Posted: 16th July, 2026
HeliOperations is proud to mark a significant milestone in its military training programme, following the successful completion of its first deck landing onto a contracted military vessel at Portland.
This landmark achievement demonstrates the continued development of HeliOperations’ advanced helicopter training capability and reflects the organisation’s growing role in supporting military aircrew preparation for demanding maritime environments.
We believe this represents the first time a civilian training organisation has been approved to deliver military deck landing training to student military pilots. It is an important moment for naval aviation training, showing how industry and defence can work together to support the next generation of military aircrew.
Deck landing is a highly specialised area of helicopter operations, requiring precision, discipline and a deep understanding of maritime flying conditions. Training in this environment helps prepare pilots for the operational challenges associated with landing on vessels at sea, where conditions can be complex, dynamic and unforgiving.
The successful completion of this first deck landing reflects the professionalism and expertise of the HeliOperations team, including instructors, aircrew, engineers and operational support staff. It also highlights the company’s commitment to delivering training to military standards in realistic and demanding operational settings.
Based at Portland, HeliOperations is ideally positioned to support advanced military helicopter training across a wide range of maritime, operational and mission-specific requirements. This includes deck landing training, maritime aviation training, operational flying and specialist support for armed forces and defence organisations.
This milestone is a proud moment for HeliOperations and an important step forward in the evolution of military aviation training. It further demonstrates the company’s readiness to deliver advanced helicopter training in support of the UK, NATO and allied nations.