Jun 27 2023

EATC works on Allied transport interoperability

RAMSTEIN, Germany – European Air Transport Command (EATC) put its Lighthouse Project (LHP) into practice leading two first-rate events on A400M cross-activities. The mission of this project is to offer nations improved interoperability, enabling them in the end to operate integrated multinational detachments.

For years, interoperability within the ground-handling domain has been on EATC’s agenda and EATC’s Lighthouse Project offers another set of stimulating and challenging everyday activities.

Nations commonly procure aircraft or train air and ground crews. But when it comes to integrated employment, the multinational cooperation stays very limited

“Nations commonly procure aircraft or train air and ground crews. But when it comes to integrated employment, the multinational cooperation stays very limited,” said Major General Andreas Schick, Commander EATC. “This is why we are exploiting the potential of common procurement in all areas of operation, including maintenance and ground handling, as well as multinational training of experts and crews,” he added. “Although based on common civilian European regulations, every nation has its own variants of military regulations. However common rules or at least the recognition of the different national regulations is a prerequisite when it comes to integrated employment,” General Schick continued.

European Air Transport Command (EATC) put its Lighthouse Project (LHP) into practice leading two first-rate events on A400M cross-activities. The mission of this project is to offer nations improved interoperability, enabling them in the end to operate integrated multinational detachments. Photo courtesy of EATC.

European Air Transport Command (EATC) put its Lighthouse Project (LHP) into practice leading two first-rate events on A400M cross-activities. The mission of this project is to offer nations improved interoperability, enabling them in the end to operate integrated multinational detachments. Photo courtesy of EATC.

European Air Transport Command (EATC) put its Lighthouse Project (LHP) into practice leading two first-rate events on A400M cross-activities. The mission of this project is to offer nations improved interoperability, enabling them in the end to operate integrated multinational detachments. Photo courtesy of EATC.

The LHP was initiated in March 2021 and is making concrete steps in 2023 to demonstrate and validate common operational capacities. The first official event was organised this June in Orléans, France when A400M maintenance and logistics technicians from Germany, France, Belgium, and Spain practiced cross-maintenance, cross-handling, cross-mission preparation, and cross-parachuting activities. The United Kingdom and the European Air Group joined as observers. A second rendezvous is planned in the US in November this year.

LHP in 2023 is only the beginning of many opportunities. The initial focus is the A400M, but this project will be used as an advantage and blueprint for other aircraft types such as the A330 MRTT and the C130J.

“Through the LHP, EATC is getting the ball rolling and offering meetings to negotiate and a platform to practice cross-activities. Together with our member nations, we will make the LHP a success. We have just taken off with EATC’s five A400M user nations. More is to come. And I am persuaded that the future will offer us new opportunities with NATO allies joining us on the road to integrated and common employment,” highlighted General Schick.

Story based on information provided by the European Air Transport Command Public Affairs Office