The day before yesterday at "Camp Arena" the alternation ceremony for the Command of the Task Group "Fenice" of the Italian Contingent in Afghanistan took place.
In the presence of the commander of Train Assist and Advise Command West (TAAC-W), Brigadier General Giovanni Parmiggiani, Lieutenant Colonel Daniele Mantoani, of the 7th "Vega" Regiment of the Army Aviation (AVES) of Rimini, sold the command of the helicopter component to Lieutenant Colonel Walter Moncada, of the 5th AVES “Rigel” regiment stationed in Casarsa della Delizia (PN).
At the end of their mandate i Blue Berets of the "Fenice" Task Group, based on 7 ° AVES "Vega" regiment, they reached the important milestone of 13.000 flight hours for AH-129D "Mangusta" helicopters.
The characteristics of Mongoose, employed as fire support, escort and protection to advanced bases, convoys, personnel and national and international assets, have always proved to be fundamental in every type of operation in Afghanistan: first in the context of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) mission and subsequently, from 1 January 2015, as part of the Resolute Support Mission (RS).
Army Aviation personnel also work with UH-90 tactical transport aircraft and with the Tactical Unmanned Air Vehicle "Shadow" 200 RQ-7C, a system capable of providing the supported units with reconnaissance and aerial surveillance capabilities. day / night meeting the needs of Expeditionary, Combat Capabilities and Force Protection.
The helicopter assets also provide personnel search and rescue capabilities (Personal Recovery), making use of qualified personnel of the 66 ° "Trieste" Air Infantry Regiment, and of medical evacuation (MEDEVAC), with a medical and nursing team able to operate in the third dimension.
The “Fenice” Task Group is the only rotor wing component of the TAAC-West of Herat, currently led by the “Pozzuolo del Friuli” cavalry brigade.
