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| Centrum Leteckého Výcviku Pardubice |
| Latest update: March 2020 Publication: This article has been published by Scramble magazine October 2019. |
| Centrum Leteckého Výcviku Pardubice |
| Latest update: March 2020 |
| LOM Praha |
LOM Prague is a civilian company, established in 2004,which is fully
owned by the Czech Republic’s Ministry of Defence. The company’s
headquarters is located in Prague and is divided into several divisions
which are located throughout the country. LOM Praha offers the following
services:
light training on several aircraft types (see table below) is conducted at Pardubice airport and simulator training, offered through its VR Group, in Brno. Pardubice is a former Czech Air Force base which after Czechoslovakia split up in the Czech Republic and Slovakia on January 1, 1993 housed the Sukhoi Su-25 Frogfoot, Antonov An-26 and Aero Vodochody L-410. Since then the Su-25s have been withdrawn from service. The L-410s transferred to the 24th Air Transportation Base at Prague-Kbely together with the An-26s which since then have been replaced by the Airbus D&S C-295M. Czech Air Force operations at Pardubice were ceased on October 30, 2003. The CLV was activated in 2004 and assigned the (basic) pilot training role. The division celebrated its 15th anniversary in 2019. |
| Centrum Leteckého Výcviku (CLV) |
|
Within LOM Praha the Centrum Leteckého Výcviku (CLV) is responsible for
the training of Czech Air Force pilots but it also offers its services
to other countries. Customer can request for specific training for their
pilots and receive a custom-made training by the CLV. Since 2017 Mr. Jaroslav Špaček is the director of the flight training center and together with his five deputies (economics, flight training, logistics, safety and tactical training divisions) runs the daily operations of LOM Praha at Pardubice airport. Mr. Špaček is a former Czechoslovakian Air Force pilot who started his career in the Czechoslovak air force at the Air Force College at Košice in Slovakia. He continued his career in the Czech Air Force and became the Chief of helicopter aviation General Staff in 2006. Two years later he joined LOM Praha s.p. as test pilot before being appointed as the CLV directory. Mr. Špaček accumulated 4.100 flight hours on military and civilian helicopters (Airbus helicopters EC-135, Bell 206, Bell 427, Enstrom 480, Mil Mi-2, Mi-4, Mi-17 and Mi-24 and Robinson Helicopter R-44). The CLV employs approximately 175 personnel whom are all civilian employees. All the instructor pilots (around 40 at present) and most of the technical staff served with the Czech Air Force. The pilots are licensed to fly both military and civilian aircraft. New Czech Air Force pilots are selected during their two-year (basic) military training at the military academy. Those student with the correct skills will be assigned to the CLV and continue their career for another three years with the company. Basic pilot training is conducted on the Zlin Z-142C-AF before continuing either the fast jet, transport or helicopter training.
The Czech Air Force based on their needs and the skills of the students decides the postings to the advanced flight training at the CLV. After graduation at Pardubice the conversion training on the operational aircraft types will take place at the 21st Tactical AFB Čáslav, 22nd Helicopter Base at Náměšť nad Oslavou and the 24th Air Transport Base at Prague-Kbely. Except training of Czech Air Force pilots LOM Praha also offer its training to other customers. The training is offered tailor made on the request of that customer. Simulator training is offered through its subsidiary VR Group on the Mi-2 and Mi-17 / Mi-171 full mission simulators. The later is responsible for training pilots of the Polish armed forces pilots on the Mi-8 / Mi-17 to keep them current on for instance emergency procedures which can be trained with the use of helicopters due to safety reasons. The CLV trained Nigerian Air Force pilots on the L-39C Training within the CLV is not only focused on pilots but the company also offers training for flight engineers and maintainers. |
| CLV aircraft inventory from January 1, 2019 |
Zlin 142C-AF: The Zlin 142 is used for the initial flight screening program (IFSP). Student are screened for mental and physical attributes. The syllabus is divided in academic training which incorporates aviation rules and aircraft systems. Flying training is divided into basic flight skills, take off and landing, navigation, standard and emergency procedures. Except the eight aircraft listed above the CLV owns one more civilian registered aircraft which is used by the CLV staff as well as a Zlin 43 for the same purposes.
