Credits: Austrian Air Force Colonel Hannes Mittermair was Austria’s Senior Commander at the Helicopter Exercise ITALIAN CALL 11, the third European Helicopter Training Programme Exercise, hosted in Italy, on May-June 2011. As Austria’s Senior Commander in place, Mittermair was responsible for the 26 Austrian soldiers, operating three AB-212 Army helicopters. Mittermair and his crews are already planning HOT BLADE 2012, the next EDA’s Helicopter Exercise. EDA recovers an interview with Mittermair, a Commander who strongly and enthusiastically believes that "helicopter practice works very well in the international arena”.
Q : From your point of view, what is the importance of attending this Exercise - for you, for your crews, and for Austria’s helicopter capability development?
A : ITALIAN CALL 2011 was the second Exercise we attended with our helicopters, and we found that the Exercises’ concept had developed greatly. Our aim is to validate our procedures and techniques for the crews. We have learned in operations, like Kosovo and Bosnia, that we do apply good flight techniques, but also have certain difficulties in understanding how the procedures work, how they are applied. So, this is an ideal opportunity for us where we can demonstrate our improved procedures, which we will also present in a NATO evaluation programme. I think that the success of this European Helicopter Training Programme Exercise is now established.
Q : What about the European Helicopter Training Programme? How do you see it?
A : Our experience until now… in 2003 we cooperated with both Germany and Switzerland in Kosovo, and that was our first step on the international scene. Being neutral emphasises certain sensitive areas in terms of interaction with other nations, but I do see a development here, because the Exercise language was English – and not German, to which we were used. So, crews were “forced” to apply their techniques and skills, in English – which is challenging. They did a very good job and, as we have seen, the cockpit swap was successfully executed. Since AZOR 2010, the exchange of ideas has also been well done.
Q : To which developments are you referring to?
A : Exercise AZOR 2010 (July 2010, Spain) was a kind of national exercise in an international playground. Now we have a truly international exercise model, hosted by a given Nation, which is Italy.
Q : So, it means a small step forward towards a new concept of Exercise…
A : I wouldn’t say it is a small step forward… it’s a big step forward! Once you manage it, Nations open up and give the pilots the trust they need to swap cockpits… this is really a big, big sign of mutual confidence and trust. This means they feel completely confident that there are professional and very well prepared troops on both sides. So, a big step forward, I would say!
Q : Would you emphasise a specific mission that the Austrian crews carried out with other nations during IT CALL 2011?
A : No, I have no specific reference to make... we had a great experience here with all crews. From what I have seen here from all contributing nations, and being a truly convinced European citizen, I would like nations to cooperate in a more united and multinational European environment. This engagement is a political decision – and I am just a soldier. Soldiers operate and make basic lines to sustain political decisions. But my “soldier experience” is great. And the European Defence Agency is working for it!