MASF Maritime Aviation Support Force

Based at Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose, the concept of the Maritime Aviation Support Force is to provide a simple “one stop shop” to meet personnel requirements and provide the professional aviation specialists essential to support naval aviation operations from ships and land bases anywhere in the world. When a Squadron of Naval aircraft deploys to a ship or any other detached operating base, it is essential that the various supporting facilities are available to cope with any situation.

Flight Deck activities, Logistic and Catering Support, Operations, Engineering Support, even medical assistance, are all part of the specialist services which come from MASF. This dynamic organisation provides tailored teams, from two to over fifty personnel, of flight deck crews, fire-fighters, meteorologists, physical trainers, military policemen, survival specialists, aircraft controllers, logisticians, engineers, medics and many other specialists to allow the continued operation of naval aircraft worldwide.

Future plans will further expand MASF’s specialist teams to include Intelligence Officers, dentists, chaplains and others as required. Although the MASF headquarters and support staff are based at RNAS Culdrose, there are currently MASF personnel working in ships and shore bases throughout the world. Ships with MASF crews onboard include: HMS Ocean, HMS Chatham, HMS Ark Royal, RFA Argus, RFA Fort Victoria, RFA Fort George, and others both at sea and ashore.