New training facility for Wildcat helicopter pilots at RNAS Yeovilton

The Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) has signed a new contract with Carillion to build a new training facility for helicopter pilots based at Royal Navy Air Station (RNAS) Yeovilton.

RNAS Yeovilton is soon to be home to the Army and Royal Navy’s new Wildcat helicopters and regiments moving to Wiltshire from Yorkshire andGutersloh,Germany.

New training and office facilities will ensure that servicemen and women at the air base are able to train for deployment using both the existing fleet of Lynx helicopters and the Wildcats.

DIO and Carillion are due to start works this month with the demolition of the existing building. The project will be completed in March 2015 when the new helicopters are due to arrive.

DIO Team Leader, Steve Jeffries said:

“DIO’s priority is to support our Armed Forces by providing the facilities they need to live, work, train and deploy on operations. Acquisition of the new Wildcat helicopters means that the Yeovilton base will become the Army and Royal Navy’s centre for both front-line squadrons and training units, including the Commando Helicopter Force.”

Commanding Officer, Commodore Jock Alexander at RNAS Yeovilton added:

“It is great news that DIO is providing these much-needed new facilities. We look forward to working with the construction team to enhance our capabilities and ensure the Wildcat Force is ready when called upon.”

RNAS Yeovilton’s new facilities are part of a wider DIO project called WINFRA, which is preparing the base to be fully operational to receive the Wildcat helicopters.

Ends

Further information:

Press enquiries to Tony Moran, Senior Communications Officer 0121 311 3879 or email tony.moran572@mod.uk

DIO website: www.gov.uk/dio

Twitter: @mod_dio

Read DIO’s blog: https://insidedio.blog.gov.uk/

Notes to Editors         

1) The Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) plays a vital role in supporting our Armed Forces by building, maintaining and servicing what the men and women who serve our country need to live, work, train and deploy on operations.

2) DIO is part of the Ministry of Defence (MOD). It is responsible for managing and maintaining land and properties, as well as providing related support services, to meet the current and future needs of the MOD and personnel at home and abroad, and to support current operations.

3) Our work includes supporting operational units by providing and improving single living and service family accommodation; training areas and historic military sites. DIO actively manages these to ensure the needs of Defence are met, value for money is achieved, and its heritage is protected, and to achieve its environmental goals.

4) RNAS Yeovilton, also known as HMS Heron, is one of the Navy’s two principle air bases, and one of the busiest military airfields in the UK. It is home to more than 100 aircraft. The base is located near Yeovil in Somerset and covers around 1,800 acres with the main airfield in Yeovilton itself and the satellite at Ilton (Merryfield).

5) Some 4,300 personnel, Service and civilian, including MOD employees and permanent contractors are employed on the site. Carillion is one of the UK’s leading integrated support services companies which employs around 40,000 people worldwide.

6) Pictures: Please credit ‘Crown copyright/MOD 2014’

Aerial view of Royal Navy Air Station Yeovilton

Wildcat helicopters are due to start operation from Royal Navy Air Station Yeovilton in 2015

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