RAF Brize Norton

RAF Brize Norton
Near Carterton, Oxfordshire in England
A400M Atlas at RAF Brize Norton
Transire Confidenter (Latin for 'Move with confidence')
Site information
TypeMain Operating Base
OwnerMinistry of Defence
OperatorRoyal Air Force
Controlled byNo. 2 Group (Air Combat Support)
ConditionOperational
Websitewww.raf.mod.uk/our-organisation/stations/raf-brize-norton/
Location
RAF Brize Norton
Shown within Oxfordshire
Coordinates51°45′00″N 001°35′01″W / 51.75000°N 1.58361°W / 51.75000; -1.58361
Grid referenceSP295060
Area4.81 square kilometres (1,190 acres)
Site history
Built1935 (1935)
In use1937 – present
Garrison information
Current
commander
Group Captain Claire O'Grady
Occupants See Based units section for full list.
Airfield information
IdentifiersIATA: BZZ, ICAO: EGVN, WMO: 03649
Elevation87.4 metres (287 ft) AMSL
Runways
Direction Length and surface
07/25 3,050 metres (10,007 ft) Asphalt
Source: RAF Brize Norton Defence Aerodrome Manual

Royal Air Force Brize Norton or RAF Brize Norton (/brz/, IATA: BZZ, ICAO: EGVN) is the largest station of the Royal Air Force. Situated in Oxfordshire, about 75 mi (121 km) west north-west of London, it is close to the village of Brize Norton and the towns of Carterton and Witney.

The station is the base for air transport, air-to-air refuelling and military parachuting, with the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III, Airbus A400M Atlas and Airbus Voyager operating from the station.

Major infrastructure redevelopment began in 2010, ahead of the closure of RAF Lyneham in 2012, and Brize Norton became the sole air point of embarkation for British troops.