2025 "From zero to hero"

In the heart of the Czech Republic, the city of Pardubice hosts the facilities for the training of the

Czech Air Force (CzAF) pilots. The Centrum Leteckého Výcviku (CLV) or Flight Training Center is the place where pilots go ‘from zero to hero’ and learn the basics of flying.

Flight Training Center

CLV Pardubice is a division of LOM PRAHA, the state owned enterprise established 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. Within LOM PRAHA the CLV is

responsible for the training of CzAF pilots but it also offers custom-made training services to other

countries.

Pardubice Airport is a former CzAF base, from which, after the split-up between Slovakia and the

Czech Republic on January 1, 1993, the Sukhoi Su-25 Frogfoot, Antonov An-26 and Aero Vodochody

L-410 were operated. Since, the Frogfoots have been moved to Náměšť nad Oslavou Air Force Base

and then withdrawn from service, the An-26 aircraft and L-410 were moved to the 24 th Air

Transportation Base at Prague-Kbely, which currently operates the Airbus A-319CJ, CASA C-295M

and the L-410 transport aircraft. CzAF operations at Pardubice were ceased on October 30, 2003.

The CLV was activated in January 2004 and assigned the (basic) pilot training role for the CzAF. The

first training flight for CzAF was made by Zlin Z-142C AF in April 2004.

Future CzAF pilots are selected during their military training at the military academy. Students with

the right skills and competences will be assigned to CLV for a future flying career. Although there is

no minimum number of students set, the CLV trains around 100 pilots per year in their different

stages of flight training.

All pilots start their flight operations on the Zlin Z-142C AF aircraft, unless the student volunteers to fly helicopters. Then the student will automatically start on the Enstrom En-480B-G helicopter. The CzAF, based on their needs and the skills of the students decides the postings to the advanced flight training at CLV. Helicopter pilots will have the possibility to follow their preferred path, all other pilots will start their advanced training and will be assigned accordingly their skills, qualities and operational needs to either jets, transport or helicopters. After graduation at Pardubice the conversion training on the operational aircraft types will take place for jets at the 21st Tactical AFB at Čáslav, the 22nd Helicopter Base at Náměšť nad Oslavou for helicopters and the 24th Air Transport Base at Prague-Kbely for transport aircraft or helicopters.

For flying operations CLV operates a number of different aircraft and helicopters. For elementary and

test training of the student pilots, CLV uses eight Zlin Z-142C AF single engine propeller-driven two-

seat aircraft, fully equipped for aerobatics and IFR training. Additionally, one EV-97 Eurostar single

engine propeller-driven two seat UL aircraft is available for pilot training, but is mainly used for

improving instructor’s capabilities.

For elementary and advanced helicopter training CLV uses nine Enstrom En-480B-G helicopters,

which replaced the venerable Mil Mi-2 “Hoplite” helicopters. Six of the helicopters are assigned to

CLV and 4 received a military camo, while three others are rented from DSA A.S., a flight school and

partner of CLV, based in Hradec Králové. The helicopters are used to train all different aspects of

flying such as emergency procedures, navigation flights, training under IFR conditions, NVG night

flights or underslung training flights. With the arrival of the newly acquired UH-1Y Venom multirole

and AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters in Czech service, the Enstrom remains the helicopter of choice for

the new crews. After finishing their basic and advanced training, pilots will go directly to Náměšť nad

Oslavou helicopter base for conversion training on their helicopters of choice.

For future helicopter pilots operating the Mil Mi-17 “Hip” transport helicopter, CLV operates five

airframes. Mi-17 with registration 0836 was recently taken out of service and will be used as an

instructional airframe on base. This twin-engine, multi-role helicopter is intended for advanced

training of pilots and for personnel and cargo transport. Different aspects can be trained such as

Search and Rescue, NVG training and cargo underslung training or winch hoisting. Next to the flight

training CLV also provides basic and advanced ground crew training for the Mi-17. With current

knowledge, the CzAF has plans to operate the Mi-17 until 2035, which means that CLV expects to

operate the type until 2032.

For transport training CLV currently operates one (until recently two) Let L-410 Turbolet, a twin-

engine, turboprop transport aircraft intended for training of pilots and personnel and cargo

transport at short ranges. The flight training is divided into three parts; elementary, advanced

training and tactical training. After the training pilots will either be assigned to the L-410 or C295M

transport aircraft and start their conversion at Prague.

For the pilots intended to fly the Aero L-159 “Alca” and Saab JAS-39 “Gripen”, CLV uses seven L-39C “Albatros” jet aircraft, a single-engine training jet designed for basic and advanced training of pilots. New pilots start with the elementary phase to get them acquainted with the flight characteristics of the aircraft. The advanced training is focused on elements such as low altitude, formation flying, recce flights, navigation flights under VFR/IFR night, ground attacks and Air-to-Air training. The flight training is concluded by the combat limited flight training, with focus on elements such as ground attacks, search and destroy ground and air targets, flying in pairs and air combat.

All helicopters and aircraft are maintained at Pardubice airport. Depot level maintenance of Mi-17s

and overhauls are performed by LOM PRAHA at its Prague-Kbely facility.

For training activities CLV also operates a number of simulators. For the L-39C, Mi-2, Mi-17 and Enstrom 380 CLV has a Cockpit Procedures Trainer (CPT) at its disposal. The CPT provides a cost-effective solution allowing familiarization with aircraft without having to use the full-mission simulator. Although the CzAF stopped operating the Mi-2 helicopter, Poland still flies the helicopter and their pilots need to be qualified and certified on different emergency procedures and therefore regularly come out to Pardubice.

CLV operates one Full Mission Simulator (FMS) for the new L-39NG aircraft. This FMS is a certified flight dynamic model covering all kind of missions for this aircraft type.

Next to the simulators, CLV also operates the Tactical Simulation Centre (TSC) at Pardubice since 2011, which offers tactical training of pilots and radar controllers. There are four cockpit configurations possible: L-39, L-159, JAS-39 Gripen and F-16 Block 50/52. The F-16 simulator for example already has been used by the Slovak Air Force, as they will start operating the F-16 anytime soon. The basic lay out of the TSC consists of eight pilot simulators, four radar controller consoles and two Forward Air Controller consoles.

The CLV Pardubice  has been selected as part of the NATO Flight Training Europe (NFTE) initiative, together with the Italian training center at Sardinia, as one of the first official campus locations. The initiative aims to streamline the training of NATO countries on the European continent.

New aircraft

In November 2022 LOM PRAHA ordered four new Aero Vodochody L-39NG (New Generation) “Skyfox” training aircraft as the Charlie-frames near their technical end of life.with an option for an additional four aircraft. The new aircraft received the registrations 0477, 0478, 0479, 0480 and have the last digit clearly visible on the tail, which makes it easier for ground crews to recognize. The jets received a relative dark grey color scheme, with yellow diagonal wingtips on the upper wing part. This helps student pilots in creating situational awareness during the training of fighter maneuvers.

Although the new L-39NG jets look similar to the old C-model jet, the differences are significant. Amongst the differences are a glass cockpit, modern avionics, a new FJ44-4M Turbofan engine with a lower fuel consumption, an electric start-up system and a lighter frame saving operational costs.

At the end of 2024 also an agreement was signed between LOM PRAHA and ZLIN AERO for the purchase of eight new training aircraft to replace the old Z-142C AFs. This contract consists of six Z-242L Zeus double-seaters and two Z-143LSi four-seaters with delivery planned between September 2025 and September 2026.

Northern Skies Aviation would like to thank CLV director Mr. Jaroslav Špaček and the LOM Praha team for their cooperation.