Italy is hosting a Multinational Helicopter Exercise from 23 May to 12 June 2011, as part of the European Defence Agency’s Helicopter Training Programme. IT CALL 2011 follows two past successful exercises: GAP 2009 and AZOR 2010. The exercise will practice the missions and procedures that might be required on future operations. A total of 30 helicopters will be involved. Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Germany and Slovenia will be sending aircraft and crews, with Lithuania and Greece sending observers. The European Helicopter Training Programme was approved by Ministers of Defence in November 2009 to increase in the short-term the availability of helicopters for crisis management operations. The Programme started in 2010 and consists of two live exercises per year - one focusing on individual training and one on interoperability and operational tactics. An annual symposium takes stock of lessons learned from operations and further shapes the development of additional exercises. The EDA Helicoper Training Programme is a major success. One of the major impediments to the deployment of helicopters is not so much the availability of airframes, but rather the shortage of crews trained to operate in difficult conditions (high-altitude, low-visibility, dusty or snowy environments). EDA is thus organising training for "hot & dusty" and "snow & mountains" conditions, in order to meet Member States requirements. So far, 63 helicopter crews trained under the Helicopter Training ...