MEMBERS of Parliament paid a flying visit to an Anglesey air base to learn about it role in UK defence.

The MPs took part in the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme and visited RAF Valley. Conor McGinn, Labour MP for St Helens North, Dr Caroline Johnson, Conservative MP, for Sleaford and North Hykeham, and Robert Courts, Conservative MP for Witney and West Oxfordshire, jand Adam Fico, of the AFPS scheme visited. They arrived in a Puma Helicopter. The group were shown how RAF Valley based IV Squadron conducts fast jet training. They met instructors from the RAF and Ascent Flight Training, civilian engineers and ground crew from BAE Systems and Babcock. They also met Babcock apprentices, young people from Anglesey and North Wales being trained to become highly skilled aircraft engineers.

RAF Valley is the Headquarters of the RAF Mountain Rescue Service (MRS), which celebrates its 75th anniversary this year. The MPs met some of the team, viewed vehicles and specialist equipment. The MRS’s primary role is to locate, secure and guard crashed aircraft in the early stages of the recovery process and their expertise is highly valued by both the military and civilian authorities.

The MPs also visited Air Traffic Control where they met the team responsible for safely controlling aircraft in the RAF Valley Military Air Traffic Zone. Robert Courts said: “We were extremely impressed by the team at RAF Valley. RAF Valley delivers world-leading fighter pilot training, saves lives through the Mountain Rescue Service and trains UK military helicopter crews. The way the ‘whole force’ team works together is testament to their professionalism and dedication not just to RAF Valley but to UK defence as a whole.”