On Tuesday 10 September, the handover ceremony between Colonel Alessandro D'Annibale, outgoing commander, and Colonel Federico Gentilucci, incoming commander, took place in the 31st Wing's helicopter hangar.
The ceremony, presided over by the commander of the aerospace control brigade (BCA), Brigadier General Glauco Luigi Mora, took place in the presence of numerous civil and military authorities, including the mayor of the city of Ciampino, lawyer Emanuela Colella, the banner of the municipality of Ciampino, the combatant and military associations and a large representation of managers of ENAC (National Civil Aviation Authority) and ENAV SpA (National Flight Assistance Authority).
In his farewell speech, Colonel D'Annibale, after three years at the helm of the Coordination and Control Services, retraced the most significant moments of his command activity, from the efforts made in the difficult historical period of the COVID pandemic crisis, to the many support activities for major events such as, among others, the air show held at Pratica di Mare airport last year, on the occasion of the celebrations for the Centenary of the Armed Forces. With reference to the department's personnel, he wanted to thank them as follows: "All this was possible thanks to you. I wish you from the bottom of my heart a period of serenity and professional momentum, always keeping high the excellence of Military Air Traffic".
Colonel Gentilucci, incoming, has accepted the baton passed to him with honor and gratitude, thanking the leaders of the Armed Forces for the trust placed in them: "Arriving at the command is an honor and this assignment, in particular, makes me very proud. Air Traffic Control has always translated, for me, into a professional and at the same time friendly voice on the other side of the microphone, able to always support my needs on board the aircraft, during all the missions carried out in the skies of Italy and the world, at the service of the Country. From today I will have the honor of touching up close the reality underlying this precious service, provided every day, at all hours, to our aircraft and not only".
General Mora, taking the floor, thanked Colonel D'Annibale for his commitment during his assignment, underlining the numerous and important goals achieved: "The challenges you have faced have not been few. In particular, the new strategic project of ENAV SpA, aimed at the reorganization of the new ATM model through the creation of two area control centers in Rome and Milan, has posed, and will continue to pose, new challenges. All this is part of a daily routine characterized by assiduous activity, just think that the SCC System manages about two hundred thousand air movements a year and supports events of great importance, as occurred on the occasion of the Air Show of the Centenary of the Armed Forces and the great G7 event". He then expressed his best wishes to the incoming commander for a fruitful and rewarding period of command, underlining that the Armed Forces has recognized in Col. Gentilucci the moral qualities and the necessary skills, entrusting him with a great responsibility.
Finally, the BCA commander addressed all the personnel of the coordination and control services department, expressing his satisfaction and pride for what has been done and urging them to continue, with unchanged commitment, to pursue excellence, assuring Col. Gentilucci the same passion, the same dedication and the same determination that has so far distinguished the women and men of the SCCAM System.
The SCCAM department, similarly to the four SCCAM employees in Rome, Milan, Padua and Brindisi, is co-located at the collateral area control center (ACC) of ENAV SpA, and ensures support to air operations through the control and coordination of operational air traffic throughout the national airspace, the management of airspace at pre-tactical and tactical levels and the coordination of Air Defence activities in the context of general air traffic.
The RSCCAM is under the control of the aerospace control brigade of the aerospace operations command of Poggio Renatico (FE).
