Christian Trott’s passion for combat aircraft need to be large. The communication professional is “Speaker of the Patrouille Suisse”. If the red squadron draws in the sky the rounds, he explained to the audience on the ground that to Happen. The last time a week ago during the Lauberhorn race. The art plane roared through the Alpine scenery, commenting on rut man. Though not a Pilot, the Lieutenant Colonel member of the team, the Patrouille Suisse. In addition, he writes enthusiastic pilot article for the “General Swiss military journal”, the voice of the officer of the company.

This is now final. Defence Minister Viola Amherd has decided this week that troteman will be dismissed from the Team, the Patrouille Suisse as soon as a successor is found. Rut man is not writing for the military magazine. The reason is that Since December, the Fliegerfan the aircraft manufacturer Saab has a job as a Lobbyist. His task: to ensure that Switzerland will decide in the upcoming fighter jet procurement for the Jet from Saab, the Gripen. Saab waving a billion-dollar business. In the VBS, but you, fear’s double-role of a Rut would give the impression that Saab enjoyed an advantage from the start.

Lieutenant Colonel and a Lobbyist: Christian Trottmann.

With Amherds decision, but come alone: Because of the conflict of interest of the lobbyists is only solved half. While the Lieutenant Colonel with the Patrouille Suisse has to resign, he should make in the air force as chief of staff Department of communication continue to be of service. VBS-head of communications Renato Kalbermatten justified Trott’s whereabouts: “As a militia officer in the army, he will make, as in our militia system, to continue service in the air force.” The question is why this function is supposed to be less sensitive than those in the case of Patrouille Suisse, remains unanswered.

rut man himself was not reachable. For many in the VBS, the case is clear: It is an absolute No-go that a Gripen-a Lobbyist was as a supervisor in the communication of the air force, says a high-ranking VBS-official. Just this week, Trottmann journalists have led as an air force Communicator through the Airfield Dübendorf. “Apparently, you have learned from the Gripen debacle of 2013”, it means from army circles. At the time, the people have rejected the purchase of 22 Gripen- fighters , after officers and aircraft manufacturers had delivered a messy PR battle.

military pilot and the national Council Hurter criticized the VBS

politicians have little understanding of that rut man as a Saab-Lobbyist continues to be in the communication of the air force staff is allowed to provide service. The former fighter pilot and current SVP national Council Thomas Hurter says it is in the nature of the militia system, that members of the army have functions that overlap with your profession. But the fighter jet procurement was a “very sensitive” business. “People who have an important position, must not have a dual role, otherwise there is the risk that the pilot procurement shipwreck suffers.”

Hurter finds it “inconsistent that the VBS routine man to settle because of the double role of the Patrouille Suisse, but the Department is leaving the communication of the air force”. Also SP-national councillor and safety politician, Priska Seiler Earl has in mind: It is the external effect “is very clumsy and awkward” in that rut man, of all things, in the delicate procurement phase of such a position in the air force. It must be ensured that any influence is impossible. And CVP national councillor Alois Gmür States: “When the rut’s group for General communication, he may not belong to this. Since there are inevitably conflicts of interest.”

(Sunday newspaper)

Created: 26.01.2019, 21:15 PM