On Thursday 4 May the "Wolf 2017" mountain survival exercise was concluded, in which the 32 ° Stormo of Amendola (FG) and the 84 ° CSAR Center (Combat Search and Rescue - Search and rescue in hostile environment) of Gioia del Colle (BA), supported by the Aeronautical Detachment of Jacotenente.
The exercise was planned and organized by the Flight Safety Office of the 32 Stormo Amendola, in coordination with the 84 ° CSAR Center of Gioia del Colle, with the aim of training the flight crew and improving coordination and cooperation with the personnel of the research and rescue departments. This activity, in fact, provides for a constant training of the personnel and structures employed in this important sector through joint activities that are planned annually.
The training activity involved the identification, recovery and rescue of a flight crew which, following the simulated demolition of their aircraft in a mountainous and inaccessible place like that offered by the natural scenery of the Umbra Forest and the Gargano Promontory , had to reach a set point to be retrieved by the Aerosoccorritore personnel of the 84 ° CSAR Center, without falling into hostile elements, for the occasion simulated by the staff of the Force Protection Group (GPF) of the 32 ° Stormo.
The 70 military took part in the exercise (Instructors, Aerosuppliers and "Intel" personnel of the 84 ° CSAR Center, pilots of the 32 ° Stormo, personnel of the following specialties: Flight Safety, Operations Forces of Protection and Special, Health, Emergency Equipment and Survival, avionics, radio communications, Firefighting and logistic support.There are many vehicles used, including an HH-139A helicopter for the recovery and rescue of survivors of the simulated flight accident and an MQ-1 "Predator A +" aircraft for direct support to operations.
The helicopters supplied to the Air Force, due to their characteristics and performance, allow them to reach any part of the national territory or territorial waters in the event of a public disaster or health emergency, but also allow them to carry out missions in hostile territory for recovery of crews of affected air assets, ensuring all kinds of interventions all year round, twenty-four hours a day with crews and helicopters ready to take off in a very short time.
Colonel Andrea Argieri, commander of the 32 ° Stormo, as well as director and manager of the exercise, in expressing his satisfaction for the excellent success of the event, he wanted to thank all the staff involved, congratulating him for the excellent support provided by the staff of the 84 ° CSAR Center which showed unconditional availability and great professionalism. He also highlighted the absolute importance of this specific training activity, always in continuous evolution and improvement, which effectively prepares the personnel to operate in difficult and dangerous scenarios as in real emergency cases.
