In the midst of the epidemiological emergency from COVID-19, the Army Aviation bases of Viterbo represent, also for their geographical position, an important nerve center for rescue operations throughout the national territory. Thanks to this peculiarity, the blue berets of Viterbo have been entrusted with the management of a biocontainment stretcher "Isoark N36" that can be readily used in case of need.
The Isoark N36 stretcher has the capacity to transport a patient in a situation of high bio-containment and consists of a space superimposed on the stretcher that holds potentially infectious agents, guaranteeing the protection of operators and other subjects. This device is suitable for housing inside a rescue aircraft, be it a plane or a helicopter. For this reason, the Army Aviation has prepared UH-412 and UH-90A assets of the 3rd Helicopter Regiment for Special Operations "Aldebaran" which, in collaboration with the 7th CBRN Regiment "Cremona" of Civitavecchia and with the Military Polyclinic “Celio” of Rome, will form a specialist emergency team.
In a context in which the urgency is now prefigured as a daily practice, the various Regiments of the Specialty used in the support activities continue to use their own means and staff to reach the Italian hospital in the shortest possible time, in order to speed up the distribution of materials needed to fight the virus that has threatened national health for months. In this particular period, the Army continues its activities to protect the country, also through the use of its soldiers in the "Safe Roads" Operation, remodeled following the current emergency and which also sees the blue Basques among the parties active in the control of airport gates, such as that of Turin Caselle.
Already from 24 February, the Armed Force spreads its wings to reach the rescue sites, through an air and land transport plan integrated with that of the Civil Protection, preparing a series of fixed and rotating wing missions aimed at transport of PPE material, tampons and healthcare personnel. To date, 28 missions have been activated for a total of approximately 116 flight hours, with helicopters: UH-205 of the 34th Permanent Detachment "Toro" of Venaria Reale (TO), UH-205 and RH-206C of the Aviation Training Center of the Army of Viterbo, CH-47 F of the 1st AVES “Antares” Regiment, UH-90A and HH-412 of the 3rd Special Operations Helicopter Regiment “Aldebaran”, UH-90A of the 7th “Vega” Regiment of Rimini, as well as Piaggio P-180 and Dornier 228 aircraft of the 28th "Tucano" Squadron Group of Viterbo.
The 3rd Aviation Support Regiment of the "Aquila" Army of Bergamo is also in the front line, engaged in the management of the effects relating to the high incidence of mortality, in collaboration with the Civil Authorities in the context of the "Fidelium" Operation, as well as in logistical support to specialist personnel of the Russian Federation. In the South, the 2nd Air Force Regiment of the "Sirio" Army continues its work of loading, unloading and storing medical material arriving at the Lamezia Terme airport and destined for the Civil Protection of the region.
The operational use of the Armed Force to protect citizens continues unabated throughout the territory, carrying out the orders that the Operating Room of the IOC - Defense issues following the coordination carried out with the other departments, in the difficult and current context that sees us temporarily distant but increasingly united.
