Text: Philippe Decock - Pictures: Philippe Decock, Hellenic Army Aviation
Copyright sbap 2020©
 
 
Alexandria Airbase and the Hellenic Army Aviation Training Center
 
Emblem: Hellenic Army Aviation Emblem: 1st Brigade Hellenic Army Aviation
 
The Hellenic Army Aviation Training Centre (HAATC)

HAATC History:
The first officer of the Army, Lt Col Dimoulitsas Andreas was trained as a pilot in England in 1949.
Until mid-1952 the training of the Army pilots was undertaken by the Air Force.
The " Pilot School of Aerial Observation" was established in July 1952 in Megara under the command of Artillery Directorate/HAGS.
The school served from 1954 until 1960 as "Aerial Observation Wing" under the Artillery School.
Until 1959 only Artillery Officers were trained as pilots and since 1960 Officers of all Army branches were trained as pilots as well.
In 1961, the "Aerial Observation Wing" was renamed "Army Aviation Training Center" and came under HAGS/G3.
The Army Aviation Directorate was established in november 1967.
In April 1973, the Center relocated from Megara to Agrinio and by October 1974 moved to Stefanovikeiou.

Army Aviation Training Center can conduct training for the following courses:

Tactical Wing - General Military and Technical Education :
1 - Basic Officers School (Captains)
2 - School of Deputy Governor Units (Lieutenants)
3 - CW Army Aviation Training School.

Flight Wing Training - Initial Training Departments :
1 - Flight Training Fixed Wing Aircraft
2 - Flight Training Rotary Wing (42 weeks)
3 - Training Program for NVG's (Night Vision Googles).

Flight Wing Training - Pilot Further Training Department :
1 - Instructor Pilot Course (10 weeks)
2 - Fixed Wing Aircraft Operators
3 - Department Helicopter pilots in each type (AH-64, CH-47, NH-90, etc) under the supervision of the AATS (Army Aviation Training School).

The mission of Army Aviation Training Center are:

To educate :
1 - Executives of the Army Aviation to technical and tactical use of branch of Army Aviation and provide basic managerial knowledge to enable them to perform the duties corresponding to their rank.
2 - Officers and Permanent NCOs (non-commissioned officers) of the Army as aircraft and helicopter pilots.
3 - Officers and Permanent NCOs of other branches of the Armed Forces and Security Forces as aircraft and helicopter pilots.

To further train :
1 - Officers and permanent NCOs in the Army Aviation Center, or under supervision of Army Aviation Center at other units.
2 - Officers of the other branches of the Armed Forces and Security Forces, as aircraft and helicopter pilots.
To perform air missions in favor of the General Staff.

HAATC air assets:
1 - Breda Nardi NH-300C, a 2 seats helicopter used for basic training. It has an autonomy of about two hours and a half and a top speed of 80 knots.

2 - Bell UH-1H and Agusta-Bell 205A, the 13 seats helicopter has an autonomy of about two hours and a half and a top speed of 90 knots.

3 - Aguta-Bell 206, the 5 seats helicopter has an autonomy of two hours and forty minutes and a top speed of 100 knots.

4 - Cessna U-17A, Military version of the Cessna 185E, powered by a 260-hp (194-kW) Continental IO-470-F piston engine.
Supplied by the USAF to a number of countries under the Military Assistance Programme.
 
 
On the tarmac
 
Splendid flight line
(Philippe Decock©)
Bell AB206B EΣ509 (c/n 8580)
(Philippe Decock©)		 Bell AB206B EΣ507 (c/n 8577)
(Philippe Decock©)
Bell AB206B EΣ512 (c/n 8583)
(Philippe Decock©)		 Bell AB206B EΣ501 (c/n 8569)
(Philippe Decock©)
Cessna U-17A EΣ282 (c/n 185-0830)
(c/n(Philippe Decock©)
Bell UH-1H EΣ627 (c/n 12794)
(Philippe Decock©)		 Bell UH-1H EΣ836 (c/n 5994)
(Philippe Decock©)
 
Training missions
 
Breda-Nardi NH300C EΣ125 (c/n 041)
(Philippe Decock©)
Monitor and student prepare the turn around
(Philippe Decock©)		 Last ground instructions
(Philippe Decock©)
Take off
(Philippe Decock©)		 En route for the holding point
(Philippe Decock©)
Small but effective for basic training
(Philippe Decock©)		 Side by side training
(Philippe Decock©)
Breda-Nardi NH300C EΣ122 (c/n 038)
(Philippe Decock©)		 Well ventilated in summer time!
(Philippe Decock©)
Pass over the base
(Philippe Decock©)		 Face to face
(Philippe Decock©)
Strange helicopter, but he has a certain elegance
(Philippe Decock©)		 Rear view of the NH300C
(Philippe Decock©)
Cessna U-17A EΣ282 (c/n 185-0830)
(Philippe Decock©)
Taxi to the holding point
(Philippe Decock©)		 Take off for a local training
(Philippe Decock©)
Touch and go
(Philippe Decock©)		 High turn showing the typical Greek camouflage
(Philippe Decock©)
Downwind
(Philippe Decock©)		 Short final
(Philippe Decock©)
And back to base
(Philippe Decock©)
Bell AB206B EΣ515 (c/n 8586)
(Hellenic Army Aviation©)		 The EΣ515 in flight
(Hellenic Army Aviation©)
Bell UH-1H EΣ827 (c/n 10002)
(Philippe Decock©)
Bell UH-1H EΣ834 (c/n 5432)
(Philippe Decock©)		 Bell UH-1H EΣ823 (c/n 8804)
(Philippe Decock©)
Face to face with the UH-1H, a little tune of "Apocalypse Now"
(Philippe Decock©)		 Bell AB205A EΣ629 (c/n 4273) back from a mission
(Philippe Decock©)
Landing near some brother in arms
(Philippe Decock©)		 The basic and the advanced
(Philippe Decock©)
The 827 is back
(Philippe Decock©)		 The charming smile of the student pilot
(Philippe Decock©)
Following the taxiway to the apron
(Philippe Decock©)		 Despite their age, they still look like warriors
(Philippe Decock©)
End of mission
(Philippe Decock©)
Machine check up...
(Philippe Decock©)		 ...to the engine compartment
(Philippe Decock©)
Some inspections before the next flight
(Philippe Decock©)		 The 834 is also coming back to base
(Philippe Decock©)
Close up, note the exhaust protection
(Philippe Decock©)		 823 back home
(Philippe Decock©)
Follow the yellow line
(Philippe Decock©)		 Another training mission this day
(Philippe Decock©)
A tireless machine
(Philippe Decock©)		 827 running out
(Philippe Decock©)
 
 Bell AB206B EΣ503 (c/n 8571) and some Bell UH-1H stored for spare parts
(Philippe Decock©)
 

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