Flight Training Center Pardubice

Flight Training Center Pardubice
Company typeState-owned
IndustryDefence contracting
Predecessor34th Special Air Base
FoundedApril 1, 2004; 20 years ago (2004-04-01)
HeadquartersPardubice, Czech Republic
Key people
Jaroslav Špaček (director)
ServicesFlight training
ParentLOM Praha [cs]
Websitelompraha.cz

Flight Training Center (Czech: Centrum leteckého výcviku, CLV) is a Czech civilian provider of military training programs for both fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft based at Pardubice Airport.[1] CLV is a division of the state-owned enterprise LOM Praha whose common stock is 100% owned by the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic.[2]

Since April 2004, Flight Training Center Pardubice has been providing complete training for pilots of the Czech Air Force but it also offers its services to foreign customers.[3] Courses are thought and supervised by retired military pilots,[1] such as former JAS 39 Gripen and Red Bull Air Race pilot Martin Šonka.[4]

History

In 2000, the 34th Training Air Base based at Pardubice Airport was renamed as 34th Special Air Base. On 1 April 2004, the military base was transformed into civilian Flight Training Center.[1]

On 2 December 2021, the Flight Training Center (CLV) and the International Flight Training School (IFTS) were selected as the initial two NATO Flight Training Europe (NFTE) Training Campuses.[5]

In May 2024, LOM Praha and Lockheed Martin signed a cooperation agreement, which includes plans to establish a European F-35 Lightning II training center within the CLV facility in Pardubice. The training will be focusing on Czech Air Force F-35 pilots but accommodating foreign aviators in a 75-25 ratio. Lockheed Martin approved Zlín Z-142 and Aero L-39 Skyfox as suitable platforms for F-35 training.[6]

Aircraft

An EV-97, Z-142, and Mi-2 on display in front of hardened aircraft shelter.

CLV aircraft used for the training of military pilots are registered in the military aviation register administered by the Department of Military Aviation Authority of the Czech Ministry of Defence. One Z-142 and one Z-43 intended for additional civil training are registered in the Civil Aviation Register kept by the Civil Aviation Authority as OK-PNE and OK-WOI respectively.[3]

Ordered

Aircraft Origin Type Variant Number Notes
Aero L-39 Skyfox Czech Republic jet trainer L-39NG 4 plus 4 option aircraft

Current inventory

Aero L-39C aircraft operated by CLV Pardubice
Mi-17 helicopter
Aircraft Origin Type Variant In service Notes
Trainer aircraft
Aero L-39 Albatros Czechoslovakia jet trainer L-39C 7 [7]
Zlín Z-142 Czech Republic trainer aircraft 9 8 Z-142C AF, 1 Z-142
Zlín Z-43 Czech Republic trainer aircraft 1
Evektor SportStar Czech Republic trainer aircraft EV-97 1
Transport
Let L-410 Czech Republic utility L-410UVP-T 1 [8]
Helicopters
Mil Mi-17 Soviet Union utility 3 7 in total[9]
Enstrom 480 United States utility 9 8 480B-G, 1 480B[9]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "LOM Praha Flight Training Centre at Pardubice Air Base". Lowpass Aviation.com. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
  2. ^ "Centrum leteckého výcviku". Scramble Magazine. Schiphol: Dutch Aviation Society. October 2019. pp. 93–95. ISSN 0927-3417.
  3. ^ a b Šiška, Martin. "Flight Training Center in Pardubice has Reached a Significant Milestone". czdefence.com. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
  4. ^ "Šonka se stal instruktorem CLV. Podílet se bude na výcviku armádních pilotů". deník.cz. Vltava Labe Media. Czech News Agency. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
  5. ^ "Allies select initial two Pilot Training Campuses for NATO Flight Training Europe". nato.int. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
  6. ^ Siminski, Jacek (6 June 2024). "Czech Republic to Establish Regional F-35 Training Center". The Aviationist. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
  7. ^ Soušek, Tomáš (2013-08-17). Čadil, Jan (ed.). "Labutí píseň pro L-39 Albatros" [Swan song of L-39 Albatros]. Czech Air Force Yearbook 2013 (in Czech and English). Praha: Aeromedia.
  8. ^ Hottmar, Aleš (14 March 2024). "Pardubická „Máňa" se stěhuje do Leteckého muzea v Kunovicích". czechairforce.com (in Czech). Retrieved 2 November 2024.
  9. ^ a b Čadil, Jan (6 March 2024). "Centrum leteckého výcviku LOM Praha dvacetileté". Letectví + kosmonautika (in Czech) (3). Magnet Press: 12–16. ISSN 0024-1156. Retrieved 26 March 2024.