RAF Gibraltar is located on the northern end of the Gibraltar peninsula.
The airfield's position makes it an ideal staging post for aircraft on operations and as a supporting base for major NATO exercises.
The Government of Gibraltar also operates a civilian air terminal on the north side of the airfield.
Rob joined the RAF in 2007 and has enjoyed a dual-track career spanning Air Operations and Defence Engagement roles, with early tours in the Air Command & Control Force followed by staff roles at HQ 20th Armoured Brigade, within NATO and at high-readiness HQs. He assumed command of RAF Gibraltar in May 2026, following a tour as the UK Defence Attaché to Estonia.
Rob has deployed to the Middle East, Germany and Poland, and is a CAS PhD Fellow.
Historically RAF Gibraltar has been a maritime airfield, associated with the Shackleton and Nimrod maritime patrol aircraft.
Other regular visitors include Falcon and Hawk aircraft, which work with Royal Navy ships in the local Gibraltar exercise areas, and NATO aircraft including C130 and C17.
The airfield has a 6,000 feet runway, running from east to west, with about a third of it projecting outwards into the sea to the west.
It is unusual in having a four lane public road (the main road into Spain) bisecting the runway. With prohibited Spanish airspace immediately to the north of the airfield and the 1,360 feet high Rock of Gibraltar only a quarter of a mile to the south it poses a unique challenge to pilots. Under certain conditions, linked to wind speed and direction, aircraft are prohibited from landing due to severe turbulence generated around the Rock.
