The Station

RAF Gibraltar is located on the northern end of the Gibraltar peninsula, between the Spanish border and the Rock of Gibraltar.

The airfield's position at the western end of the Mediterranean makes it an ideal staging post for aircraft on operations and as a supporting base for major NATO exercises in the Mediterranean and Iberian peninsular areas. 

By providing an operational airhead capable of mounting UK and coalition military operations, the Station contributes to the maintenance of British sovereignty of Gibraltar.

The Government of Gibraltar also operates a civilian air terminal on the north side of the airfield which has scheduled flights to and from the UK.

The Defence Aerodrome Manual (DAM) is to inform and direct civilian aircrew using the RAF Gibraltar airfield.

Commander

Wing Commander Nel Doherty

Wing Commander Nel Doherty joined the Royal Air Force in 1998, following an RAF university scholarship to study BSc Psychology at Leeds University.  She qualified as a Weapons Controller in the Fighter Control specialisation (now Air Operations Branch) and completed multiple tours as an operator and as an instructor. 

Wing Commander Doherty has had a broad career, encompassing the Joint environment (Air Support Operations Centre), the British Army (19 (Light) Brigade), the Civil Aviation Authority, and in roles with significant cross government profiles within the National Air Defence Operations Centre and the Operations Directorate of the Ministry of Defence. 

Wing Commander Doherty assumed Command of RAF Gibraltar in 2020.

Address

RAF Gibraltar, Headquarters, Gibraltar, BFP0 52

History

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.