In September 2019, EATC set up a “cargo tiger team”. The aim is to enhance the standardisation of procedures for aircraft cargo area among the EATC tactical fleet (C-130H, C130J, C-160, C-295 and A400M, etc...).
The team is the unique point of contact for the EATC member nations in the domain of cargo area procedures. It will, among others, harmonise aerial delivery and airdrop procedures, contribute to the elaboration of syllabi in the domain of its responsibility, and support cross-certification events for airdrop.
The overall objective to set up this team was to connect the requesting units, such as the paratroopers, and the providing units, i.e. the aircrew and the loadmaster. In order to assure effective operations and become more interoperable, it is essential that all parties pursue the same objective.
“Interoperability needs to be thought in terms of commitment. Always in a “train as you fight” concept.” says Major Tristan, the leader of EATC’s cargo tiger team. “This is where we are heading for. And to reach this target, our approach is to develop the symbiosis between the aircrews and the paratroopers”.
The cargo tiger team is composed of highly professional experts, including paratroopers, loadmasters and dispatching specialists.
Photos kindly provided by the nations.