ARMED FORCES TO TAKE PART IN HELICOPTER EXERCISES

11:00 - 23 August 2006
Hundreds of members of the Armed Forces will be taking part in a massive helicopter exercise over Cornwall and Devon next month. The airborne phases of the exercise, codenamed Grey Cormorant, will form part of a wider amphibious deployment. The training has been designed to ensure members of all three Armed Forces are ready for any action around the world.

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: "This training will help military personnel of all ranks to improve their skills in ship-to-ship and ship-to-land movements. We have to make sure they are ready for every eventuality before they are deployed anywhere around the world."

The exercise is due to run from Monday, September 4 until Friday, September 22. Aircraft involved will include Chinooks, Sea Kings, Merlins and Lynx.

Most of the flying will take place over the sea but there will also be some activity inland. Areas where activities are likely include Culdrose, Portreath and Predannack in Cornwall and in Devon at Barnstaple, Chivenor, Fremington Burrows and Braunton Burrows.

The whole exercise will be monitored by representatives from the MoD.