AFM: What are the objectives of TLP?
Col Villar: The Tactical Leadership Programme
is the ‘doctorate’ for combat pilots. Here
they learn advanced air power application
techniques for use in real operations. These
tactics are drawn from the experiences of
different nations and, above all, from the
instructors posted here. The TLP’s defined
mission is to increase the effectiveness of allied
air forces through the development of tactical
leadership capabilities, mission planning,
conceptual initiatives and aerial doctrine.
AFM: Was there a specific requirement
that led to the creation of TLP?
Col Villar: TLP was initiated to train
pilots in the complexities of composite air
operations, COMAO, in which a variety
of air assets and weapons systems from
different nations work together to undertake
a specific task assigned by the command.
Such operations are difficult, but they
need to be planned quickly and executed
efficiently, taking into account the diversity
of means and tasks within a mission.AFM: What are the advantages
of working with pilots and aircraft
from different countries?
Col Villar: One of the greatest benefits of
the flying courses is the interaction between
pilots of different nationalities who operate
dissimilar weapons systems. Each pilot has
to put themselves in someone else’s shoes
and understand the particular advantages of
each other’s weapons system. The result is
an in-depth knowledge of the capabilities of
the allied aircraft they are likely to participate
with on operations. The idea is to get all pilots
speaking the same operating language.
AFM: What have been the benefits of
the transition to Spain nine years ago?
Col Villar: Central European airspace was
becoming saturated. Operations of the required
scale couldn’t be carried out safely, which
prevented us from running useful courses. The
local weather conditions complicated the situation,
which led to the move away from Florennes. The
participating nations studied different options
and approved Albacete. The base offers the
required airspace and significantly better weather.
AFM: What is expected of a pilot
at the end of the course?
Col Villar: He or she is expected to be
able to act as mission commander in a
multinational air operation. This includesTLP commander
Col Luis Villar Coloma
has gained extensive
experience in
combined air
operations
since being
commissioned
as a lieutenant
in July 1984. On
completing his initial
training as a fighter pilot,
he began his operational life as
an instructor at the Escuela de Reactores (Jet
School, later Ala 23), until being posting as captain
to Ala 12, equipped with EF-18s. As a member of
this unit he undertook the TLP course in 1994 and
participated in several exercises with allied forces,
including Red Flag, Nomad and Dragon Hammer.
Following promotion to major, Col Villar was
appointed commander of 151 Escuadrón (Ala 15) at
Zaragoza. He took part in operational deployments in
the Balkans and several more international exercises.
In 2000, Col Villar graduated from the Air Command
and Staff College in the US, obtaining the Diploma
of General Staff. His career as a staff officer took
him to air headquarters, the defence ministry
and Air Combat Command. Later he joined the
Ejército del Aire Eurofighter programme, working
to define the human-machine interface.
This was followed by an operational phase as
group leader with Ala 12 and then Ala 15. In
both units he participated in further operational
deployments, including in Afghanistan and
Operation Unified Protector in Libya.
Four years ago, Col Villar was again assigned
to the Eurofighter programme, this time in a
management role for the core nations and as
head of the export section. After being posted
to the Logistics Support Command, Col Villar
took up his position as commander of the TLP
and of its national component in July 2016.
Above: Dutch F-16 crew head off to the flight line for a TLP mission. Behind them is a Luftwaffe Tornado
IDS of Taktisches Luftwaffengeschwader 33. TLP was born in 1978 to bridge the gap between the
concept and execution of complex composite air operations. All photos Salvador Mafé Huertas unless stated
Below: EF-18M C.15-69 ‘12-27’ of Ala 12 heads a line-up of Spanish Air
Force Hornets at TLP 2018-1. The latest course featured a simulated
conflict in which the Blue Forces defended the fictional ‘Baltiona’
against enemy aircraft from the state of ‘Bussia’. Stephan de BruijnAbove: The Hawks of the Royal Air Force’s No 100 Squadron are frequent TLP participants in the
adversary (Red Air) role. From the simple beginnings of leading a mixed four- or six-ship against a
limited fighter threat, the TLP participant is swiftly taken through scenarios that culminate in a 24-ship
multinational formation faced by up to eight opposing fighters.
82 // JUNE 2018 #363 http://www.airforcesmonthly.com