Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian air force personnel take part in a joint marine rescue operation during Baltic Bikini 2010. Photo by Antanas Gedrimas/Lithuanian Armed Forces

VILNIUS — More than 70 Lithuanian, Latvian and Estonian pilots and soldiers participated in the oddly-named international military exercise Baltic Bikini 2010.

The week-long course is held annually to help soldiers train for situations they may face in their work in the Baltic Sea region. Baltic airspace is currently patrolled by NATO forces because the countries lack sufficient air forces of their own.

Pilots learned how to escape from planes that crash landed in water and learned how to use safety equipment. Simulators were used to help the pilots get to grips with the procedures of escaping the cockpit when it is submerged.

The Baltic Bikini has run since 2004 and is held on a rotational basis in one of the three Baltic states.

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