Yesterday, in line with the plan to restructure the national presence in Malta, the "Search and Rescue - SAR" competition that Italy guaranteed in Malta, through helicopters of the Italian Air Force assigned to the Collaboration Mission in the Field of Defense (MICCD).
The SAR section of the MICCD, initially composed of AB-204 helicopters and subsequently replaced by the more modern HH212; has operated since July 1982 at Luqa airport in Malta with mixed Italian-Maltese crews, with the aim of guaranteeing the search and rescue service (H24) in the Maltese jurisdiction area, representing an excellent level of collaboration and integration.
During the 34 years of activity, 14.150 flight hours have been carried out, of which about 1500 dedicated to operational missions, including 196 missions to search for aircraft, boats or shipwrecked persons missing at sea, which have allowed the recovery of 285 people from boats o impervious place and urgent transport to health facilities for 180 people who were in imminent danger of life.
Thanks to the specific training program carried out by Italian pilots, on-board operators and aerosorescents, the Maltese FFAAs have achieved the Full Operational Capability (FOC) with the AW139 aircraft acquired starting from the 2014, now able to perform, in complete autonomy and safety , the search and rescue service.
(photo:SMD)
