Paris, 21 January 2010 – A subcommittee of the Defence Committee of the European Security and Defence Assembly yesterday carried out a parliamentary fact-finding mission at the helicopter flight training centre in Bückeburg near Hanover.

Among Assembly members taking part in the mission were:  Doug HENDERSON MP (United Kingdom, Socialist Group), Chairman of the Defence Committee, Claire CURTIS-THOMAS MP (United Kingdom, Socialist Group), Rapporteur on behalf of the Defence Committee on “European cooperation on military helicopters” for the upcoming plenary session in June 2010, Bill ETHERINGTON MP (United Kingdom, Socialist Group), Jean-Pierre KUCHEIDA (France, Socialist Group), Geert LAMBERT (Belgium, Socialist Group) and Alan MEALE MP (United Kingdom, Socialist Group).

The Defence Subcommittee was briefed by General Reinhard WOLSKI, commanding officer at the simulator training centre, and a number of his colleagues on the training programmes on offer at the Bückeburg Centre for EC135, NH90 and CH53 helicopter pilots. Pilots from the military, security forces (police and customs) and private firms undergo training at the centre. General WOLSKI said that helicopter pilots could carry out half of their operational training time on the simulators. Simulation training can thus play a key part in strengthening the European military helicopter capability.

The Subcommittee was then given a tour of the Centre’s facilities. Members were able to witness a test run of an EC135 helicopter simulator (basic training) and were given a presentation on the ground of the three different helicopters (EC135, NH90 and CH53).

The fact-finding mission was undertaken in preparation for the report on “European cooperation on military helicopters” which will be submitted to the Assembly on behalf of the Defence Committee by Rapporteur Claire CURTIS-THOMAS MP (United Kingdom, Socialist Group) at the 58th plenary session of the ESDA in Paris (Palais d’Iéna) from Tuesday 15 to Thursday 17 June 2010.