During the first days after the devastating floods that hit Libya on 11 September 2023, EATC reacted promptly, conducting, nine missions on behalf of its member nations with French and German A400M, Italian C-130-J and C130-J from the BATS* Unit. They transported rescue teams, supplies and humanitarian aid, as well as a field hospital, to Benghasi and El Beida airport (Libya).
“It was important to react immediately, to give the best and fastest help to the people suffering this tragic event” – said, French Captain Marcellin, working as Flight Controller at EATC’s Mission Control Centre – “In particular it was a great experience for EATC to manage the BATS Unit, with a German tailed aircraft transporting humanitarian aids for France. The important role of Mission Control was to establish a rapid link between the French and German authorities to obtain the necessary diplomatic clearance to fly to Libya and to land the aircraft at the closest point to the disaster area. It really was a clear example of multinational cooperation!''
Major-General Franck Mollard, Commander EATC, underlines that “our thoughts are with those who have lost loved ones. EATC will continue to be ready 24/7 to support our member nations in their efforts to assist the region hit by the tremendous floods.”
* BATS is the French-German Binational Air Transport C-130J Squadron "Rhein/Rhin", stationed at the air base 105 in Evreux (France) and operating, ultimately, a fleet of ten “Lockheed Martin C-130J-30/(K)C-130J Super Hercules” aircraft.