It’s the halfway point between RAF Brize Norton and Camp Bastion, and getting troops from A to B (Akrotiri to Bastion) is the one of the crucial roles fulfilled by personnel on the RAF’s base in Cyprus. But RAF Akrotiri is more than just a strategic staging post in the Mediterranean; it is one of the RAF’s busiest bases.
Station Commander Group Captain Barrie Thomson describes the role of the Station. “Because of our strategic placement in the Mediterranean we have an airfield that allows us to flow men and material in and out of Afghanistan. This is really our primary purpose.”
With 850 personnel serving as part of the Cyprus Operations Support Unit (COSU) it is very much a team effort. “The majority of our people are in hard graft jobs, working 12 hour shifts, handling the aircraft in and out, handling the freight, handling equipment moves coming in by sea then flying out to Afghanistan. But not just that, all the enabling functions like security, force protection, infrastructure - all of it delivers a capacity which ultimately has an effect on people delivering Operations”.
RAF Cyprus handles everything from fast jets to tanker transport aircraft such as the VC10, TriStar and Hercules, as well as the intelligence and surveillance aircraft that were temporarily based at the Station during Operation ELLAMY, supporting Operations over Libya. Twice a year the activity ramps up during the RiP (Relief in Place) – the changeover of troops in Afghanistan – when up to 14,000 Service personnel will fly in and out of Akrotiri in that month as they return home or start their tour of duty.

Aircraft Movements
Flight Lieutenant Matt Rose, 34, is a Duty Air Movements Officer responsible for a traffic team of eight staff who control the day to day movements of the aircraft. This includes the loading and unloading of passengers and freight, as well as the careful co-ordination of all the teams necessary to get an aircraft back on its journey.
“The job can have its challenging moments, especially when you have three aircraft on the ground at any one time. The turnaround on each aircraft is about 90 minutes – we do all the background work whilst passengers wait in the Terminal. As well as my traffic team, we have the Visiting Aircraft Handling Section, the Refuellers, Catering, and the water and toilet replenishment vehicles all working around the aircraft. When the troops come in our boys and girls can have up 2,000 bags to unload and move, and they aren’t light!”
Decompression
RAF Akrotiri also plays a key role in helping troops adjust from living and fighting in a war zone to life back in the UK. Before returning to the UK troops spend 24 hours in Akrotiri for ‘decompression’. This involves cleaning up and getting back into civilian clothing before taking part in recreational activities such as swimming and bowling.
As part of an extensive building programme on the Station the current Theatre Reception Centre (TRC) for decompression will be replaced; Captain Iain West, 28, led the team of Royal Engineers who constructed the new Centre in just three months.
“This is an annual engineer exercise always carried out in Cyprus. This year the need was identified to create a new TRC and we had the hangar space to convert – but it needed accommodation and ablutions.”
“We are the military construction force. From 6 HQ and Support Squadron we have just over 90 people here. Engineers are triple-hatted; firstly they are trained infantry soldiers (having gone through their basic training), they are also combat engineers (bridging, water supply, demolitions – all the things you might need on Operations) and then thirdly they all have an artisan trade. We have electricians, carpenters, joiners, surveyors, painters and finishers, heating and plumbing experts – every construction trade you might need.”

Operations and search and rescue
One section that never closes at RAF Akrotiri is Flight Operations. Sergeant Andy Smith is a Duty Operations Controller. “We cover shifts 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days per year. My role is to manage the flying programme, de-conflict flights and ensure that when an aircraft arrives here we’ll have the facilities available to look after it.”
Officer Commanding Operations, Flight Lieutenant Simon Revell, 30, also runs the
Rescue Co-ordination Centre as RAF Akrotiri has a Search and Rescue Sqn who can be called on to assist in emergencies up to 200 miles from their base.
“84 Sqn have 1 Griffin helicopter on permanent standby 24/7, 365 days a year alongside the boats and helicopters of the Cypriot authorities. We control and co-ordinate all rescues in the Sovereign Base Area which is 98 square miles. We are a permanent 24 hour manned unit operating on a 60 minute readiness but if there are fast jets operating from Akrotiri that is down to 15 minutes.”
“There are two different roles for us – Search and Rescue in the winter and fire fighting in the summer.”
The Griffins of 84 Squadron are the only RAF aircraft permanently based at RAF Akrotiri. While their primary role is to provide search and rescue cover they also provide support to the Army and have a unique fire fighting capability. Officer Commanding 84 Sqn, Squadron Leader Richard Strookman explained the roles;
“Search and rescue here is primarily to support fast jet detachments when they arrive on island. But in the wider sphere we also provide search and rescue not only to the Sovereign Base Area but also to the Republic of Cyprus as well and on occasion even further afield”.
The hot climate means Cyprus regularly experiences damaging fires. The Griffins of 84 Sqn can be quickly fitted with under slung water bucket to douse the flames from the air. “Last year we fought many fires in Cyprus itself but in December we were called by the Israelis to help fight some huge fires in Israel and we were the first international assets on scene”.
The Sqn also helps in getting personnel used to working with helicopters before going out to Afghanistan. “At the moment we’re in the middle of a huge amount of taskings for an Army exercise. Troop movement is the main thing we do but we can also simulate being an attack helicopter and provide medical emergency response team training."
84 Sqn has further diversified by reintroducing two new capabilities within the last six months; abseiling from the aircraft and forward looking infrared capability.