The support activity guaranteed by the military aeronautics for the control and efficiency of radio assistance, employed a crew of the 71 ° Flight Group composed of three inspectors, four operators and a flight technician (TEV), in addition to the technical maintenance staff of earth.
The operation saw for the first time the use of the P180 RM aircraft in an operating theater and represented an important confirmation of the operational capabilities possessed by the armed force in the radiomeasurement activity.
The 71 ° Flight Group of the 14 ° Stormo has Piaggio P180 aircraft, some of which, modified for RM use, include the installation of additional antennas, a different configuration of the cabin and above all the use of a highly technological console. In practice, this is a series of very precise sensors and computers that, working in parallel, perform continuous comparisons between the measured signals and the expected international standards.
After the planning phase, which involves multiple aspects and lasts several days, the mission provides for control flights, of variable duration, followed by the analysis of the recorded results and the drawing up of the final report which establishes the operating status of radio assistance. The whole activity is "certified" by the flight inspector.
The 14 ° Stormo is based at the military airport of Pratica di Mare (RM). It hierarchically depends on the Command of the Forces for Mobility and Support in Rome, it carries out support missions in the field of in-flight refueling, radio-measurements and personal transport with KC767A, P180 Avanti aircraft, in full compliance with the planning and directives received by the Team Command Aerial, the high command of the Air Force which is responsible for training, preparation and use of the assets and personnel operating in the operational departments throughout the national territory.
It also guarantees the availability and transport service in support of the civil protection department. The 14 ° Stormo made its contribution by participating in the Unified Protector operations in Libya, ISAF in Afghanistan, Leonte in Lebanon and Lorica in Cyprus.
Source: 14 ° Stormo - Pratica di Mare (RM) - serg. Alessandra Tirelli
