Observer Training – The Fleet Air Arm task of training “Observers” continues - the term dates back to one of the original roles of aircraft at sea, in the big gun era, which was to observe fall of shot, and radio back gunnery corrections to their ship.     Unusually, in the Fleet Air Arm an observer could rise to squadron commander. Modern Fleet Air Arm  helicopters are still crewed by a pilot and observer, the observer being responsible for managing the detection and weapon systems - while the pilot does the flying, the observer actually fights the aircraft making tactical and navigational decisions.    The Royal Navy Observers undergo a three phase training programme:-

·         Basic Flying                    703 Squadron @ RAF Barkston Heath      GROB 115E

·         Basic Air Navigation        703 Squadron @ RAF Barkston Heath      GROB 115E

·         Basic Observer Ops         750 Squadron @ RNAS Culdrose             AVENGER T.1.

750 Squadron became fully operational in July 2011 with four (4) King Air 350ER, known in Naval Service as the AVENGER T.1.  the which replaced the venerable JETSTREAM T.2..