A Unique Pilot in the Army

One of the only two Spanish Armed Forces pilots who have the necessary qualifications to operate the model NH90 helicopter belongs to the Army and is posted to the 3rd Manoeuvre Helicopter Battalion.
 

This is Major Fernando Mostaza, who during May has finished his flight training period at Eurocopter installations  -the manufacturer of the aircraft in France.  Along with him, there is only one other pilot in the entire Armed Forces –an Air Force captain who has been his course mate- with the needed qualifications to manoeuvre this helicopter. 
 

The NH90 will come into service throughout the coming year in the Army and the reception of a total of 28 units is foreseen by 2018.
 

The initial version of the helicopter will be tactical troop transport –up to 20 fully equipped soldiers or over 2,500 kilos of cargo- for special operations, medical evacuations, as well as search and rescue.