Royal Canadian Air Force Poseidon pilots training in Scotland

RAF Lossiemouth is currently home to the RAF’s nine P-8A Poseidon MRA.Mk 1 maritime patrol aircraft, which are shared by three numbered Squadrons, providing what the RAF calls “strengthened maritime protection across the UK’s areas of interest.” The UK undertakes a number of collaborations with overseas personnel and units. Earlier this year, Lossiemouth announced the opening of a US Navy hangar, allowing the US Navy to operate in the North Sea more frequently, and in October, it was it was announced that German Poseidons will operate from RAF Lossiemouth to enhance Europe’s maritime security. The RAF’s Poseidon force has undertaken a number of specific training missions for other P-8A operators. The routine training of Norwegian Poseidon crews has been completed at Lossiemouth with crews also aiming to complete their training on the 42 (TB) Squadron conversion course in 2025. For several months, RAF personnel have welcomed aircrew from the Royal Canadian Air Force to share their skills and experience working with the Poseidon aircraft. Instructors from RAF Lossiemouth’s No.42 (Torpedo Bomber) Squadron (the Poseidon Operational Conversion Unit or OCU) have now begun training Royal Canadian Air Force maritime crews to operate the Poseidon, in preparation for the Royal Canadian Air Force receiving their first P-8As. The first four Canadian personnel undertook their first flights on the aircraft on Monday 10 December, after several months of training at RAF Lossiemouth. This begins the first flying phase for the Royal Canadian Air Force’s integration into the UK Poseidon force. These training flights will allow the Canadian crews to understand the role of maritime protection from a UK perspective, and will allow them to gain experience of the P-8A aircraft itself. The partnership with the RAF forms an important part of the Royal Canadian Air Force transition plan to convert from its current maritime patrol platform, the CP-140M Aurora, to the P-8A Poseidon. Captain Darren Kirk of the Royal Canadian Air Force said that: “The RAF support is key to our rapid and safe transition from one aircraft to another. The training and operational exposure will allow us to incorporate best practices and apply lessons learned. It was great to experience the first flight after months of training. The instruction received at No.42 Torpedo Bomber Squadron has been excellent. The instructors are invested in the students and enable us to achieve our highest potential.” Following successful completion of the OCU course, the Royal Canadian Air Force personnel will join RAF frontline Poseidon squadrons to gain further operational experience and to continue the collaboration.