European Defence Agency completes final Helicopter Tactics Instructors Course.

Over the course of seven weeks, the European Defence Agency (EDA) oversaw the ninth installment of the Helicopter Tactics Instructors Course (HTIC), which took place at Sintra Airbase No1 in Portugal and Pápa Air Base in Hungary. This marked the culmination of EDA's management of such courses, as they are now set to be transferred to the Multinational Helicopter Training Centre (MHTC) in Portugal.

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The Helicopter Tactics Instructors Course (HTIC) program was structured into two weeks of classroom instruction, followed by a two-week simulator phase at Sintra Airbase N°1 (Picture source: EDA)

The Helicopter Tactics Instructors Course (HTIC) program was structured into two weeks of classroom instruction, followed by a two-week simulator phase at Sintra Airbase N°1. After a one-week break for recovery and aircraft transfer, participants engaged in live flying exercises and challenging missions during a three-week deployment to Pápa Air Base in Hungary.

During the flying phase, participants were supported by personnel from the Hungarian Defence Forces and Pápa Air Base. This phase featured a complex operational scenario that involved dissimilar formation flying, Evasion Training against various airborne threats, Electronic Warfare (EW) exercises against both ground-based and airborne systems, as well as the execution of additional tasks such as Helicopter Assault, Convoy Escort, and Vehicle Interdiction. The course was led by Major Christian Kappl, the Chief Instructor of EDA's HTIC, with participating crews hailing from Austria, Czechia, Germany, Hungary, Portugal, and Slovakia, operating five different helicopter types: AH-101, UH-60, OH-58, H145M, and Mi-171.

Throughout the course, staff instructors from Austria, Germany, The Netherlands, and Sweden received specialized support from Inzpire Ltd. Czech Alca Jets and Hungarian Gripens provided fixed-wing support, primarily acting as threats during training. Additionally, Austria, Germany, Hungary, and Slovenia contributed Electronic Warfare (EW) assets and ground troops.

At the conclusion of the program, a graduation ceremony awarded a total of 15 Bronze, six Silver, and four Gold qualifications, thereby making a significant contribution to the international community of Helicopter Tactics Instructors (HTI) and enhancing national capabilities.

This edition of the HTIC marked the final one managed by the EDA. Given its successful history, international recognition, and the growth of HTI experts, it is poised for a seamless and secure transition to the Multinational Helicopter Training Centre (MHTC) by the end of 2023.