are commonly seen by passengers and the general public on flight-tracking services such as FlightAware . In general IATA codes are usually derived from
RNAS Culdrose (HMS Seahawk) - Misplaced Pages Continue
1376-630: The style LFddnn , where dd indicates the department while nn is a sequential counter. The French Federation of Ultralight Motorized Gliders was formally named the keeper of these codes. Aerodrome de Torreilles in France, for instance, has code LF6651. In Antarctica many aerodromes have pseudo ICAO-codes with AT and two digits, while others have proper codes from countries performing air control such as NZ for New Zealand . 750 Naval Air Squadron The Royal Navy Observer School grew out of HM Naval Seaplane Training School at RNAS Lee-on-Solent as
1419-614: The training of air telegraphists, it changed again to the Observer School in May 1959. The squadron moved to Hal Far (HMS Falcon ) , Malta in October 1959, and in 1965 it was transferred again, this time to RNAS Lossiemouth . The last move came in 1972, back to RNAS Culdrose, still equipped with the Sea Prince T1. These were replaced by the Jetstream T2 in 1978 and in 1992 the squadron became
1462-515: The two airports share runways and ground and air control facilities. In small countries like Belgium or the Netherlands, almost all aerodromes have an ICAO code. For larger countries like the UK or Germany this is not feasible, given the limited number of letter codes. Some countries have addressed this issue by introducing a scheme of sub-ICAO aerodrome codes; France, for example, assigns pseudo ICAO codes in
1505-754: The years leading up to the Second World War. 750 Naval Air Squadron was formed at RNAS Ford on 24 May 1939 from the Royal Navy Observer School, but after Ford was bombed early in the war, it moved to RNAS Yeovilton . Changing title from a school to a squadron did not change its basic purpose, which was the training of observers for the Fleet Air Arm. The squadron initially flew Hawker Ospreys and Blackburn Sharks , but in November 1940 it moved to Piarco Savannah (HMS Goshawk ) in Trinidad and at about
1548-569: Was an evolution of the previous Fleet Requirements Aircraft Direction Unit (FRADU) and was supported by the defence contractor SERCO . 736 Sqn was decommissioned in Spring 2022, with the Hawk jets leaving Cornwall on Thursday 24th March 2022. The squadron was decommissioned on 31 March 2022. International Civil Aviation Organization airport code The recommendations for ICAO airport codes were adopted on 24 March 1959, and came into force on 1 October
1591-691: Was assigned both LLJR (its Israeli persona) as well as OJJR (its Jordanian persona), but the airport itself fell into disuse. In the contiguous United States and Canada, many airports have ICAO codes that are simply copies of their three-letter IATA codes, with the geographical prefix added on (e.g., YEG and CYEG both refer to Edmonton International Airport , while IAD and KIAD both refer to Washington Dulles International Airport ). This similarity does not extend to Alaska (PAxx), Hawaii (PHxx), or U.S. territories. Kahului Airport on Maui , for instance, has an IATA code of OGG and an ICAO code of PHOG. ICAO airport codes do not begin with I or J or X or Q, though
1634-480: Was built by John Laing & Son and commissioned as HMS Seahawk five years after these initial surveys. The station was originally designed to be a wartime airfield lasting about ten years. The initial plans were for Culdrose to serve as a Naval Fighting School, it soon developed other roles. These varied roles included such things as the trials of the Navy's first jets, training of airborne early warning crews and as
1677-538: Was disbanded on 10 October 1945. The squadron reformed on 17 April 1952 at RNAS St Merryn . At first it was equipped with twelve Fairey Barracudas and four Avro Ansons , but in 1953 the Fairey Firefly T7 and Percival Sea Prince T1 aircraft were introduced, and in the same year the squadron moved to RNAS Culdrose . In 1955 the squadron changed its name to the Observer and Air Signal School. After discontinuing
1720-489: Was one of the designated locations for plan PYTHON , the plan for continuity of government in the event of nuclear war. On 18 May 2012, British Airways flight BAW2012 carrying the Olympic Flame , from Athens International Airport , landed at RNAS Culdrose. The aircraft, an Airbus A319 painted yellow and named 'The Firefly', carried dignitaries including Seb Coe , Princess Anne , and David Beckham . The following day
1763-448: Was operated by the contractor Serco Defence and Aerospace as part of the RN MAC 2004, using 13 BAE Hawk T1 advanced jet trainer aircraft on lease to the Royal Navy from the RAF and based at RNAS Culdrose. Two of these aircraft were permanently detached to Naval Flying Standards Flight (Fixed Wing) at RNAS Yeovilton where they were flown by RN pilots, but maintained by Serco engineers. With
RNAS Culdrose (HMS Seahawk) - Misplaced Pages Continue
1806-424: Was stood down on 1 January 2016, decommissioned on 22 March 2016 and was responsible for saving over 15,000 lives on more than 9,000 missions. Between October 2004 and March 2018, 829 Naval Air Squadron provided up to three ship's flights capable of deploying with Type 23 frigates . The squadron decommissioned on 28 March 2018, with the unit's aircraft and personnel becoming part of 814 Naval Air Squadron, creating
1849-575: Was temporarily disbanded in October 1945. The squadron reformed in 1952 and is currently based at RNAS Culdrose, where it trains approximately 30 Royal Navy observers every year. The Royal Navy established HM Naval Seaplane Training School on 30 July 1917 at Lee-on-Solent ; the unit was responsible for the training of seaplane pilots and observers. When the Royal Naval Air Service and the Royal Flying Corps merged on 1 April 1918 to form
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