Air Movements Squadron

RAF Northolt Air Movements Squadron were pivotal to the successful execution of GOLDEN ORB. Operating as Defences SMEs on the handling of VVIPs, they were tasked with planning, co-ordinating and handling of the arrival and departure of 15 Heads of State.

This was a complex operation involving close liaison and planning with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Metropolitan Police Royalty and Specialist Protection, the Royal Household and No. 10.

Planning began early in 2023, involving key personnel from Ops Wing, AMS, RAFP, VAHS and Met Police. In the week leading up to the main events a multi-agency TTX took place where each possible scenario was played out to enable contingency planning for all eventualities. As the timeline progressed, the TTX turned into full rehearsals with a mixture of injects to test people’s reactions. GOLDEN ORB started for AMS on 4 May with the arrival of TM The King and Queen of Jordan with the main bulk of VVIPs arriving on the 5 May. This created a protocol and logistical challenge for AMS with 15 VVIPs arriving within a 5-hour window. AMS had to carefully manage the needs of the VVIPs and their Ambassadors as well as representatives from HM The King and the FCDO. For such a prestigious event, AMS had to be on point.

Thanks to the hard work of all involved, and sheer amount of planning that took place, the weekend went off without a hitch. Aircraft from each nation arrived, their Head of state greeted, and then sent on their way to attend the Coronation. The timeline from the Friday was then replicated but condensed down to a 3-hour window for all the departures on the Saturday. The combined efforts of these two days meant that RAF Northolt became one of the VVIP