Final answer:
Helmut likely belongs to the works council at his optical engineering company in Germany, which is involved in decision-making processes such as layoffs.
Step-by-step explanation:
Helmut works for an optical engineering company in Germany and is a key employee consulted during major layoffs. Given the context of the company being an aerospace firm with defense contracts and the information about interdisciplinary training and working on military helicopter updates, Helmut is likely a member of the works council (Betriebsrat). In Germany, these councils are mandated by law and are comprised of employees elected to represent the workforce in discussions with management about issues like layoffs, working conditions, and other important matters affecting employees.