The course, jointly hosted by the Sweden and the UK, will train both a new cadre of tactics instructors as well as delivering bespoke instructional training to returning graduates from last year. In total the course lasts eight weeks across two phases, a Classroom and Simulator Phase which ran between March 23 and April 13 in the UK, and the live flying phase hosted by Sweden from April 27 to May 18.  In total 20 students from the participating countries are taking part as well as seven observers from Czech Republic, Belgium, Portugal and EDA.

Part of the EDA helicopter training system

The complete course is part of the EDA helicopter training system and directly linked with the Helicopter Exercise Programme (HEP) and the Helicopter Tactics Course (HTC).  The combination of these courses helps provide a comprehensive approach to helicopter training in Europe, designed to raise standards and improve interoperability for international missions.

Training the trainers

The HTIC delivers an opportunity to expose helicopter crews to the training methodology and tactical knowledge of another Member State. It is also the first step in delivering a sustainable European course where successful graduates could be awarded a qualification recognised by all the participating countries. Additionally, on returning home, these graduates can pass on the common understanding and methodologies to their own crews and can interact with the other helicopter programs as mentors.

The newly trained instructors will have the opportunity to harness and enhance their skills as part of the EDA’s Hot Blade Exercise in Ovar, Portugal in July.

For HTIC, the attending helicopter assets were 1 OH-58 KIOWA (AT), 1 MI 171 (CZ), 1 CH-53 (DE), 1 UH-1D (DE), 1 NH90 (SE), 2 AS332 (UK, Super Puma). As well as these helicopters, 2 UK HAWK fast jets, 4 Czech L-159 ALCA and 2 Swedish GRIPENS took part.