Founded in 1948 and the oldest of the 3 British Service mountaineering bodies, the Royal Air Force Mountaineering Association (RAFMA) is responsible to the RAF Sports Board for the sport of mountaineering within the Royal Air Force. RAFMA provides members with a variety of outdoor opportunities – hill walking, rock climbing, ski moutaineering, indoor climbing and meets in the Alps and Greater Ranges. The latest meets itinerary can be found on the Events Page.

Participation Statement: RAFMA recognises that climbing and mountaineering are activities with a danger of personal injury or death. Participants in these activities should be aware of and accept these risks and be responsible for their own actions and involvement.

Tri-Service Bouldering League - Round 2

The second round of the Tri-Service Bouldering League took place at The Climbing Works in Sheffield on 4 Nov. With 49 entrants it was a well attended event and promises much for the remaining rounds. With Percy Bishton, one of the national route setters, setting the problems and the Works being renowned for their 3D style of problems the competition was on. This round was always likely to be the most challenging and so it proved with no-one managing to complete all 25 problems.

The results are attached and the league placings for each category and overall are up to date. Hopefully this will galvanise people to turn up for the remaining 3 rounds - don't forget the best 3 scores will count in the final placings.

The next round will be at Craggy Island 2 in Sutton, London on Wed 2 Dec 09.

Details can be found at 2009DIN10-042.

STOP NOTICE - Auto Belayer Descenders

Please see attached an immediate stop notice for the use of Redpoint and and Auto-Belay Descenders issued by MSA 14 Oct 09.

RAFMA AGM and Annual Dinner - 20 Nov 09

The RAFMA AGM will be held at 1400 on 20 Nov 09. RAFMA members are reminded that any items for inclusion in the agenda should be forwarded to WO Stew Boyce at his work email address: odifsw-wo@odiham.raf.mod.uk as soon as possible. Additionally, he following committee posts are vacant: TDO/Expeditions and Sports Climbing Rep. Anyone wishing to stand for election to these posts should forward their nominations and seconds proposals to WO Boyce. Further more, with the exception of Chairman, all other posts are open to competition. Anyone wishing to fill a posts that is currenty filled should also forward their details to WO Boyce.

The RAFMA AGM and Annual Dinner will be held at the Lindeth Howe Country House Hotel on the weekend of 20/21 Nov for more details see the June 09 Newsletter

British Services Antarctic Expedition - 2012

The British Services Antarctic Expedition 2012 is an expedition to explore and climb remote areas of the Antarctic Peninsula. For more details click here for the poster and for the DIN and Application form please see the forum.

British Services Makalu (SE Ridge) Exp 2010

Planning for a return to the South East Ridge of Makalu (8463m) in spring 2010 (pre-monsoon) is now well underway. The expedition will comprise a team of 8 climbers drawn from across the 3 services with the sole objective of the expedition being an ascent of the South East Ridge. Applications are invited from RAFMA members who are interested in being a member of the expedition. For more information see the expeditions tab.