planning in a limited time frame, assignment
of tasks to different members of the operation
and direct command of its execution. Given
the speed and flexibility of the air assets, it
is difficult to exercise direct control over an
aerial operation – this makes the work of the
mission commander especially complex.
AFM: What does TLP represent
for a combat pilot?
Col Villar: I took the TLP course in 1994, and
for me it meant entering another level. It also
coincided with the participation of our EF-18
Hornet units in the Balkan conflict, where I
had the opportunity to be mission commander
on several occasions. Commanding the
TLP provides the opportunity to transmit all
the lessons learned and to understand the
new developments in military aviation.
AFM: What do you learn from
commanding this organisation?
Col Villar: You learn to manage your work
more efficiently. We aren’t able to demonstrate
effective planning to the pilots who come to
us if we are not able to apply those same
lessons to our daily work. You learn to have
humility, because it is very difficult to be up
to date with everything new that appears.
AFM: Is it difficult to work with so
many different people, with different
procedures and idiosyncrasies?
Col Villar: It’s complicated, of course...
but that is exactly what we teach the
pilots who come here to graduate.
AFM: If you had to choose, would you
rather command TLP or a fighter wing?
Col Villar: I wouldn’t change anything. This
job is very demanding, but there’s great
satisfaction in knowing you are providing
knowledge to help allied operations succeed.
AFM: What different types of
missions are carried out at TLP?
Col Villar: We prosecute all the missions
that might be carried out in a given conflict.
What we teach is the method of organisation
for planning and execution – the particular
mission does not have a specific relevance
beyond understanding its peculiarities in
the planning phase. The most common
missions are air interdiction, offensive counter-
air, dynamic targeting, combat search and
rescue/personnel recovery, anti-surface
warfare, high-value asset airborne, NATO
crisis response and slow-movers protection.
AFM: How does mission planning
evolve to take into account different
real-world scenarios? Who takes the
initiative in initiating these changes?
Col Villar: Each course is prepared with
a balanced mix of missions and adapted
to meet the operational needs of the
participating countries. The specific missions
are designed in such a way that the difficulty
and intensity of the mission and opposition
increase as the course develops.
As advances in technology are made, or
weapons employment doctrine changes, the
programme is modified so that graduating
crews are always up to speed. These changes
are introduced by the instructors who remain
in direct contact with real-world operations
- they are frontline pilots and participate at
different high-level exercises such as Red Flag,
Green Flag, Frisian Flag, Tiger Meet etc.
The instructors also participate in programming
Above: French Navy Rafale M 13 of Flottille 12F powers out of Albacete during the latest TLP 2018-
1 course. The unit frequently deploys jets from Landivisiau. As well as the flying, participants receive
academic courses on threat doctrine and tactics, weapons and effects, aircraft performance, air defence
capabilities, battle staff management, offensive/defensive air operations and composite missions. Stephan
de Bruijn Below: Armée de l’Air Mirage 2000N 335 ‘125-CI’ of Escadron de Chasse 2/4 displays a mission
‘scoreboard’ showing weapons delivered during the campaign over Iraq and Syria. TLP began life in the
Cold War when NATO aircraft would have taken off simultaneously from bases throughout Europe to attack
a variety of objectives. Its role remains just as relevant in the current era of counter-insurgency warfare.Above: The TLP is an organisation of ten countries that aim to improve the effectiveness of their air forces
by developing tactical leadership qualities and enhancing the planning and execution of air operations in
a multinational environment. Italian Navy AV-8B Harrier II+ MM7218 ‘1-12’ of the Gruppo Aerei Imbarcati
(GRUPAER) based in Grottaglie represents an infrequent visitor to TLP. Below: The combat search and
rescue mission is standard practice in TLP courses, as well as fighter escort of slow-movers that might
include helicopters. MM81798 ‘15-42’ is an HH-139A from the Italian Air Force’s 83° Gruppo CSAR at Cervia.http://www.airforcesmonthly.com #363 JUNE 2018 // 83