First Czech Air Force L-159 re-delivered and 20 years L-159 operations

On 20 September 2020, Aero Vodochody re-delivered the first L-159 ALCA back to the Vzdušné síly armády České republiky (CzAF, Czech Air Force) undergoing a major overhaul after 16 years of operation (PP16). The aircraft, serial 6052, is operated by the 212. Tacticka Letka (212.TL) which is based at Caslav.

Sixteen L-159 ALCA single-seater light combat aircraft are undergoing this overhaul, which will see the service life extended with another eight years. PP16 is the second regular maintenance check of single seat L-159s, the first check after eight years of service was performed by Aero Vodochody in 2009–2013.

The main improvements are adjustments for the use of Night Vision Goggles (NVG), installation of ESIS (Electronic Standby Instrument System) replacing several spare instruments, and external aircraft lighting.

Next to single seat ALCAs, the Czech Air Force also operates five L-159T1 and three L-159T2 advanced training aircraft. Aero Vodochody aims to make the whole L-159 fleet NVG compatible in the near future.

The contract for the major overhaul of the sixteen L-159s was signed at the IDET fair in Brno in 2019 and has a total value of € 60 million including repairs. At this moment, eight L-159s are in various stages of overhaul at Aero Vodochody with another one expected to arrive this year. By the end of 2022 all sixteen L-159s should be fully operational again.

2020 is also the year of 20 years L-159 operations. For this occasion the Czech Air Force painted an L-159 in a special colour scheme. The aircraft, serial 6070, was shown at the NATO Days held at Ostrava, one of the airshows which went through but without public and could only be observed online.