RAF 'eye in the sky' centre opens

Awacs planes provide airborne control cover

A £55m training facility for air crews working on surveillance planes has been opened by the Ministry of Defence at RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire.

The centre will provide training for the crews of Sentry E-3Ds (Awacs) from the Royal Air Force and the French Air Force.

Awacs provide early warning and fighter control systems and play a crucial role in air-based military operations.

The new training centre has been developed by a private firm called Quest Flight Training under a Private Finance Initiative (PFI).

Simulate flying

Britain has seven Awacs and France has four, most of which are deployed across the world.

Lord Bach, Minister for Defence Procurement said: "The contract which has come in three months early, is worth approximately £55m over 30 years.

"We estimate that by using PFI we have saved the taxpayer approximately 29% of the cost of a conventionally procured MoD-owned training service.

"This facility significantly enhances RAF's Sentry E-3D aircrew training.

"Users have compared it as the difference between black and white and colour.

"The system will allow our aircrews to simulate flying around the world in both day and night time conditions, helping pilots, navigators and flight engineers maintain and update their skills."

The E-3D is an airliner-size jet - a modified Boeing 707 - which provides all-weather surveillance and command-and-control for air operations.

Used in the Gulf War and in Bosnia, this combined command centre and radar station has a flight crew of four and between 13 and 19 specialist operators.

It can go for more than eight hours without refuelling.