L-39C Albatros: Student selected for fast jets will continue their training on the L-39C a version of the Albatross family which is dedicated to pilot training. The Czech Air Force operates the L-39ZA which can be equipped with a rocket rack, but this type will be withdrawn from service by the end of 2019. The syllabus offered by the CLV covers four phases. New pilots start with the elementary phase to them acquainted with the flight characteristics of the aircraft. Phase II and III are focused on the advanced training and is concluded by phase IV “combat limited”. The L-39C is scheduled to be withdrawn from service by the end of 2021.
Let-410UVP/UVP-T Turbolet: Two versions are assigned to the CLV, one Let-410UVP and one Let-410UVP-T. The later distinguish itself by the larger cargo door compared to the business UVP version to accommodate paratroop dropping capability. However, for training purposes there is almost no difference. A three phase training program is conducted for Czech Air Force pilots divided into basic, advanced and tactical training. Other customers can request tailor made training.
Enstrom 480B: Six Enstrom 480B helicopters were purchased to replace the Mil Mi-2 in the helicopter basic training role. Four of the helicopters are assigned to the CLV with the other two operated by DSA a.s. a flight school and partner of the CLV based in Hradec Králové. The first Enstrom helicopter arrived at Pardubice on June 21, 2018 and made its first flight on August 1, 2018.
Mi-17 Hip: Courses on the Mi-17 are split between basic training for new pilots who finished the Enstrom 480B syllabus as well as conversion training for pilots who have flown other helicopter types for instance the Mi-24/35 Hind within the Czech Air Force. Advanced training focuses on training with night vision goggles, SAR flights and use of the hoist.
Mi-2 Hoplite: Six Mi-2s were assigned to the CLV and used for basic flight training. It has been replaced by the Enstrom 480B however one of the helicopters will remain in the inventory of the CLV to support its operations until 2021. Another one has been placed in front of the CLV building.
EV-97: The CLV has one Evektor-Aerotechnik EV-97 aircraft in its inventory. This aircraft is used by the instructors for refreshing training and is also used for company support.
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| Aircraft or overhaul maintenance |
| The CLV maintains its aircraft at Pardubice airport. Depot level maintenance and overhauls are performed by LOM Praha at its Prague Kbely facility. Within the EU / NATO countries LOM Praha is the only certified company by the Russian MVZ Mil and OAO Klimov design bureaus, the Interstate Aviation Committee MAK and domestic aviation authorities to perform maintenance, repairs and overhaul (MRO) on the Mi-2/8/17/34/35 helicopters. It’s also certified by Aero Vodochody for MRO on the L-39 Albatros. Training of maintainers and engineers is conducted at Prague-Kbely. |
| CLV future |
|
Until 2018 all CLV aircraft wore the Czech Air Force roundel. As the CLV
is a civilian company all new aircraft as well all current aircraft
returned from depot level maintenance will receive the flag of the Czech
Republic. Military registrations of the aircraft will not change. The CLV is in the process of modernizing its current aircraft fleet. Its basic helicopter fleet was already renewed and its fast jet training aircraft will be replaced. The Czech MoD awarded a contract to Aero Vodochody to build four L-39NG (New Generation) trainer aircraft. The first aircraft is expected to be delivered by the end of 2020 with the remainder following in early 2021. The introduction of the new trainer will see the L-39Cs being withdrawn from service by the end of the same year. Aero Vodochody’s L-39NG is based on the successful L-39 Albatros aircraft of which more than 3.000 have been build. Several improvements to the airframe and its systems have been made. Compared to its predecessors the L-39NG has less weight, less drag (wing tip tanks have been removed) and can fly up to 15.000 flight hours. The aircraft is NVG compatible including lighting, has a glass cockpit including integrated digital avionics and can carry more fuel increasing its range or time in the air. Delivery of the L-39NG will mark a leap forward for the CLV in delivering fast jet pilots to the Czech Air Force or other customers. Currently unknown is the future of the Mi-17 Hip. The Czech Air Force has a requirement to replace its Mi-8 / Mi-17 transport and Mi-24 / Mi-35 combat helicopters. The United Stated Defense Security Cooperation Agency has approved the sale of 12 Bell UH-1Y Venom helicopters on October 23, 2017 followed by the same number of Sikorsky UH-60M Blackhawk and 4 Bell AH-1Z Viper helicopters on May 3, 2019. The author would like to thank Mr. Jaroslav Špaček (CLV director) and Mr. Tomáš Kuba (Referent for foreign training) for their hospitality and support. |
| CLV photo gallery |
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