Czech Republic could host multinational aviation training centre after 2018

The plan for the Czech Republic to host a multinational aviation training centre for allied forces could be implemented after 2018, the head of the Czech Airforce Libor Štefánik told deputies in the lower house during a seminar on the development of the Czech airforce. The plan for the Czech Republic to create and lead a multinational aviation centre for allied pilots within the Smart Defence initiative to share capabilities was approved at a NATO summit in Chicago in 2012. The Czech Republic has been a lead country of the HIP Helicopter Task Force Initiative since 2009 and significantly contributes to the training of Afghan helicopter personnel and American aviation instructors. The United States, Croatia, Hungary, Slovakia, Austria and Sweden have have already declared interest in participating in the project. The centre should enable training for supersonic jets in due time.