Air Department
The Air Department, headed by Commander Air, provides the personnel and infrastructure to support flying operations 24 hours a day - Zeal Does Not Rest. Although one of the smaller departments, numbering just under 70 personnel, the Air Department supports Ark Royal with her main offensive capabilities for Maritime Strike, ASW, ASuW and Amphibious Operations, working in close co-operation with the Air engineering and all other Departments.
After a major refit, Ark Royal returned to sea to conduct a period of Trials of her Aviation Equipment and an Operational Sea Training package, resuming as the Royal Navy's Flagship. HMS Ark Royal assumed the status as the Nation's High Readiness Strike Carrier, and was able to deploy to provide an appropriate level of military response at immediate notice to anywhere in the world.
The Air Department has recently undertaken a period of intense training, called "Safe to Operate", with a number of different aircraft types including Harrier GR9As from the Naval Strike Wing of Joint Force Harrier, as well as Lynx, Merlin and Sea King helicopters. This honed HMS Ark Royal's capability and proved her ability to operate a Tailored Air Group in support of Maritime Operations and has given the Flagship the skills required for its current operational deployment to the United States of America.
The effectiveness of carrier aviation has been frequently demonstrated throughout history and achieving the battle-winning edge can only come from a fully integrated, experienced and worked-up aviation team that can deliver fighting aircraft from the sea. Although a Wholeship commitment, the Air Department provides the expertise and focal point for the Flight Safety Organisation. This is dedicated to minimising the dangers that are inherent in operating aircraft from a flight deck at sea in arduous conditions. Importantly, everyone onboard can have an input from the youngest Naval Airman upwards. In order to carry out all of the above, the department is comprised of a wide variety of specialists from air traffic controllers to fire-fighters and meteorologists to photographers, with even the occasional pilot.
The flight deck is manned by members of the Aircraft Handling branch; they are responsible for the safe movement of aircraft about the flight deck to meet the flying programme. In addition to the movement of aircraft they direct aircraft to and from the deck and by day and night. At all time during "flying stations" two members of each watch are dressed in full fire fighting clothing to deal with fires and also to rescue aircrew should an aircraft crash on deck.
Air Traffic Controllers, or 'Homers' as they are known are ultimately responsible for making sure that aircraft operating from Ark Royal's deck or in the vicinity find safe routes to their destinations. Their role is to provide a service which allows the pilot of an aircraft to conduct a safe and efficient flight; this is achieved through a highly professional team of Air Traffic Control Officers and Senior Rates. Whatever the mission, whether in peace or war, Homer ensures aircraft return home safely, making decisions under pressure to assure safe passage for all. In this job there is little margin for error. On duty, you might have to take control of a jet fighter to guide it back to a moving target in the ocean that is the rolling deck of an aircraft carrier, when it is pitch black outside and the pilot only has enough fuel for another seven minutes of flight; but, there are also many routine tasks, and these all require the same level of focus. Air Traffic Controllers provide a similar service to that provided ashore, in assuring the safe departure and recovery of aircraft in all weather conditions.
Flyco is the heart and sole of the Aircraft Carrier. As the name suggests it is the area of Flying Co-ordination, consisting of "Wings", "F", "F2" & The Flyco Logger, together they manage and control the safe launch, recovery and control of all aircraft both fixed wing and rotary within the carriers control zone. This area extends out to 5nm and 2000ft in height and all traffic wishing to enter and operate within the zone must first contact Flyco for approval. A hub-bub of activity, Flyco is a high octane environment where the duty "F" overseen and monitored by "Wings" - Cdr Air, responsible to the Commanding Officer for all aviation matters onboard - co-ordinates all aircraft movements within 5 nautical miles in addition to those on the Flight Deck. When in the Strike role, "Wings" is responsible for the safe launch and recovery of Harrier GR9/9a strike aircraft and when required will co-ordinate the upload of Royal Marines into Sea King, Lynx & Chinook aircraft. Manned 24hrs during flying operations the Flyco Team work round the clock to ensure maximum firepower and capability leaves and is recovered safely to the deck. To achieve these goals successfully requires the highest levels of teamwork; liaison with the Bridge Team and other Departments is absolutely essential. This is the Wholeship professionalism which Ark Royal strives to maintain at all times, in order to be ready to FIGHT and WIN!
The Hydrographic, Meteorology and Oceanography Section (HM Section) is a small sub-department of the Air Department, comprising of seven personnel, and provides round the clock environmental support to Ark Royal and her attached task groups. The office collates environmental data from a number of sources including our own weather observations, profiles of the atmosphere and the water column, numerical weather prediction data supplied by the UK Met Office via the Fleet Weather and Oceanographic Centre: data readily available on the internet. Once gathered this data is then interpreted and tailored to the specific needs of the user. The range of products provided includes aviation weather forecasts, long range impact to operations for planning purposes, range prediction for task group radar and sonar, surf prediction for amphibious operations and bathymetric surveys.
The Ark Royal photographic section is required to operate in all environments, producing imagery for intelligence, public relations, news, media, operational briefings and aids to training. The ship's photographers deploy a wide range of skills and equipment, taking the whole photographic task through from conceptualisation to handing over the finished product. On a typical task they will discuss the customer's requirements and offer advise on the best ways to maximize a subjects photographic exploitation, organise logistical support, undertake the photographic shoot, process and print the film or digital reproduction and, if necessary, transmit the images around the world using the latest electronic communications. They are expected to undertake aerial photography carrying out assignments both from helicopters and fast jets and also to deploy with embarked forces such as the Royal Marines in the Combat Camera role. In addition to these general photographic duties, they are responsible for onboard image intelligence and analysis and also supply a limited graphic design and printing service. The Photographic section is usually manned by one POA(PHOT)(IA) and one LA(PHOT) but can be supplemented by two additional LA(PHOT)s when fixed wing squadrons are embarked.
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