INTERNATIONAL AIRBORNE OPERATIONS®
Our motto 'INTERNATIONAL AIRBORNE OPERATIONS® (IAO)' stands for an organisation exclusively providing world-wide Airborne operations and Special Forces training.
International understanding is fostered by INTERNATIONAL AIRBORNE OPERATIONS® through the exchange of friendship and the sharing of unique personal experiences among Airborne Units from all over the world.
INTERNATIONAL AIRBORNE OPERATIONS® offers:
INTERNATIONAL AIRBORNE OPERATIONS® organises and conducts purpose tours in many different countries, where we train with the national Parachute Training Schools and Paratroopers and Special Forces Units. The participant books his place on a scheduled operation and pays the fixed price. Upon arrival at the designated meeting point, he does not have to care about anything anymore. He is there to enjoy the training, jumps and friendship among fellow paratroopers and the culture of the host-nation. The program is all-inclusive, i.e. transfers, flights, visa-fees and airport-taxes, accommodation, training and parachute fees, sightseeing and entry fees to cultural places.
First-class international military training with Airborne and Special Forces units is the speciality offered by INTERNATIONAL AIRBORNE OPERATIONS®. Priority is set on operations including military parachuting. This may include:
- military parachute jumps by automatic and manual opening
- use of several types of jump-ships, i.e. aeroplanes, helicopters and balloons
- with different parachute equipments and technology
- with combat equipment (can be requested for every operation)
- in different climates and environments
- water-jumps
On top we offer - pending on the circumstances on place and the participant's qualification- diving, shooting, tank-driving and more military training.
Training and Operations are executed by
Training and Operations are executed by National military Parachute Training Schools as well as Airborne and Special Forces units. Professional instructors lead the training lessons and advice and support the participant.
Cultural program and sight-seeing program
Besides the military parts the participants enjoys cultural sides and sights-seeing of the host nations.
Participants
Active, reserve and retired personnel of Airborne and Special Forces Units from all over the world join regularly INTERNATIONAL AIRBORNE OPERATIONS®. During the operations personal contacts and friendship with the personnel of the host units and the fellow participants are cultivated. An exchange of mutual experience is also encouraged. There is no other military branch, which lives in such a comradeship and fellowship climate as are the Airborne and Special Forces Units worldwide. This great fellowship is absolute unique being known as "The Airborne Brotherhood". INTERNATIONAL AIRBORNE OPERATIONS® offers the right place and terms to experience the above. Novice parachutists, who have passed the Airborne training are welcome in this fraternity.
Qualifications awarded
After the successful completion of training and operations, the participant is awarded the national relevant badge with an original certificate.
Companion
Accompanying people like wives, girlfriends or photographers are always welcome in limited numbers to join the operation by reduced prices. In most operations they receive a special program. The military participant undergoes his training program while ladies enjoy shopping, relaxing or more sight-seeing.
INTERNATIONAL AIRBORNE OPERATIONS® back-ground
Behind INTERNATIONAL AIRBORNE OPERATIONS® stands a very experienced organisation, led by Stefan Eicker.
Stefan Eicker has been serving with the the German Airborne Forces since 1992. He is currently serving in an active German Airborne Battalion (part of the Special Operations Division [DSO]) as a reserve senior NCO holding the rank of Hauptfeldwebel d. R., which is equivalent to Master Sergeant in the US Army or in reference to the NATO ranks OR-8.
Stefan Eicker had had the privilege and honour to receive specialised Airborne training and participate in military airborne operations with Airborne and Special Forces Units in some 45 nations worldwide. He has achieved some 300 military jumps in 30 nations worldwide under a wide variety of operational and climatic environments. Included in his distinguished airborne record are famous WWII DZs such as Merville Guns in Normandy/ France (Operation Overlord, June 1944), El Alamain in Egypt and twice Ginkel Heath close to Arnhem/ the Netherlands (Operation Market Garden, September 1944), where MSgt Eicker had the honour to jump on.
