18 to 29 May 2015
The second European Advanced Airlift Tactics Training Course (EAATTC) was held at Orléans air base from 18 to 29 May 2015. |
The EAATTC initiative is part of a wider training structure, which is the result of the cooperation in the European Air |
Transport Fleet (EATF) partnership. This organization was created by the European Defence Agency in order to optimize |
cooperation and coordination and to enhance airlift capacity among the twenty core member states (Austria, Belgium, |
Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Finland, France, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Netherlands, Norway, |
Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, and Sweden). |
The objectives of the EATF are to (1) increase the efficiency of existing and future airlift, (2) create synergy between existing |
and future air transport organizations, (3) harmonize and standardize rules, regulations, and procedures regarding the |
transport of personnel and equipment, and (4) look for costeffective solutions. |
Besides the EAATTC courses, the ETAF also organizes the European Air Transport Training (EATT). Another event is |
the annual European Air Transport Symposium (EATS) and |
the European Advanced Tactical Instructor Course (EATIC). Over the last four years the number of aircrew that participated |
in the different EATF courses has gone up from fifteen in 2012 to fifty in 2015. The number of participating aircraft |
increased from seven to thirty-nine in the same period. According to the EAATTC 15-2 Course Director, Lieutenant |
Colonel Rega, there will be an even bigger need for tactical instructors as the member states have identified a need of up |
to nine EAATTC courses a year. |
EAATTC 15-2 involved over 140 personnel from five countries. Belgium and Spain participated with a C-130H and |
Italy sent a C-130J. Germany participated with one C-160 and France had two Transalls joining the exercise. Throughout |
the exercise different French ground- and air assets participated. The course objective was to “provide training to |
a qualified wingman in order to perform a mission as an element leader in operational theatre, including threats up |
to and including radar guided SAM and air-to-air.” Compared to a current theatre of operations this would translate in preparing |
aircrew for tactical missions above for instance Syria or Iraq. |
The French Air Force is one of the few European Air Arms that has a lot of up to date operational experience in tactical transport |
missions involving multiple aircraft. An example is the drop of 250 paratroopers over Timbuktu at the beginning of operation |
Serval in Mali. |
A total of 48 sorties were planned for EAATTC 15-2, which represented a planned total of around 120 flying hours. In order to |
have enough flying days available the organization included two spare days in case of any cancelled sorties during the |
exercise. As this was an advanced course, aircrew had to have completed the EAATTC single ship course or a national equivalent. |
Only combat ready crew participated and the exercise was considered as part of the upgrade to ‘combat ready +’ |
level for participants. Each aircrew was scheduled to fly nine sorties during the exercise. |
The sorties during the first week had a low threat level. The idea was to let crews get used to the standard procedures |
and differences between the participating aircraft. The differences between a C-130H or a C-130J are already considerable |
and between a Hercules and Transall they are even bigger. But there are also differences in operating procedures |
between member states flying the same type of aircraft. |
During the second week there was more emphasis on flying with medium to high threat levels and the decision making |
that comes with flying in more complex situations. Crews also flew low-level formation flying. The level of complexity |
of sorties was further increased, by introducing surface-toair and air-to-air threats. |
At the end of EAATTC 15-2 every crewmember received a certificate, which was based on the number and type of sorties |
flown throughout the exercise. In order to graduate, participants had to fly at least three daytime sorties as leader and |
one night sortie as either wingman or leader. A check flight took place during the last days of the exercise for which a list |
of objectives was established. In order for the EAATTC 15-2 certificate to be used back home, the check flight was performed |
with a national instructor pilot, for instance a Belgian instructor for the Belgian C-130H crew. This way there is no |
need for any equivalence or additional qualifications after completing the EAATTC. |
The following aircraft participated in the exercise: | |||
R87/61-ZE | C-160R | ET00.064 |
R91/61-ZI | C-160R | ET00.064 |
R160/61-ZZ | C-160R | ET00.064 |
CH12 | C-130H | 20sm |
50+82 | C-160D | LTG 63 |
MM62193/46-59 | C-130J-30 | 46°BA |
T.10-09/31-06 | C-130H | Ala31 |
Visit 21 May 2015 for VIP-day: | |||
105/XK | TBM-700A | ET00.043 |
114/62-IJ | CN235M-200 | ET01.062 |
14+01 | Global 5000 | FBS BMVg |
TM.11-2/47-22 | Falcon 20D | 472Esc |
Also present were: | |||
0007/F-RBAA | A400M | ET01.061 |
0014/F-RBAF | A400M | ET01.061 |
4588/61-PM | C-130H | ET02.061 |
5142/61-PE | C-130H | ET02.061 |
One of the Hercules was used for a para drop during the |
VIP-day. |
Credits: Jan Kraak
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