Pilot to command his former squadron (From Witney Gazette)

Pilot to command his former squadron

2:33pm Monday 8th February 2010

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A PILOT has returned to RAF Brize Norton to command his former squadron.

Wing Commander Alistair Green took up his post at 216 Squadron on February 4.

It is the fourth time he has been stationed at the base, where he completed his first tour flying a TriStar — known as an air bridge, as it transports troops to and from Afghanistan — almost ten years ago.

Wg Cdr Green, 41, said: “It’s wonderful being back to the frontline flying aeroplanes again, having spent six years on the ground doing staff tours.

“It’s a fantastic job. You get to command one of the biggest squadrons in the air force, and working with the people is absolutely fantastic.”

Predecessor Wing Commander Steve Chadwick has left for detachment to Afghanistan.

Wg Cdr Green, a married father-of-two, said one of the biggest challenges would be when RAF Lyneham moved to Brize Norton.

He said: “It’s a huge time for change for the station, so it’s quite an exciting period.

“The main challenge will be fitting everybody into the station and integrating all the different units from Lyneham to Brize Norton in a merger that was always to continue operations uninterrupted.

“There is only so much real estate here at Brize Norton, and there is a lot of investment into Brize Norton to make this work, but it’s going to be a challenge. 216 Squadron is here to continue our operations as best we can to support the air bridge to and from Afghanistan.”

Wg Cdr Green has also shown his support for the base’s campaign Beer for the Boys, a project that aims to provide a beer for every serviceman or woman returning to the base from Afghanistan.

He said: “The squadron will carry that on into the future. I think it’s nice to be able to give something back to the guys going out there who are living in some pretty harsh conditions. It’s nice to turn around and say well done, you are going home now, have a beer.”

Wg Cdr Green joined the Royal Air Force as a pilot in 1987. Following flying training, he was posted to 216 Squadron at RAF Brize Norton, before completing his first tour as a co-pilot in Bosnia. He left the base in 1994, to join the Central Flying School as a qualified flying instructor.

Wg Cdr Green returned to the TriStar in 1997 for a tour as an aircraft captain, and served as part of the Kosovo campaign. Following a promotion, he became flight commander on what was to become 99 Squadron, and then served at an RAF base in High Wycombe.

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