8th AAR & AIRSPACE OPS MEETING AT THE 46th B.A.

A delegation of the MCCE met at the 46th B.A. in Pisa to discuss Air-to-Air Refuelling (A.A.R.) and Airspace Operations. The MCCE is a multinational organization based in Eindhoven (NL) with 25 member countries (Austria, Belgium, Canada, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, Norway, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, United Kingdom, Czech Republic, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, United States, Sweden, Turkey, Hungary), with the aim of coordinating the use of air, maritime and land transport on a global scale and optimizing the AAR (on-board refueling) capabilities of the member countries, using the assets that each member state makes available to the organization from time to time, in a rationalization of the available resources. The MCCE thus ensures its support to NATO and the European Union. 17 delegates from 10 member countries participated in the meeting, which touched upon several topics, including the rationalization and sharing of Pan-European A.A.R. structures, as well as the initiation of a procedure, shared among the nations, regarding the certification of “receiver” aircraft with the new European tankers, including the new KC-767 recently acquired by the Air Force. The meeting, chaired by Lieutenant Colonel Gioacchino Cassara, head of the A.A.R. branch of the MCCE center, was attended by the JAPCC (Joint Air Power Competence Center) of Kalkar (Germany) and the EATC (European Air Transport Command) of Eindhoven. The Vice Director of the MCCE center, Lt Col Jan Skamfer, thanked Brigadier General Aurelio Colagrande, Commander of the 46th Air Brigade, for the hospitality and organization, emphasizing the importance of coordination between the Armed Forces of the different States for achieving the objectives of effectiveness and savings.