Thursday 10 September by EATC
 

The EATC celebrated its 5th anniversary with a multinational jump event on 9th September 2015.

On 9th September 2015 the EATC celebrated its 5th anniversary at Eindhoven Air Base. The program of the event included para jumps performed by representatives of EATC Participating Nations (PNs), as well as a Family Day bringing together the families of the EATC personnel.

A German CH-53 from helicopter squadron 64 (Hubschraubergeschwader 64) in Laupheim, Germany, came for the event with 16 professional paratroopers. This helicopter is able to carry 36 passengers or around 24 equipped paratroopers. EATC personnel together with 8 paratroopers performed tandem jumps. One of the tandems was executed with EATC Commander MG Christian Badia. Other paratroopers were carrying the EATC flag and the national flags. In total 40 jumps were executed from an altitude of 4.000 and 3.000 meters.

By developing interoperability – through also cross-paratrooping, cross-national training, aircraft cross-servicing and maintenance – between its PNs, the EATC has managed to increase the overall effectiveness and efficiency of Air Transport missions conducted under its operational control (OPCON). For example, an average of 90.000 paratroopers are dropped each year by assets under EATC OPCON. Moreover, over the last five years the EATC has transported nearly 1.5 million people and 108.000 tons of cargo. Today, more passengers and cargo are transported with less aircraft and fewer flying hours.

3 July - Norbert Thomas - EATC

Successful steps of the European Air Transport Commands (EATC) have been done in the past: more will follow. The Change of Command ceremony today at Eindhoven Air Base featured the handover of EATC Command from French Major General Pascal Valentin to German Major General Christian Badia - taken place under the lead of the Dutch Air Force Commander, Lieutenant General Alexander Schnitger, Chairman of the Multinational Air Transport Committee (MATraC). 

A serial of changes

Before taking over the command, General Badia was Head of Division Strategic Defence Planning & Concepts at the German MoD. General Valentin instead will now focus on his new assignment, leading the NATO school in Rome.

General Valentin looks back on two busy years with a lot of challenges to cope with: The A400M introduction, reaching Final Operational Capability last year, achieving the accession of Luxembourg and Spain, which at last was finalized on the same day he left the EATC. Few days before he could promulgate the first A400M flying under EATC operational control.

The same date, but not in the limelight of the ceremony, also the Chief of Staff’s post is newly manned. German Brigadier General Jörg Lebert handed over to French Brigadier General Pascal Chiffoleau, former Commander of Air Mobility Brigade at Dijon AFB. Both positions either of Commander and Chief of Staff rotate as planned every two years between Germany and France.

New flag at EATC

More important decisions had been taken within the MATraC meeting in the morning, representing all EATC Participating Nations Air Chiefs: The lead of this highest circle in European military AT- matters went over from Belgian Lieutenant General Claude Van der Voorde to Dutch Lieutenant General Alexander Schnitger. For the next two years it is now his turn to monitor EATCs steps to reshape and improve the military AT-world within Europe. Although the Dutch Air Chief had a good start… facing only few hours before the accession of Spain to the EATC.

A rising giant

With the additional aircraft of Spain, intended to transfer authority latest by the end of the year, EATC will conduct more than 180 aircraft, operating from bases between the Baltic Sea and Gibraltar. But although this “rising giant called EATC” is a successfull lighthouse project in Pooling and Sharing, the new Commander knows, that nothing comes for free, facing e.g. the implementation of two Air Forces AT-fleets (Spain and upcoming Italy) into EATC structures: “With resources decreasing, demands rising, aging fleets and delays in the fielding of our new A400M we have to find better - and for sure sometimes new - ways in order to fulfil our commitments. All that counts at the end of the day is the added value that EATC can provide for each Participating Nation.”

Gallery EATC Change of Command Ceremony

Sunday 6 April - EATC