The Flugbereitschaft was formed On April 1, 1957 at the Nörvenich Air Base as a small unit providing liaison flights to the Defence Ministry. In July 1959 it relocated to Cologne Bonn Airport and reformed as the 3. Squadron of the Air Force's Transport Wing 62. In April 1963 it became an independent unit with its status raised from a squadron to a group. In 1974 its status was upgraded to a full wing. As a legacy from the Second World War the role of the German military was a very sensitive topic and the Bundeswehr was constituted as a strictly defensive force within the borders of West Germany. Correspondingly the Flugbereitschaft was limited to providing government transport to federal government of defence ministry officials. With the end of the Cold War, the German reunification and the country's increased involvement in peacekeeping and humanitarian aid missions overseas at the end of the twentieth and the beginning of the twenty-first centuries came a need for air-to-air refueling and long range transport aircraft. With the addition of Airbus A310 MRTT to the Flugbereitschaft an informal distinction was introduced for its aircraft. The government transport aircraft are called the "white fleet", painted in white with a thin black-red-yellow stripe and a Bundesrepublik Deutschland inscription. The military transport and tanker aircraft are called the "grey fleet", painted in grey with a Luftwaffe inscription. The helicopters make an exception of this rule, sporting the retro look of the white fleet, with two tones of blue stripes on a white body and a Luftwaffe inscription. The grey fleet is subordinated to the European Air Transport Command. West Germany had its capital in Bonn, while East Germany's capital was Berlin. With the reunification it was decided that Berlin will be the sole capital city of the country. As the institutions of the united Germany were based on the West-German ones in Bonn and could not be moved in short time, the Flugbereitschaft played an important role executing shuttle flights for federal government officials and parliamentarians between the two cities. Additionally the wing keeps a VIP aircraft in flight readiness in Berlin detached to from its MOB at Cologne Bonn IAP. The German government and Federal Ministry of Defence plan to consolidate the wing at Berlin Brandenburg Airport.
Mission
The Flugbereitschaft carries out missions in the following areas:
Air Transport:
* transport of Bundeswehr personnel and materiel
* VIP transport of government officials, members of parliament and high-ranking Bundeswehr officers
* humanitarian aid and disaster relief flights, evacuation of civilians
* MedEvac flights
Air-to-Air Refueling:
* formation and training of tanker air crews, operational refueling flights in support of Luftwaffe and allied fighter jets
* strategic deployment of Bundeswehr and allied forces for exercises and operations
* participation in international NATO-led exercises
Passenger and Cargo Handling, Logistic Support
* passenger control and preparation
* cargo handling for own, allied and civilian-chartered aircraft, supply of Bundeswehr forces overseas
* ground support of German and allied aircraft
Maintenance and Overhaul:
* technical maintenance and overhaul of the Einsatzbereitschaft's fleet
* training and skill development of flight and ground personnel
Host Nation Support:
* transport of foreign dignitaries and high-ranking officials on official state visits to Germany
* ground support of foreign official state aircraft of visiting official delegations
* ground support for foreign delegations at Cologne Bonn Airport and Berlin Tegel Airport
Organisation
The Flugbereitschaft operates a diverse fleet of aircraft. Its main operating base is the military area of Cologne Bonn Airport with Berlin Tegel Airport used as a secondary location for its helicopters. Executive Transport Wing of the Federal Ministry of Defence
Due to the geographical detachment of the 3. Air Transport Squadron from the wing's main operating location at Cologne Bonn IAP and due to the specifics of its helicopter operations, the squadron is an integrated unit, which also includes ground technical personnel in addition to its air crews.
