Air Commodore David Manning, Air Mobility Force Commander of the Royal Air Force to Speak at Military Airlift and Air-to-Air Refuelling 2021

Now in its 22nd year, SMi Group’s Military Airlift and Air-to-Air Refuelling taking place on 30th November and 1st December 2021 remains a key calendar date for anyone involved in air mobility. This year’s event will build on the success of last year’s virtual event and take place in London, UK for the first time.

The two-day conference boasts very strong host nation support from the Royal Air Force and will feature discussion of AAR and airlifting – which remain fundamental in light of its role within recent operations to support civilian authorities during the COVID-19 outbreak.

For those interested in attending the event, there is a £100 early bird discount ending on 30th September 2021. Register at http://www.military-airlift.com/pr1

The key host nation speakers include:

1. Air Commodore David Manning, Air Mobility Force Commander, Royal Air Force will be briefing on “RAF Air Mobility – A Global Force Enabler,” which will cover:
– Air mobility at the centre of air power: moving ground forces across theatres of operation to respond to security and humanitarian challenges
– Air-to-Air refuelling as a force multiplier for air assets – feedback from operation deployment of the Voyager in AAR operations
– Joint and combined air mobility: how No 2 Group has enhanced collaboration with allies to deliver future capability

Air Commodore David (known as Manners) was educated in the Republic of Ireland and the Royal Air Force College Cranwell (graduating in August 1990). A command pilot, he has amassed over 3200 hours flying predominately C-130K, C-130J and C-17 aircraft in the low level and strategic air mobility roles respectively. He has flown on operations in the Balkans, Sierra Leone, Afghanistan, Iraq and in support of Operations in Libya. He commanded Number 99 Squadron (C-17) between September 2010 and July 2012 during surge tasking for Operations HERRICK and ELLAMY. He was appointed Aide de Camp to Her Majesty the Queen and commanded Royal Air Force Northolt from July 2015 to July 2017. Operational ground tours include Operation TELIC where he commanded the Operations Squadron in Basrah Air Base (2007) and Deputy Air Component Commander for Operations KIPION/SHADER (2018/19). He took up his new role as the Air Mobility Force Commander and Air Officer Air Mobility with effect 23 October 2020.

The agenda also features the following key host nation speakers:

2. Group Captain Simon Blackwell, Commander Air Wing/DDH, RAF Brize Norton will be briefing on ‘RAF Brize Norton: Supporting and Enhancing the RAF’s Strategic and Tactical Air Transport and Air-to-Air Refuelling Capabilities’.

3. Wing Commander Nick Maxey, Air Mobility Strategic Capability Force Development, Royal Air Force will be briefing on ‘Developing World Class Air Mobility Beyond 2035’.

The newly released brochure is now available at http://www.military-airlift.com/pr1

Military Airlift and Air-to-Air Refuelling
Conference: 30th November – 1st December 2021
Venue: St Ermin’s Hotel, London, UK
Lead Sponsor: Embraer
Gold Sponsor: Airbus
Sponsors: Boeing and AJW Aviation
Networking Reception hosted by Airbus: 29th November 2021
Networking Reception hosted by Embraer: 30th November 2021

SMi Group offer direct access to key decision makers through tailored sponsorship and exhibitor packages. For details contact Sadia Malick on +44 (0) 207 827 6748.

For delegate enquiries, please contact James Hitchen on +44 (0) 20 7827 6054.

About SMi Group:
Established since 1993, the SMi Group is a global event-production company that specializes in Business-to-Business Conferences, Workshops, Masterclasses and online Communities. We create and deliver events in the Defence, Security, Energy, Utilities, Finance and Pharmaceutical industries. We pride ourselves on having access to the world’s most forward-thinking opinion leaders and visionaries, allowing us to bring our communities together to Learn, Engage, Share and Network. More information can be found at http://www.smi-online.co.uk

Commodore Mahadevu Goverdhan Raju, NM takes over as Naval Officer-In-Charge (Andhra Pradesh)

Commodore M Goverdhan Raju, NM took over as Naval Officer-in-Charge (Andhra Pradesh) from Commodore Sanjiv Issar at an impressive ceremonial parade held in the Naval Base at Visakhapatnam on 26 Feb 21.  

Cmde Raju is an alumnus of Sainik School, Korukonda and National Defence Academy, Khadakvasla. He was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 01 Jul 1989 and is a specialist in Navigation and Direction. 

He held a spectrum of highly challenging operational, staff and training appointments viz; the commissioning crew of INS Sagardhwani, specialist and executive officer appointments on frontline warships, Joint Director Staff Requirements at Naval Headquarters, Director (Training & Policy) at HQ Integrated Defence Staff, Principal Director (Training) at the premier training establishment, Indian Naval Academy (Ezhimala) and Director, Maritime Warfare Centre (Vizag).            

He has also carried out the duties of Fleet Operations Officer of Eastern Fleet during Dec 2014-May 2016, and he concurrently carried out the duties as the Chief Coordinator for Static Review, Operational Demonstration, Passage Exercise etc. during the prestigious International Fleet Review-2016 and contributed to its grand success.             

He is also a graduate of Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, Army War College, Mhow and National Defence College, Mirpur (Bangladesh).           

He has the distinction of commanding four IN Ships viz; Torpedo Recovery Vessel-71, Ocean Going Minesweeper Ratnagiri, Dhanush OPV Suvarna and Destroyer Ranvijay, as well as two shore units; the premier training establishment INS Chilka with concurrent charge as Naval Officer-in-Charge (Odisha), and the Forward Operating Base INS Sardar Patel with concurrent charge as Naval Officer-in-Charge (Gujarat).  

He is a proud recipient of Nao Sena Medal (Devotion to Duty) in 2014.