C-27J Spartan military transport aircraft of the Lithuanian Air Force was deployed to Romania on May 13-24 to take part in international exercise European Spartan 2019. All the other participants of the exercise Bulgaria, Italy, Slovakia and Romania also deployed C-27J transport aircraft one per each, and Romania also dedicated F-16 fighter aircraft for air threat simulation and air support.
The exercise aim was to train tactical air transport crews and ground personnel to carry out practical transport aviation tasks in an area of operations that is challenging in terms of climate of geographically (mountainous and dusty terrain with high temperatures), improve interoperability and hone standard tactical procedures among EU C-27 Spartan operators and ground units in large scope tactical air transport operations in the theatre of actions.
Wide-spectrum tactical tasks presented to exercise participants were gradually more challenging, most of the tasks focussed on support to special forces ( tactical air-ground operations, including tactical airlift, tactical touchdowns, loading/unloading with engines running, landing on short-distance tracks, parachute jumps from different altitudes).
Every exercise flight (crew preparation process, the flight, and post flight hotwash in order to provide recommendations on better task efficiency) included a safety instructor to maximise exercise effectiveness and flight safety.
Exercise/training for other personnel taking part in the exercise was held alongside with aircrews. The exercise comprised theoretical part followed by training in practice.
Lithuanian Air Force personnel shared best practices and learned from allies' experience at the exercise, as well as gained theoretical knowledge in the area of planning and execution of military transport aviation operations.
Article by the Lithuanian Air Force
Photo credits: Cer Senin/RoAF
