RAF Puma helicopters fly over Leeds as crews prepare for deployment to Afghanistan

It's part of a training exercise to prepare officers for deployment to Operation TORAL in Afghanistan.

The essential training, called 'Northern Tempest 20', starts on Monday, October 12 until Saturday, October 17.

Up to three helicopters will be used to train three Puma crews from 33 Squadron operating in rural and urban areas.

They will be using a variety of authorised helicopter landing sites in the Manchester, Liverpool and Leeds areas, as well as conducting additional training at Altcar, Spadeadam and Snowdonia.

The exercise will ensure that the aircrew are qualified to conduct a variety of tasks that are needed in support of the ongoing NATO mission in Afghanistan.

This includes operating as pairs by day and by night, confined area landings, flying and landing in urban environments and operating in mountainous terrain.

The aircraft, support team and crews will be based at RAF Woodvale for the duration of the exercise.

They will be flying during the week from 1pm until 1am, which will, on occasion, be outside of RAF Woodvale’s normal operating hours.

The Puma helicopters may also be working with other colleagues in the area to simulate tasking that they may encounter during their time in Afghanistan, for example troop movements.

This deployment is not linked to the UK Government’s response to coronavirus and is solely for pre-deployment training.