Training

Course in Aviation Medicine (CAM)

The First class of CAM was held as part of the Aviation Medicine Training Center (AMTC) framework in 1960 when the hypobaric chamber was first operated.

The CAM usually runs once per year (from January to March) and training lasts for 7 weeks.

The personnel that participate consist of HAF Medical officers (Medical Doctors, Dentists), originating from Hellenic Corps Military Academy, Medical officers of other branches of the Armed Forces and Specialized Medical Doctors of the Ministry of Health. Also, foreign Medical Officers with Greek language proficiency of at least 75%. Reserve Medical officers during the initial training.

The CAM’s curriculum includes:

Theoretical training on:
Aviation Physiology and Barometric Pressure, Acceleration, Abandonment, Survival, Hearing and Balance Physiology, Aviation Vision, Disorientation, Aviation Accident and Flight Safety, Mass Casualty Incident, Civil Aviation Medicine.

Hands on Training:

  • Hypobaric Chamber
  • Disorientation Device
  • Night Vision Device in HeAMC
  • T6 or T2 Aircraft Flight (for those eligible) and a flight in a simulator at 120 Air Training Wing
  • Super Puma helicopter flight at 112 Combat Wing

Field Trip:

  • At Marathona Helicopter Base (Underwater escape)
  • At 112 and 114 Combat Wing
  • At Athens Naval Hospital (Hyperbaric medicine)

Written examinations and oral presentation:

School graduates wear the Aviation Medicine Badge on their uniforms, as per HAF’s official uniform guidelines, awarded by the Aviation Medicine Centre Commander in an official ceremony.

Useful Aviation Medicine Bibliography can be found at the following web pages:

European Aviation Safety Agency: www.easa.europa.eu

Federal Aviation Administration: www.faa.gov

Aerospace Medical Association: www.asma.org

Within the framework of the Electronic – Individual Training and Education Program (e-ITEP), there is an online directory containing a large number of trainings taking place under the framework, approval or auspices of NATO under the name Education and Training On – line Catalog ETOC). This directory is accessible via https://e-itep.act.nato.int/Guest/ETOCindex.aspx, with no account creation required

Aviation Nursing and Aeromedical Evacuation Course (ANAEC)

Initial Training

In 1988 the first class of the Aviation Nursing Course graduated. In 2009 it was renamed as Aviation Nursing and Aeromedical Evacuation Course.

The ANAEC usually runs once a year (from September to November) and has a duration of 7 training weeks.

The trainees at ANAEC are οfficers originating from the Military Nursing Academy from all branches, as well as, other medical Officers (MD). Medical technicians. Medical Doctors and Paramedics, from the National Healthcare System.

The school program is in accordance with STANAG 3204 and includes:

  • Theoretical Training:
  • Training in Aviation Physiology, Flight Safety and Aeromedical Evacuation principles and practice
  • Training at the School of Marine Survival at 120
  • Training in Hypobaric Chamber, Spatial Disorientation Device and Night Vision Goggles

Hands on Training and familiarization with the aero medical equipment:

  • Training in the C-130 and C-27 aircrafts at 112 CW
  • Theoretical and practical training on aero medical evacuation on mass casualty incidence
  • Flight Assessment
  • Observers on Aeromedical transport carried out by National Healthcare System
  • Field Trip at 112CW

Written and oral examination:

Graduates of the School operate as Flight Nurses on Aeromedical Evacuation Missions, as flight crew on Search and Rescue (SAR) missions and as instructors in the training of Flight Personnel in the Hypobaric Chamber.

Graduates of the School wear the Flight Nurse Badge on their uniforms, as per HAF’s official uniform guidelines, awarded by the Aviation Medicine Centre Commander in an official ceremony.

Refresher Course

In 2011 the 1st Series of Training and Maintenance School of ANAEC graduated.

It usually operates once a year (May) and has a duration of 5 training days.

Graduates of ANAEC attend the refresher course 4-5 years after initial training.

The curriculum includes:

  • 2 days of theoretical training in the aviation physiology and aero medical evacuation principles and practice.
  • 3 days of hands on training in C-130 or C-27 aircraft.

Aeromedical Physiology Training Programme (APTP)

The following individuals are trained in APTP.

Flying Personnel of the Armed and Security Forces.

Candidates of the Hellenic Air Force Academy, as part of the “Aviation medicine and physiology” module.

Paratroops (Free Fall).

Foreign military personnel as part of international military cooperation programmes.

Flying Personnel of Civil Aviation

Training in APTP, lasts 1-3 days (depending on specialty) and includes theoretical training in Flight Physiology and is completed with hands-on training in the following devices:

  • Hypobaric Chamber and in particular in hypoxia, distress, rapid decompression, free fall and PPB
  • Spatial Disorientation Device
  • Night Vision Goggles (NVG)

Hypobaric Chamber (HC)

The HC is a rectangular-shaped, chamber divided into two sub-compartments: The main chamber compartment and the rapid decompression compartment. The HC’s key parts include a hypo-pressure system, an oxygen system/equipment, a central control unit, the controls and an intercom system. The present HC has a 15-person capacity, was installed at the AMC in 1979 and was updated in 2002. The HC is used to train individuals in:

  1. Hypoxia, where each trainee learns to recognize their individual symptoms.
  2. The changes caused by the gradual changes in atmospheric pressure.
  3. Rapid decompression.
  4. Free-fall.
  5. PPB.(Positive Pressure Breathing)

Spatial Disorientation Device (SDD)

SDD aims at training pilots in recognizing situations that can lead them to spatial disorientation, as well as teaching them how to safely regain aircraft’s control during critical flight conditions.

Pilot’s training can be achieved through a variety of active volatile scenarios in which the pilot retains control of the device as well as passive scenarios in which the pilot does not retain control but merely describes his senses based on the stimuli he receives. More specifically, active scenarios include: Coriolis assets, graveyard spiral, leans active, black hole approach, dark take-off, false horizon, size distance illusions, flicker vertigo, expectation error, canalized attention. Correspondingly, passive scenarios include: passive Coriolis, nystagmus, oculomotor hallucination, autoimmunity, somatotropic hallucination, and G-excess.

The SDD consists of a stand allowing hydraulic movement and rotation on 3 axes; the cabin, set on the stand, simulating the cockpit; the electric power station; the hydraulic movement station; the control station, and the air-conditioning unit. At the SDD, HAF pilots are trained during the Aviation Physiology course/module as well as foreign pilots as part of transnational agreements. Through this device, the pilot/operator is convinced spatial disorientation poses a danger/Threat, even for experienced pilots, and that the principle “always rely on the aircraft’s instruments” constitutes the only deterrence for this danger. On average, 2,000 trainees complete “flights” in this SDD on an annual basis.

Night Vision Device (NVD)

The Night Vision training is designed to train Flying Personnel on night vision physiology as well as presenting vision techniques for safer overnight air operations. In this context, trainees are briefed on the particularities of night vision, such as decreased visual acuity, reduced distance estimation ability, depth perception, and colour vision loss.

At the same time the function of Night Vision Goggles is analyzed (NVG), which operate at infrared radiation at night, while also presenting NVG image optimization techniques, as well as techniques to reduce illusions and loss of orientation at night.

Also important is the fact that trainees are given the opportunity to use NVGs as a first contact with a terrain model used for this purpose in the Night Vision Room/cabinet. It is noted that the philosophy of the training system is oriented in terms of enhancing flight safety.

For further information for commencing dates for the aforementioned schools, please contact the Training and Research Office

  • Phone : +30 210-7464781
  • E-mail : tee.kai@haf.gr