EAATTC 16-2 commences in France

The second 2016 European Advanced Airlift Tactics Training Course (EAATTC 16-2), sponsored by the European Air Transport Fleet (EATF) Partnership, has begun in France, the European Defence Agency (EDA) announced on 26 May.

The training course began with the arrival of six teams and six aircraft from Spain, Germany and France at the French Bricy airbase. The two-week course will see the combat-ready crew trained through one-on-one tuition, academic lectures and flying evolutions.

The course will focus on multi-ship formation flying to drop paratroopers and equipment in a simulated high-threat environment. The crew will be trained on making the drop in a coordinated manner from multiple aircraft, accurate to the second and within a small target area.

The training will be done on three transport aircraft types: the CASA/IPTN CN-235 medium-range twin-engine, the Transall C-160 and four-engine Lockheed C-130 Hercules. At the end of the course, the crew commanders will have to lead a low-level full formation while evading simulated ground threat from anti-aircraft systems, hand-held missiles and small arms, as well as enemy fighters.

Bulgaria will host the third course in 2016, from 31 July to 12 August.