Burnham-on-sea RNLI volunteers train with RAF Chivenor crews.

Following a recent successful helicopter high wire transfer exercise at Burnham-on-Sea, two groups of RNLI crew were invited to train for a day with a helicopter crew from their RAF Chivenor base. Consequently, the first group of lifeboat crew arrived at Chivenor last Thursday 23^rd September, for an exciting day's activities, which started with a 40 minute briefing session at the airbase.  Briefing complete, they were kitted up in RAF flying suits, before taking off for the first exercise, which involved landing the volunteers near to a cliff edge at Croyde Bay, then winching them back on board the overhead helicopter. The next training exercise involved transferring the Burnham volunteers to the deck of container ship "MALIN", and back to the helicopter, before returning to Chivenor for another short briefing session, and subsequent successful training with Woolacombe beach lifeguards. Volunteer crewmember Tim Walters said; "It was a wonderful opportunity to experience, first hand, RAF Chivenor operations. As lifeboat crew we might need to liaise with helicopter with little or no notice, and the training has added much to our understanding of the hazards and difficulties of helicopter rescue techniques."Ashley Chappell concurred, saying; "It was an excellent experience, and well worth going."It is expected that the second team of volunteers will soon attend.