ETAP-T is an annual training aiming to develop a comprehensive airlift training opportunity within the European setting. Training objectives are based on national training requirements and activities. The outcome can be called training ‘à la carte’ that has been designed to optimize multi-threat, advanced serials, which are challenging for the operational crews. A backbone of the training since the begin in 2012 is the strong support by the European Air Transport Command (EATC). The project itself runs over two weeks, providing not only training opportunities for aircrews but also for Intel, Maintenance, Combined Air Terminal Operations (CATO), Air Mobility Protection Teams (AMPTs) and paratroopers. This complementary training is directed by EATC. ETAP-T (formerly EATT) is now conducted repetitively since 7 years. The next edition of an ETAP-T, which has been organised so far in Spain (2012/13/19), BGR (2014) and three times in PRT (2015 – 17) and HUN (2018) was planned to be executed in June 2020 in Pisa (ITA), but had to be cancelled. Though this tactical training opportunity is open to any crew, we appreciate to welcome already graduated crews from our courses to watch them employing the tactics they have learned.
ETAP-C aims to provide air transport crews with a comprehensive airlift tactics course to enhance tactical knowledge, to expand the personal ‘comfort zone’ in unfriendly scenarios and to increase survivability in this airspace. Since almost all EATF-nations participate in the courses interoperability between European air forces will grow in this domain. Thanks to the effort of the EATC, who designed the ETAC Tactics Techniques and Procedures (ETTP) and the ETAC’s own Tactical Instructor Pilots (TacIP) all participating crews operate of ‘the same sheet of music’. The ETTP are supposed to be the ‘bible’ for tactical flying. On the courses crews are trained within a simulated theatre-deployment setting, exposing them to a complex surface-to-air and air-to-air threat. Here they are tasked to conduct more and are demanding airlift missions, however always being assisted by TacIPs. At the end of each course, graduating crews will be presented a certificate.
ETAP-I provides to selected European Air Transport instructor pilots expertise and knowledge about different transport aircraft types and their associated mission capabilities, this with respect to the tactical reference handbook ETTP. Calling them ‘students’ at this project, during our courses the graduates become TacIPs and are always employed on the courses. The instructor course enables them to assist the crews during their flight preparation and to support them during the execution of their missions. At the end of each flight, tactical instructors will evaluate the crew’s performance against syllabus requirements. Once they are back at home they will pass the harmonised training procedures and their knowledge to their national crews, preparing them already for the attendance of one of our courses or any multinational event.
ETAP-S A symposium has been the first common project within the EATP-programme and is running since 2010. It is still a core activity within the EATF aiming to improve fleet capacity across Europe and to improve interoperability of airlift related issues at the operator level. ETAP-S solely concentrates on tactical aspects of the European air transport domain and it aims for the operator level. This closes the circle of teaching, learning and debating. Tangible initiatives will be to the benefit for consideration by the EATF community.