“ DURING MY TIME IN THE RAF I HAVE HAD MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO UNDERTAKE ADVENTUROUS TRAINING WHICH HAS INCLUDED PARACHUTING , SNOWBOARDING AND , MOST NOTABLY , HIKING AND CANOEING IN SOUTH AFRICA .”
ON THE JOB AIRFIELD OPERATIONS OFFICER
MIRELLA
Mirella is a Flight Lieutenant specialising in Airfield Operations . Currently working as the Squadron Operations Officer on 29 Squadron Operational Conversion Unit ( OCU ), RAF Coningsby . She leads a small operations team responsible for the daily support to flying operations and the planning of future flying activity to enable the swift progression of Typhoon pilots to the front-line squadrons .
“ 29 Squadron is responsible for the training of new Typhoon pilots , including Foreign Nationals , and the delivery of the Qualified Weapons Instructor Course , a highly demanding and internationally renowned qualification . My team of Ops Specialists will usually support the daily flying programme and the needs of the Duty Authoriser ; therefore , it is my responsibility to ensure they are suitably trained and qualified for their role , and that they have been given all the correct information to support up to 18 flights in a single day . Besides the day to day role of the ops team , I assist the duty programmer with forward planning which can include ; airspace and range bookings , use of the air-to-air refuelling tanker and the booking of other affiliation aircraft to support our training missions . The aim is to streamline the flying programme to make it is as efficient as possible while maximising the number of successful sorties . My career to date has also included working with the Army for two years as a Brigade Air Liaison Officer where I helped to coordinate the Air-Land Integration training of soldiers deploying on operations . During this period I deployed on exercises across the UK and overseas , including Germany and Canada . Additionally , I have worked in Station Operations at RAF Waddington and RAF Leeming where I , along with a small team , co-ordinated the flying programme of all aircraft on the station . During my time in the RAF I have had many opportunities to undertake adventurous training which has included parachuting , snowboarding and , most notably , hiking and canoeing in South Africa . These experiences have been amazing , helping me to discover and push my physical and mental limits as well as form strong team bonds with my work colleagues .”
15