On Tuesday 9 January, at the Alghero airport detachment of the Air Force, the handover ceremony took place between the Colonel Francesco Demontis, outgoing commander, and the Lieutenant Colonel Alessandro Scabia, incoming commander.
The event was chaired by the commander of the experimental and standardization air shooting department of Decimomannu (R.S.S.T.A.), Colonel Federico Pellegrini. The ceremony was attended by military and civil authorities, including the prefect of Sassari, the mayor of Alghero and the rector of the University of Sassari, as well as the banner of the Municipality of Alghero and the banners of the combat and weapons associations.
The outgoing commander, who is leaving active duty, said during his farewell speech: “In my commitment to command I have always been supported by you, the staff of the detachment who, with your professionalism and continuous dedication to work, have never made me feel like 'the only man in command'. I thank you for this: we have been and you are still a great team”.
The incoming commander, after thanking the higher authorities for his designation to command the detachment, said: “It is with pride that I face the task assigned to me which will see me engaged, together with the employed staff, in pursuing all possible initiatives aimed at maintaining the support capabilities of the Armed Forces and Defense structures. We will certainly be helped in this by the enchanting beauty of this area and by the warmth and friendliness of its population."
The ceremony concluded with the intervention of the commander R.S.S.T.A. Colonel Pellegrini who, addressing the authorities present, declared: “Your presence is once again testimony to the generous hospitality of this land that has always been linked to the Blue Army”, also thanked all the civil and military personnel of the airport detachment for the commitment and professionalism demonstrated under the leadership of Colonel Demontis who "he carried out all assigned tasks with a spirit of sacrifice and extreme professionalism, always demonstrating unconditional loyalty, but above all pragmatism and constant research into the valorization of human capital". He confirmed his full trust, esteem and consideration for the incoming commander, Lieutenant Colonel Scabia, recalling that “being a commander means 'going together', that is, trusting and this is what you will have to ask of your staff, continuing the effective work of those who preceded you and always improving organizational processes, always valuing your people”.
The Alghero airport detachment, which depends on experimental and standardization air shooting department as part of the logistics command, it provides assistance to passing aircraft of the Air Force, including the aircraft of the International Flight Training School during the out and back from Decimomannu and of the other Italian and international Armed Forces. He hosts one of the three 118 helicopters in his hangar, providing assistance Areas operating in Sardinia. It also provides social protection activities for members of the Armed Forces. It ensures logistical support for carrying out survival at sea courses aimed at those attending the normal courses of the Air Force Academy and familiarization with survival at sea for those attending the military school Giulio Douhet.
