• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Air forces and industry investigate requirements for joint integrated training systems: "Eurotraining"- efficient training for future combat aircraft pilots

Berlin, 01 May 2002

A combat aircraft pilot receives training for about five and a half years before he is finally ready for combat. He undergoes several phases of training in the course of this time. Entry level and basic training are followed by advanced training at successively higher levels. Following conversion to the aircraft he will fly at his unit, he qualifies to reach the "combat ready" status in the operational squadron and takes part in the tactical training combat program (TCTP) at regular intervals in order to stay "combat ready".

The scores of national training concepts now in existence exhibit a gap between the older, second- or third-generation training aircraft and the next-generation combat aircraft, such as Eurofighter, that will be flown by the squadrons. Therefore, there is an interruption in the phased training concept, which will lead to instruction and training tasks being switched to operational aircraft, thus generating considerable additional training expenditure. European air forces and industry have recognized the problems. EURAC, an association of air force chiefs in 17 European nations, decided in 1997 to investigate whether a joint integrated pilot training program could satisfy future requirements. The contract for this investigation was awarded to an international military working group known as "Advanced European Jet Pilot Training" (AEJPT), in which twelve European air forces ultimately decided to participate. These nations are Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

The idea underlying this new instruction and training system was to ensure that the pilots can be qualified more efficiently by satisfying the demands made on them by the new generation of combat aircraft. The joint integrative European approach has further to ensure interoperability and reduce costs.

Based on the staff requirements and terms of reference, industry is now working closely with the participating air forces on this study under the name of "Eurotraining". Air forces and industry are jointly aiming to introduce the new integrated "Eurotraining" system in operational service at a European flying training center as from 2010.

International pilot training cannot be limited to a single common training aircraft. To establish a convincing concept, it is necessary for industry to include all training facilities, from computer-based training program and cockpit mock-ups to simulators. In addition, the subject covers a comprehensive range of services such as definition of training objectives, the preparation of curricula and the secondment of instructors, the development and provision of infrastructure, as well as the management and maintenance of the integrated training system. The road from "pedestrian to operational pilot" is a long one - and many individual training aspects have to be pieced together before the goal can be met.

The initial steps toward a similarly long approach to joint "Eurotraining" have been taken. Twelve nations have agreed to place a contract on industry for an in-depth feasibility study. The memorandum of understanding (MoU) for this study was signed by the military authorities involved at the end of January 2002.

EADS Military Aircraft of Germany and EADS-CASA of Spain, together with three other organizations (Aermacchi of Italy, Dassault of France, Saab of Sweden) will form the core group of a total of 30 European aerospace companies, which already joined up to form an interest group in 1998. This core group will analyze all aspects of the integrated training system, under broad participation by industry, in the course of an initial study lasting about twelve months and draft proposals for implementation. Different concepts and the design of the new training aircraft will be examined and assessed in the course of the study.

The Mako AT concept developed by EADS Military Aircraft has been designed to fit the policy adopted with "Eurotraining". Modern training concepts must cover the whole range of military training and mission operations. Mako has therefore been designed for high performance and is comparable with next-generation aircraft in terms of cockpit design, system functions (real or simulated), and maneuverability. As a result, comprehensive step-by-step training is guaranteed for the aircraft, while training objectives can be achieved early on in training rather than later during operations at flying units. The gap between straightforward pilot training and subsequent qualification in operational units is disappearing. Consequently, expenditure by air forces can be cut. Flying units would furthermore be in a position to use the Mako, which is more economic in flight operations than the front-line aircraft, for some parts of their operational training.

EADS Military Aircraft looks back on a wealth of experience in furnishing training services and equipment. A direct consequence of this, therefore, was the establishment of a dedicated "Training/Training Services" department.

With revenues amounting to 30.8 billion EUR in 2001 (excluding Airbus UK) and a workforce of over 100,000, EADS European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company is the largest European aerospace company and the No 2 worldwide. It is active in the sectors of commercial aircraft, helicopters, space, military transport and combat aircraft as well as defence technology and services. Among others, EADS holds 80 percent of Airbus, 75 percent of the space company Astrium, 100 percent of the helicopter manufacturer Eurocopter, 43 percent in the Eurofighter programme and 37.5 percent in the missile company MBDA.

Your contact:
Military Aircraft
Wolfram Wolff
Phone: +49-89-607 25711
Fax: +49-89-607 22455
e-mail: wolfram.wolff@m.eads.net