5 Regiment Army Air Corps


5 Regiment Army Air Corps is a regiment of the British Army and is part of the Joint Helicopter Command. The regiment is based in Northern Ireland at JHC Flying Station Aldergrove.

History

5 Regiment traces its origin to the Northern Ireland Regiment formed on 1 November 1979 at RAF Aldergrove. On 1 October 1993, the Northern Ireland Regiment was renamed 5 Regiment AAC.
The regiment consisted of No. 655 Squadron AAC, No. 665 Squadron AAC and 1 Flight AAC. 655 Squadron operated the Westland Lynx AH7 helicopter. 665 Squadron operated the Westland Gazelle AH1 helicopter. 1 Flight operated the fixed wing Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander aircraft which had entered service on 10 March 1989.
The primary task of 1 Flight was photo reconnaissance under the direction of the Reconnaissance Intelligence and Centre . In 2000, the was renamed the Reconnaissance Intelligence Centre and Geographic Centre .
In March 2007, 655 Squadron was disbanded as Operation Banner was drawing to a close and due to a need to reduce the Lynx fleet set to be retired in 2012. The Lynx aircraft of 655 remained at RAF Aldergrove and was operated by 665 Squadron through to the end of Operation Banner on 31 July 2007. On 1 August 2007, Operation Helvetic commenced with 665 Squadron operating the Gazelle and 1 Flight operating the Islander.
In July 2008, No. 651 Squadron of 1 Regiment AAC moved to RAF Aldergrove and became part of 5 Regiment. 651 Squadron had been re-raised in 2006 at RAF Odiham to operate the Britten-Norman Defender fixed wing aircraft which had entered service in March 2004. 1 Flight was integrated into 651 Squadron.
In 2009, RAF Aldergove was renamed Joint Helicopter Command Flying Station Aldergrove. In 2010, the tri-service RIGC became part of 5 Regiment.
On 2 April 2019, 651 Squadron's aircraft the Britten-Norman Defender and BN-2 Islander were transferred to the Royal Air Force. 651 Squadron personnel will continue to operate the aircraft as part of No. 1 Group to be replaced by RAF personnel through attrition.

Structure

The regiment consists of:
The regiment has administrative responsibility for No. 29 Flight AAC based at Canadian Forces Base Suffield in Canada which operates Gazelle helicopters.