On 8 July 2026, the European Air Transport Command (EATC) welcomed the Surgeon General of Germany, Lieutenant General Hoffmann, and the Surgeon General of the Royal Netherlands Armed Forces, Commodore Bos, for a working visit at EATC Headquarters in Eindhoven. The delegation also included the German and Dutch Air Force Leading Flight Surgeons.
The visit was opened by Brigadier General Frank Best, Chief of Staff of EATC, who welcomed the distinguished guests for an office call at Headquarters.
The working session focused on strategic aeromedical evacuation and its role in supporting future NATO operations, particularly in a pre-Article V scenario and beyond. During the briefing programme, Colonel Dr Henning von Perbandt, Head of EATC’s Aeromedical Evacuation Control Centre (AECC), provided an overview of EATC’s aeromedical evacuation capabilities. This was followed by a presentation from Lieutenant Colonel Dr Vermeltfoort on patient transport during large-scale conflict, while Lieutenant Colonel Bosseloo highlighted EATC’s contribution to NATO Article V operations.
The visit concluded with an open discussion on current challenges and future developments in strategic aeromedical evacuation, reaffirming the importance of multinational cooperation in ensuring effective medical support for military operations.