The 11th meeting of the MATC Steering Committee, Prague

The 11th MATC Steering Committee (SC) meeting was held in Prague (the Czech Republic) on November 23, 2023.

The main SC meeting subjects were the new SC Chairman election, the Programme of Work (POW), the MATC Multinational Budget (MMB) and the MATC FIN Plan for three years approval.

Hungary was designated for the chairmanship. The SC agreed that the next regular meeting of the SC will be held in Hungary in autumn 2024.

At the beginning of the meeting, the members of the SC expressed support for maintaining the project and focusing on changes, using future opportunities with the need for transformation and adapting to new directions of training using the advantages offered by MATC (such as the VAT refund system with the aim of enabling simplified access to training activities).

The MATC’s annual report was presented by MATC acting director LtCol Ladislav Zajíček, followed by a summary in the legal and financial fields, carried on with accomplished training review, MATC internships and, last but not least, AAW activities. Then the training program 2024, the financial plan for the upcoming year and prospectively for a period of three years were presented.

The final part of the SC meeting was devoted to future directions and activities, where, in the context of the current status of MATC personnel shortage, the need to conduct future meetings remotely was mentioned. This could help to maintain continuity in case of the portfolio expansion by training and cooperation with other organizations such as NFTE or MSAP. Training will continue to focus on existing and progressive areas of interest, such as UAS and ground personnel training. One of the ways to improve the face of MATC and promote it more thoroughly in a wider spectrum is to change the MATC key document – the Training catalogue. After the implementation of these changes, it would be possible to consider the expansion of MATC members.

Written by AK

The ceremonial signing of Recognition Certificates

On December 12, 2023, the final Mutual Bilateral Airworthiness Recognition (MBAR) conference was held at the Permanent Representation of the Czech Republic to NATO in Brussels. The conference was attended by the directors of Military Aviation Authorities (MAA) and the acting MATC Director. During the conference, the directors signed Recognition certificates to certify mutual recognition of procedures for training aircrews, maintenance personnel, Communication, Navigation, and Surveillance (CNS) personnel, and Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) at the Multinational Aviation Training Centre (MATC).

Written by PJ

The Framework Agreement on Training on L410 Full Flight Simulator was signed between MATC and Aircraft Industries a.s.

On December 7, 2023, the Framework Agreement on Training on L410 Full Flight Simulator was signed between MATC and Aircraft Industries a.s.

So was formally confirmed the integration of a private entity in the portfolio of MATC facilities, under the auspices of the Czech Republic. MATC can now provide a wide spectrum of L410 Full Flight Simulator Training (such as Type Rating Course, Renewal Training or Recurrent Training) for the Slovak Republic and, in the future, also for other interested MATC Participants.

LtCol Zajíček, MATC Acting Director, and Mr. Hon, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Aircraft Industries a.s., during the signing ceremony in the premises of Aircraft Industries a.s.

Written by PV

Military Tactical Crew Cooperation course

Based on the request of the Slovak side for synthetic flight training focused on the cooperation of multi-member helicopter crews in a military environment, the MTCC (Military Tactical Crew Cooperation) course was implemented in early October 2023.

The training itself took place at the HTP (Helicopter Training Point) in Ostrava under the leadership of the tactical training manager Ing. Ondřej Truxa in cooperation with members of MATC (Multinational Aviation Training Center). The course included an academic part, where doc. Ing. Ondřej Zavila, Ph.D. – a leading expert in the Czech Republic on the issue of flight safety from the VSB Technical University of Ostrava.

The helicopter crews thus received the necessary theoretical training, followed by practical flights on a flight simulator, where their abilities and communication skills were tested in the context of performing tasks in adverse weather conditions and solving emergency procedures. The next phase of training was focused on solving tactical scenarios during group flights of helicopters on a pair of tactical trainers.

Ten members of Slovak Air Force successfully managed a number of difficult situations and the experience they gained will definitely serve them in their future careers in the safe performance of their tasks.

Written by AK

The courses in communication, navigation, and surveillance services were successfully accomplished

In cooperation with MATC, Slovak Air Force Communication, navigation, and surveillance (CNS) specialists attended two short-term courses provided by  „Odbor profesní přípravy“ – Vojenská Akademie Vyškov from 2nd to 13th October 2023.

The courses were specially tailored for SVK CNS specialists and held in the Czech language. The courses consisted of only academic parts, but the subsequent courses are planned with practical parts.

The training syllabuses and training procedures were executed in accordance with the procedures of Air Traffic Safety Electronic Personnel (ATSEP). The main emphasis was solving non-standard situations using a unique simulation device located on the premises of Training Command – Military Academy in Vyškov.

Slovak Air Force personnel had already taken part in similar courses, and the feedback from students and their lecturers had always been positive.  

