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Orléans-Bricy 2015

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Orleans (France)

EAATTC 2015-2

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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