On Wednesday 30 January, a meeting was held at the Aviano Airport Command regarding the transfer of the 56th and 57th Rescue Squadrons USAF to Aviano Airport.
Announced already at the end of the 2015, the transfer actions from the base of the Royal Air force of Lakenheath (UK) will be completed by June 2018.
The relocation will affect approximately 350 US military and provides for the deployment of five helicopters for combat SAR HH-60G Pave Hawk, with a search and rescue mission in combat areas.
The new structures will require the coordination and collaboration of the Aviano Airport Command, of the 15 ° Stormo of Cervia for familiarization with the national flight procedures, the Coast Guard for the exercises and activities in the Upper Adriatic, the Command of the Brigade Ram, of the 5 Rigel of Casarsa and of the Alpine troops for all activities on terrestrial training areas.
In order to define the future lines of action, some representatives of the General Air Force and the Combat Forces Command of Milan participated in the meeting, among the various components involved. The activity began with the intervention of the airport commander, Colonel Vincenzo Tozzi, who indicated the guidelines on which to operate. The commander of the detachment of the 56th RQS lt col. Irvine and the commander of the detachment of the 57th RQS Maj Viani then explained the characteristics of the two Squadrons and emphasized the importance of an integrated work with the Italian units.
At the end of the meeting, the participants set up 4 working groups, each of which took care of the technical-operational and logistical aspects, necessary to regulate the activities of the 56th and 57th Rescue Squadrons.
Aviano Airport's mission is to guarantee national sovereignty and oversee the application of bilateral agreements on the presence of USAF airport-warded departments, oversee the flight and operating activities of the USF flight departments and ensure the Defense of the Base.