Slovak representatives are interested in further cooperation, since other CNS courses are relevant for Slovak CNS personnel and can be taught in Vyškov. It is a primary surveillance radar RL-2000 maintenance course.

The Aviation and Airworthiness officer of MATC awarded 7 successful course graduates with certificates and congratulated them on their results.

Written by PJ

The final MBAR meeting

The final meeting of Mutual Bilateral Airworthiness Recognition (MBAR) took place in the Hungarian Ministry of Defence premises on October 9-10, 2023.

The participants agreed on the joint documents to prolong and extend recognition certificates of procedures and rules in training the aircrews, maintenance personnel, ATSEP personnel, and Unmanned Aerial Systems in the scope of MATC elements.

The Recognition certificates will be ceremonially signed during the Aviation Committee in Brussels in December.

In addition, this act has simultaneously confirmed successful cooperation among the Czech, Croatian, Hungarian, and Slovak MAAs not only for the benefit of the MATC but also, in broad scope, for an exchange of lessons learned and further harmonization, implementation of procedures applied in the Air Forces of individual participating countries.

Written by PJ

The first MBAR working group meeting in Vyškov

The first MBAR working group meeting took place from MAY 23rd to MAY 25th at Military Academy in Vyškov. It has been dealing with mutual Airworthiness certification recognition among Military aviation authorities (MAA) of MATC countries. The conference has been considered very fruitful by all participating parties. It is an essential milestone in the certificate signing process, that will finalize the mutual recognition at the MAA directors level.

Written by TF

Meteorologists opened the MATC training year 2023

The first training in 2023 under the auspices of MATC was focused on meteorological technical personnel. This training followed on the successful cooperation in this field from previous years. Based on the request of the Slovak side, 4 students from Slovakia were included in the course with a capacity of 10 people. The course took place from January 30 to February 17, 2023, first in Olomouc, then the participants moved to Prostějov for the practical part of the training.

MATC representatives visited the final phase of the course, in order to get feedback not only from the participants, but also from the lecturers and the course leader. On this occasion, MATC members had the opportunity to see and experience the activities associated with launching an aerial probe. In general, the response to the training was very positive, and further cooperation in this sector is already being prepared.

Written by LZ

MATC site survey in Simulation Center, Liptovský Mikuláš (SVK)

On February 7 and 8, 2023, members of the MATC training branch participated in the Site Survey of Simulation Center Armed Forces Academy in Liptovský Mikuláš (SVK). Aim of this visit was to discuss current situation regarding training, legal frame and possible cooperation in the field of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) in both participating countries – Czech Republic and Slovakia. Representatives of following institution took part in the event:

  • SVK Armed Forces Academy Simulation Center
  • CZE University of Defence
  • CZE 533. UAS battalion
  • SVK military aviation authority (MAA)
  • Slovak Air Force HQ
  • SVK General Staff of the Slovak Armed Forces

In recent years, Slovak soldiers several times attended UAS operators course in the Czech Republic (The University of Defence). Last year Simulation Center in Liptovský Mikuláš introduced their own UAS operators course approved by the Slovak MAA. Since then, one course has already been held and evaluated. Within the survey, both Slovak and Czech courses have been debated. The fact is that Czech armed forces in this field are way ahead of Slovak armed forces. Nevertheless, places of common interest do exist, Slovak armed forces now have the advantage when they can make use of Czech experience in this area and subsequently increase the pace in UAS field. Taking the global situation into consideration, it is essential to catch up with quickly developing trends and thus provide reasonable opportunities for enhanced future cooperation.

Written by TF

The 10th MATC Steering Committee Meeting in Zvolen (SVK)

The 10th MATC Steering Committee (SC) Meeting was held on 5th October 2022 at the Slovak Air Force HQ in Zvolen, Slovakia.

The main SC meeting subjects were the new SC Chairman election, the Plan of Work (POW), MATC Multinational Budget (MMB) and MATC FIN Plan 2024 – 2026 approval.

As a new SC Chairman, MG Petr Mikulenka was elected by SC members. The next regular SC meeting was agreed to be held in the Czech Republic in autumn 2023.

The annual MATC report was presented by the MATC director, Col. Karel Valvoda, followed by a summary of MATC’s training as well as AAW activities. Then the plan for the upcoming year and later on new legal and financial procedures were introduced. Steering committee members were also briefly informed about the current manning status of MATC, few replacements have recently occurred, some others are still pending.

In line with implementation of new MATC role after latest Operational MOU Amendment, new financial procedures were introduced to set up efficient acquiring process when dealing either with military or commercial training provider. This new framework includes benefits for every MATC participating country, such as the Credit Mechanism or the VAT Refund System, aiming to allow simplified access to training activities provided via MATC.

Written by TF