A ROYAL Navy sailor from Teignbridge has joined the frontline after completing the tough training to become an aircraft handler.

Able Rate Stefan Lansley, 26, from Bovey Tracey, was among 23 Royal Navy sailors who recently completed their training as a naval airman (NA).

They were part of a class of new recruits learning emergency firefighting skills and how to operate on ships’ flight decks.

Stefan recently joined fellow sailors from across the UK for a low-key and socially-distanced ceremony at Royal Naval Air Station (RNAS) Culdrose in Cornwall – which nevertheless marked a significant milestone in their naval careers as they now prepare to join frontline operations.

NA Lansley, a former pupil at South Dartmoor Community College, said: ‘There was a lot of revision on the course and I had to put in a lot of evenings’ work. I have performed very well in my theory exams and achieved high marks, which was rewarding after putting in all that time.’ 

‘I really enjoyed the advance firefighting phase, learning different search procedures and how to extricate casualties.’

Lieutenant Commander Scott Harding, the commanding officer of the Royal Naval School of Flight Deck Operations, said: ‘I’d like to offer my congratulations to all those students who have completed their training to become qualified aircraft handlers.

‘They have had to adapt and work hard to complete their training and now enter front-line service in the Royal Navy. They can each be rightly proud of joining the Aircraft Handlers’ Branch. I’d like to thank their families for their invaluable support.

‘Some of these new sailors will join 1700 Naval Air Squadron, working on ships around the world while others are joining the fire stations here at RNAS Culdrose or at RNAS Yeovilton or heading off to work with the Commando Helicopter Force. I wish them every success.”

RNAS Culdrose commanding officer Captain Stuart Finn also attended the ceremony and congratulated each new aircraft handler as they collected their branch badges and certificates.

NA Lansley will now the join the airfield fire station at RNAS Culdrose. Looking forward to his new posting, he said:’Next I will be serving on a duty fire crew and going through intense training exercises. I’ll be doing the job for real and facing real shouts.’