In Spring 2007 MSgt Eicker completed freefall parachute training with the “Black Eagle” Freefall Team of the Royal Thai Air Force and accomplished the German military freefall licence at the German Airborne School in Altenstadt afterwards. Since May 2008 MSgt Eicker has been participating regularly in the freefall training activities of the Special Platoon (comparable to a Pathfinder Platoon) in his German Airborne Battalion.
Since 2000 MSgt Eicker has organised, conducted or led dozens of Airborne operations hosted by famous Airborne Schools (like Brize Norton/ UK, Ft. Bragg/ USA, Schaffen/ Belgium, Tancos/ Portugal, Aspropyrgos/ Greece, Wroclaw/ Poland, Tel Nov/ Israel, Lop Buri/ Thailand, Cairo/ Egypt and Altenstadt/ Germany), renowned Special Forces Parachute Units or Associations. To this end, INTERNATIONAL AIRBORNE OPERATIONS® retains the best relationships at the highest military level around the world.
History
In chronological order:
| Year | Country | Place/ DZ | Unit | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992, 2001, 2008 1992 till 2011 |
Germany | Altenstadt several DZs in Germany |
Airborne School 27, 26, 31 Airborne Bde |
3x participation XX participation |
| 1994, 1995 2005 till 2010 |
Slovak Republic | Lucenec Dubnica,Spisska Novy Ves,Zilina,Erpucize(CZ) |
training centre Para Bn |
2x participation 6x organisation |
|
1999 till 2011 |
USA |
several DZs in Europe |
Special Forces, Army, Air Force, Navy |
XX participations participation XX organisation 2x participation participation organisation |
|
1999, 2010 |
Philippines |
Ballenstedt (D), Clark Airbase |
Police Special Action Force |
participation, organisation 2x organisation organisation |
| 2000 till 2010 | Czech Republic | Pribram, Erpucize | Special Forces | 2x partic. 6x organisation |
| 2000 till 2011 2006 2008 |
Netherlands | Texel, Teuge, Oostwold, Zeven (D), Breitscheid (D) Alzey Maubeuge (F) |
41st Light Brigade and training centres Air Force Korps Mariniers |
2x partic. & 7x organisation organisation participation |
|
2001 |
Great Britain |
Normandy (D-Day) |
Pathfinder UK No 1 Parachute Training School Airborne School 4Para/ The Parachute Regiment |
participation participation organisation participation |
| 2001 | Estonia | Rapla Kuusiku | Special Operations Grp | participation |
| 2001 | Canada | Altenstadt (D) | Airborne Forces | participation |
| 2001, 2002 2003 2004 till 2009 |
Poland | Psrzylep Wroclaw Krakau |
Special LRRP Coy Army Officers Academy 6th Air Assault Bde |
2x participation delegation-leader 8x organisation |
| 2002 2003 till 2009 2005 till 2009 2006 |
Thailand | Bangkok, Lop Buri Cha Am, Golf of Thailand and other DZs Bangkok, Prachuap and Lop Buri Sattahip |
RT Army 1st LLRP Coy RT Police Abn Div (PARU) RT Air Force PTC RT Marine Corps, Recon Bn |
participation 5x organisation 4x organisation 2x organisation |
| 2002 | Denmark | Viborg | training centre | participation |
| 2002 | India | Rasko (CZ) | Airborne Regiment | participation |
| 2002 2006, 2007 |
Ukraine | Dnepropetrowsk Rivne |
training centre 95th Airborne Bde |
participation 3x organisation |
| 2003 till 2011 2008 |
Italy |
Viterbo,Reggio Emilia,Fano,Fermo, |
A.N.P.d.I. training centres FOLGORE Brigade |
6x organisation participation |
| 2003 till 2009 | Cambodia | Phnom Penh | RC SF Bde 911 | 5x organisation |
| 2003 | Greece | Sedes | Airborne School | delegation-leader |
| 2004 | Egypt | El Alamain | Airborne School | delegation-leader |
