This week, we welcomed some special guests here at Schiphol. As part of Operation Avatar, not only did four Royal Netherlands Air and Space Force F-35 fighter jets and a tanker and transport aircraft arrive at our airport, but our head of state also paid a visit. And all this happened while regular operations continued as usual.
Operation Avatar took place at our airport on Tuesday 27 and Wednesday 28 January. During this military-civilian training exercise, the Royal Netherlands Air and Space Force practised how military flight movements can be carried out safely and responsibly from a civil airport and assessed whether Schiphol can be used as an alternative base in times of emergency.
King Willem-Alexander visits successful F-35 training at Schiphol
King Willem-Alexander visits successful F-35 training at Schiphol
King Willem-Alexander visits successful F-35 training at Schiphol
King Willem-Alexander visits successful F-35 training at Schiphol
King Willem-Alexander visits successful F-35 training at Schiphol
King Willem-Alexander visits successful F-35 training at Schiphol
Four F-35 fighter jets took part in the training, as did a tanker and transport aircraft from the Multinational MRTT Unit. This unit is responsible within NATO for air transport and refuelling aircraft in the air. The aircraft took off several times, carried out a training mission over the North Sea, and then returned. At Schiphol, they were refuelled for the next flight.
The two-day training exercise went smoothly and had no impact on travellers. Regular operations continued as usual during the exercise. On the second day, King Willem-Alexander visited Schiphol. He spoke with our CEO Pieter van Oord and a number of military personnel, among others, and took a look inside the airport's control tower.