21 January 2026. The European Tactical Air Transport Centre (ETAC) has concluded its first Tactical Mission Instructor Course of 2026, held between 13 and 16 January at the Orléans Air Base (France). In this edition, five pilots from Germany, France and Spain graduated as tactical instructors.

This course, known as the ETAP I project, is the first training activity in the annual calendar of the European Tactical Air Transport Programme. After Orléans, the next editions will take place in Pisa and Wunstorf, and for the first time in Zaragoza, following the usual rotation between host nations.

The theoretical phase of the course, prior to the simulator missions, covers key areas such as tactical communications, air-to-air threats and the use of advanced tools and techniques. This knowledge is essential for pilots who, on completion of the course, become part of the ETAC’s international team of instructors.

Tactical mission instructors play a key role in the preparation of European crews, as they are responsible for their training in advanced operations within the framework of European Tactics, Techniques and Procedures (ETTP).

ETAP I

The main objective of ETAP I is to prepare tactical instructors from member nations to participate in other courses dedicated to crews, reinforcing interoperability and cooperation in joint missions. To this end, the programme evaluates and standardises procedures between multinational crews, as well as coordinating and pooling the air tactical capabilities of the various participating European countries.