Monday 3^rd April was a significant day for the NATO rotary wing door-gunners community. 10 door gunners from Croatia and Czech Republic have commenced their four-week language training – Operational English Language Course for Door Gunners (OELC-DG). This unique course is coordinated by MATC (Multinational Aviation Training Centre) and is held in the facility of Helicopter Training Point (HTP) Ostrava.

OELC-DG was developed following the Czech Air Force requirement for operational English language training, with the aim to unify and instruct English terminology used by airborne gunners within NATO air crews. The course is instructed by two experienced British Qualified Helicopter Tactics Instructors (QHTI). “The overarching objective is to focus on interoperability and standardization of procedures by combining the crews during the training”, said one of QHTIs, Danny Hanson. The tactical simulator is intended to be used in the final part of the course to simulate the tactical scenarios to prompt the correct and timely use of key phrases by students – door gunners from MATC countries – Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Croatia. Later, the intention is to extend the training to NATO/EU/PfP military units.

Norway provided funds through the MHI (Multinational Helicopter Initiative) trust fund for two OELC-DG courses. This provision triggered intensive preparatory effort with UK QHTIs visiting 22 Helicopter Base at Náměšť nad Oslavou to discuss the content of the course directly with the trainees. The British instructors have a long association with NATO/EU helicopter crews, as they have been providing the EDA (European Defence Agency) Helicopter Tactics Course (HTC) in RAF Linton-on-Ouse. The preparatory effort laid the good foundation for the OELC-DG syllabus, which is in line with NATO and EDA training standards.

Course dates:
The 1^st – finished on 28 April 2017
The 2^nd – finished on 16 June 2017
The 3^rd – finished on 17 August 2017
The 4^th – 30 October – 24 November 2017

The Courses are published in the MATC TRG Catalogue in the section Additional (Special) Training Courses.

Written by JD

In response to the European Commission Regulation 1178/2011 concerning requirements towards civilian crews, MATC designed CRM basic course, adapted to the military crews needs with considerations to the specific aircraft types and flight procedures.

The main goal of CRM basic course is to foster the multi-crew competencies and implement the human factors lessons identified into the military crews training to pursue the constant process of enhancing the military operational flight safety.

To achieve the high level of training value, the CRM course is intended to be composed of both theoretical and practical part. Flight Training Centre (CLV) Pardubice will cover the first part, whereas the practical part using the simulator will be provided by HTP Ostrava.

In the theoretical part, certified CRM instructors will cover among others human factors and error management, decision-making process in a crew hierarchy, fatigue, stress factors, situational awareness, personality and teamwork (16hours). Theory will be followed by practical simulator exercises aimed at crew roles definitions, CRM aspects in flight briefings/debriefings and selected normal/abnormal/emergency flight procedures from CRM perspective (3 hours).

Optimal number of trainees is 10-12 per course. Please contact MATC directorate for further information.

Written by JD

MATC was coordinating the “Radio Navigation Aids Maintenance Course”, which was held in Military Academy Vyškov (MATC Facility code CZE 6 in MATC Training Catalogue) in March 2017. The Course was focused on ILS (Instrument Landing System) and DME (Distance Measuring Equipment) ground specialists skills improvement and their licence currency.

The Course was especially tailored for SVK Aviation Specialists and held in Czech language. The Course consisted of not only academic part, but as well of practical one focused on testing and special equipment tuning.

The main course objective was to improve practical skills in maintenance and operation of systems such as Instrument Landing System (ILS), Distance Measuring Equipment (DME) and surveillance radar (RL-4). The training syllabus and training procedures were executed in accordance with the procedures of Air Traffic Safety Electronic Personnel (ATSEP). Main emphasis was focused on solution of non-standard situations with the use of unique simulation device located on the premises of Training Command – Military Academy in Vyškov.

The graduation ceremony for the specialists from Slovakian aeronautical radio navigation service was held on the premises of the Multinational Aviation Training Centre (MATC) on Friday, 24^th March, 2017.

The director of MATC awarded 11 successful course graduates with certificates and congratulated them on the results achieved.

„I believe the acquired practical skills will contribute to the increased flight safety, which is of paramount importance in air traffic“ said Capt. Jaroslav Pleva, the course leader.

Written by RH and PJ

The new DCA/QRA (Defensive Counter Air/Quick Reaction Alert) Training Module (Tactical Simulation) for tactical pilots and GCI (Ground-controlled interception) has been successfully accomplished in term 27 February – 3 March 2017 at Tactical Simulation Center (TSC), Pardubice, Czech Republic (LOM PRAHA s.p./CLV Pardubice). The training week „Training for Training Leaders“ (as the TRG with code FTS 05 published in MATC TRG Catalogue) was focused on QRA procedures training and DCA – BvR (Blue versus Red) training. In this unique training participated instructor-pilots and GCI from the Czech Republic, Croatia, Hungary and Slovakia, supported by JAPCC SME, One of the main objective was to train tactical pilots´ and GCIs´ interoperability. The pilots and GCI had an opportunity to train in mixed crews. The follow-on training for pilots and GCI starts in November 2017.

Written by JD

Two Czech helicopter pilots sent by the Czech Air Force to Croatia within the MATC framework have on 1^st March 2017 successfully completed the basic flight training on Bell 206 B III helicopters. The training started in October 2016 and has been provided by Croatian Air Force, 93^rd AFB Zadar – Zemunjik.

The Croatian instructors trained these young pilots in basic flying, navigation flights, high altitude and low level flights in accordance with standardized syllabi for MATC participants. The training syllabi cover the current NATO standards for syllabi composition. This flight training is the first successful project under MATC coordination, and it is highlighting one of the main MATC objectives „Pooling and Sharing“ of offered free training capacities and facilities. The training is the composition of training modules chosen from MATC training catalogue.

Written by JD