Qualified Helicopter Tactics Instructors are specialists in the employment of their platform in operational and potentially contested Theatres. They are trained under the Joint Aviation Command (JAC) and form a bedrock of expert knowledge amongst helicopter squadrons across the Royal Air Force, Commando Helicopter Force, and Army Air Corps on the CH-47 Chinook, Merlin, AH-64E Apache and AW-159 Wildcat.

Qualified Helicopter Tactics Instructors are trained under the leadership of 22 Squadron, based at RAF Benson in Oxfordshire, and undergo intensive ground training, leading on to challenging simulator sessions in which they are demonstrated how to teach tactical skillsets before delivering them back to instructional staff playing the role of a trainee. Once ready, the QHTI course culminates in love flying on Exercise HADES WARRIOR where potential candidates deploy to RAF Leeming in Yorkshire and demonstrate their ability to teach those advanced skills on the live aircraft. Upon completion of the rigorous testing, a pass results in them being presented the coveted QHTI patch and they return to their frontline units in that role.

QHTI’s then have the opportunity to continue their development in years to follow - some go on to undertake the Qualified Weapons Instructor (QWI) course, under the direction of 92 Squadron at RAF Waddington.

We are humbled to have been asked to produce both the official and qualification patch for the QHTI course, plus a very special morale patch for all those who have passed the challenge!