EUROPEAN AIR-TO-AIR REFUELLING TRAINING 2015 - EART 15

Dear Readers,

The overall objective of EART15 is to address the lack of interoperability amongst European tanker crews and to
develop knowledge in air-to-air refuelling (AAR) planning and tasking through a dedicated exercise; the only of its
kind in Europe.

Here is the excellent report of Arthur Bijster tutorial about EART 2015.

EART15
In the period from 13 until 14 April, the exercise European Air-to-Air refuelling Training was held. The primary objective of EART2015 was the implantation of the cooperation between the air forces of the Member Nations to increase as level of interoperability in multinational operations.
This exercise took place mainly above the North Sea, northern parts of the Netherlands, Germany and Denmark. The tankers operate from Eindhoven AB in the South of the Netherlands. The exercise EART2015 coincided with exercise Frisian Flag, held from Leeuwarden AB in the North. This gave the opportunity to combine both exercises to train the tanker crew as well the fighter pilots.
The reason to choose for Eindhoven as home base for the exercise, is that the headquarter of the European Air Transport Command (EATC) found his home here. The EATC is a cooperation between Belgium, Germany, Luxemburg, Italy, Netherlands and Spain. This organisation is established to create a effective use of transport sources and tanker capacity.
The units who took part of EART15 are the German Special Air Mission Wing Ministry of Defence with a A310 MRTT from Köln-Wahn AB, Italy with a KC-767A from 14° Stormo based at Pratica di Mare, the French came with a C-135FR from GRV02.091 normally flying from Istres/Le Tubé and off course the Dutch Air Force with a KDC-10. There were rumours that the UAEAF will come with a A330 MRTT, but only a observation team were present.