On 20 June 2022, EATC conducted the first German C-130J flight from the home base in Evreux (France) to Berlin-Schönefeld (Germany). This was also the first operational flight of this aircraft and its first landing in Germany. The C-130J-30 registered 55+01 is now exhibited at the ILA Berlin* and for the first time presented to the public. Congratulations!
The flight was executed by mixed French and German crews. This will be the standard for all French and German aircraft from the Binational Air Transport C-130J Squadron (BATS), although the flights can of course also always be executed by purely national crews.
The C-130J-30 is the new tactical air transport asset of the German air force. In total six aircraft, three C-130J-30 and three KC-130J will be stationed at the binational BATS unit in Evreux. For more information on BATS, please read here.
In total, EATC’s portfolio will include 30 C-130Js, whereof 10 from the French-German squadron and 20 from the Italian Air Force.
The BATS is the third multinational unit under EATC operational authority, joining the Belgium-Luxembourg A400M unit in Bruxelles-Melsbroek as well as the Multinational** A330 MRTT Unit (MMU) in Eindhoven and Cologne.
* one of the largest trade exhibitions for the aerospace industry in the world
** DEU-NLD-BEL-LUX-NOR-CZE