Hungarian Pilot Leads International Military Helicopter Training Course in Pápa

The Pápa Military Air Base is hosting the Helicopter Tactics Instructor Course for the sixth time. Organized by the Multinational Helicopter Training Center, the course has a Hungarian pilot, Balázs Major, serving as senior instructor for the first time. On October 19, a professional meeting of course leaders also took place in Pápa.

Participants in the seven-week course begin their training at the base in Sintra, Portugal, where, after three weeks of classroom instruction, they spend one week practicing on a simulator.

They then move to Pápa Airport, where they put their theoretical knowledge into practice using Hungarian, German, Portuguese and Czech helicopters, under the guidance of Hungarian, Austrian, Czech, German and Portuguese instructors.

The course is structured in several levels, as it is not possible to learn everything in a single course. Anyone wishing to complete the full training program must take the course three times at different levels. Over the three stages of training, participants can progress from Bronze to Silver and then Gold.

The task of a Bronze-level participant (a first-year trainee) is to learn the general procedures for combat helicopter operations.

A second-year trainee who has completed the Silver level not only carries out tasks but also instructs Bronze-level participants. Gold-level trainees, meanwhile, focus on instructor training and mentoring.

Balázs Major also progressed through these career stages before becoming an instructor and eventually being appointed senior instructor for this year’s exercise.

In response to a question from honvedelem.hu, he explained that the Portugal-based Multinational Helicopter Training Centre (MHTC) has no permanently employed instructors. His primary responsibility is therefore to organize and assemble the team of instructors.

“When the course began, I had clear expectations. I expected Bronze-level trainees to execute the maneuvers specified in their assignments flawlessly. I required second-year trainees, who were teaching them, to know all the requirements thoroughly and be able to communicate them in English. Third-year trainees are capable of doing all of this; their focus must be on ensuring that the rules are followed — that is their responsibility,” the senior instructor said, summarizing his expectations of the students.

Balázs Major added that working in an international environment can often be demanding, but there were no signs of fatigue among the soldiers.

I greatly appreciate seeing the team work together. They do not seek to distinguish themselves individually; instead, they help one another and work collectively towards success. We achieved that and created an open, safe environment throughout the seven-week exercise,”

he said.

During the three-week flying phase in Pápa, personnel carried out various tactical formation maneuvers. They also practiced escorting convoys, maneuvers against combat aircraft and air-defense systems, and trained in countering electronic warfare interference.

Via honvedelem.hu, Featured image: honvedelem.hu/Franciska Veres

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