| 2004 till 2009 | Portugal | Tancos & other DZs | Airborne School | partic. & 3x organisation |
| 2004 | Lithuania | Kaunas | Airborne School | participation |
| 2004 | Mongolia | Nowy Targ (PL) | Special Forces | organisation |
| 2004 till 2007 | Russia | Vatulino + other DZs | training centre | 3x organisation |
| 2004 | South Korea | Pribram (CZ) | Special Forces | organisation |
| 2004 | France | Saarlouis (D) | 1° RTP/ 2° REP | participation |
| 2005 till 2007 | Japan | Dubnica (SK), Pribram (CZ), Cha Am (THA) | Airborne School | 3x organisation |
| 2005, 2008 | Israel | Palmachim, Mediterranean Sea at Ahkelon | Airborne School | 2x delegation-leader |
| 2005, 2006 | Belgium (& Katanga) | Schaffen, Alzey (D) | Airborne School | 3x participation |
| 2006 | ROC (Taiwan) | Lop Buri (THA), Pribram (CZ) | Marine Corps | 2x organisation |
| 2006 2008 till 2011 |
Croatia | Medulin Several DZs in Europe |
training centre training centre |
participation 7x organisation |
| 2007 2010, 2011 |
Laos | Vientian Breitscheid (D), Dunnellon (USA) |
Lao Airborne Wing Royal Laotian Airborne Association |
participation 2x organisation |
| 2008 | Kenya | Mombasa | Kenyan Skydive Association | participation |
| 2008 | South Africa | Dubnica (SK) | SA Special Forces Leage | organisation |
| 2008, 2010 | Hungary | Szolnok | 34 SF Bn, 88th Rapid Reaction Bn | 2x delegation-leader |
| 2008 | Finland | Seedorf (D) | National Defence Training Association | participation |
| 2009 | Mexico | Dueren (D) | Abn School and Brigade | participation |
| 2009, 2010 2010 |
Peru | Pisco Ancon |
Abn School and SF Brigade Recon Bn of the Marine Infantry |
partic. & 2x organisation |
| 2009 | Spain | Pisco (Peru) | AGRUPAC | participation |
| 2009 2010 |
Switzerland | Triengen Breitscheid (D) |
Para Suisse Airborne | delegation-leader organisation |
| 2009 | China | Hubei Province | training centre | participation |
| 2009, 2010 | Luxembourg | Breitscheid (D) | training centre | 3x organisation |
| 2010 | Malaysia | Segamat Clark Airbase (Philippines) |
Air Force SAS Paskau Regiment |
participation |
| 2010 | Indonesia | Clark Airbase (Philippines) | Air Force SF Paskhas Corps | organisation |
| 2011, 2011 | Serbia | Breitscheid, Ailertchen (D) | 63 Para Bn |
3x organisation |
| 2011 | Ireland | Clonbullogue | Irish Parachute Club | participation |
Used equipment:
| Aircraft: | Country |
| C-160 Transall | Germany, France |
| C-130 Hercules | USA, Portugal, Egypt, Israel, Thailand, UK |
| AN-2/ Y-5 Colt |
Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Czechia, Slovakia, Estonia, Netherlands, Croatia, China |
| C-212 Aviocar | USA, Thailand, Portugal |
| LET-410 Turbolet | Czechia, Slovakia, Lithuania, Philippines |
| Cesna 206 | Germany, Italy, Niederlands, Kenya, Denmark |
| Cesna 208 | Netherlands, Germany (Altenstadt) |
| C-47 Dakota/ BT-67 | UK, Netherlands, France, Thailand, USA |
|
PC-6 Pilatus Porter |
Germany, Switzerland |
| S.C.7 Skyvan | Germany, Netherlands |
| DO-27, DO-28 | Germany, Ireland |
| GAF Nomad N-24 | Thailand |
| CN 235 | Thailand |
| C-23 Sherpa | Thailand |
| An-32 Cline | Peru |
| DHC-6 Twinotter | USA, Cambodia |
| L-60 Brigadyr |
Czechia |
| C-17 Globemaster III | USA |
| Helicopter | Country |
| CH-53 Stallion | Germany |
| UH-1 Huey | Germany, USA |
| MI-8/ MI-17 Hip | Russia, Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary, Cambodia, Laos, Peru |
| CH-47/ MH-47 Chinook | USA, Greece |
| UH-60 Blackhawk | USA |
| MI-24 Hind | Hungary |
| Ballon | Country |
| Ballon | Belgium |