Aeronautics and Coast Guard: agreement for pilot training and use in search and rescue

(To air Force)
06/02/18

Tomorrow the Air Force (AM), represented by the Air Squad General Settimo Caputo - Deputy Chief of Staff, and the Coast Guard, represented by Admiral Inspector Vincenzo Melone - Commander General of the Port Authority Corps - Coast Guard, Corps of the Navy, will sign an act of exchange which provides, by the Air Force, the provision of specialization courses, qualification, qualification, training and training for the personnel of the Corps who, in return, will provide a helicopter AW139 with an availability of 300 hours per year for training purposes. Among the various courses offered by the AM in the context of the exchange, those for the Coast Guard pilots that will be held at the 72 ° Stormo of Frosinone will have particular relevance. The Air Force helicopter flight school represents excellence, both nationally and internationally, thanks to the attendance of student pilots from many foreign countries, including Afghanistan, Djibouti, Lebanon, Malta, Albania and Kuwait.

Moreover, the base of the Air Force of Decimomannu (CA) will be made available for the permanent risk of part of the airborne component of the Coast Guard dedicated to the SAR (Search and Rescue) activities that will dispose at the Sardinian base means, crews and technical personnel for the conduct of flight and SAR alarm activities. This initiative will allow the Coast Guard, an organization which coordinates the research and rescue activities at sea, to carry out its activities using the structures of the AM already operational at Decimomannu.

The agreement is a virtuous model to achieve synergies between State administrations and represents a very valid and effective reference in the perspective of the possible future development of cooperation activities in the mutual operational areas. The collaboration between Aeronautica Militare and Corpo delle Capitanerie di Porto - Coast Guard is part of the interforces / inter-agency approach advocated by the "White Paper for International Security and Defense" and is an example of optimization of processes and rationalization of resources.

(photo: Port Authorities - Coast Guard)