The selection process for the 130th AUPC student pilots and five State Police officers at the Latina Flight School has concluded.
Wednesday 22 May, the traditional handover ceremony took place at the 70th Wing “Giulio Cesare Graziani” in Latina. Airplane pilot's eagles for 16 students of the 130th AUPC course (Student Reserve Flight Officers) and for 5 State Police officers who have completed the flight selection process.
The ceremony, which was attended by family and local authorities, was presided over by Air Force Corps General Silvano Frigerio, Commander of the Schools and the 3rd Air Region of the Air Force, who after the presentation of the Pilot Eagles to the young attendees by the Instructor Pilots of the “207th Flying Group”, addressed the graduates: “To you, dear young men and women of the 130th Complementary Course and the 24/01 Class of the State Police, I say that you can rightly feel proud of the eagle just pinned to your chest, a symbol for which you have faced an intense selection process, which, however, is certainly not a destination.” He then continued: “You will be called upon to face complex, yet at the same time engaging, human and professional challenges, which you will only be able to overcome with the passion, willpower, and dedication you have already shown.”
The Commander of the 70th Wing, Colonel Giuseppe Bellomo, in his introductory and institutional greeting speech, wished to thank all the men and women of the Pontine Air Base: “The presentation of the eagles to the newly qualified represents the fruit and synthesis of everything we do every day with dedication, competence, enthusiasm, and an insatiable desire to grow and improve.” He then continued, addressing the newly patented individuals: “Throughout this training journey, we have watched you strive to achieve this goal. We have accompanied you on this journey, which has led you to acquire new skills, and we have seen the motivation grow in your eyes. Within you, there has been a realisation of the importance of the role you will be called upon to fulfil for our country.
This event not only celebrated the individual success of the young pilots, but also strengthened the bond between the 70th Wing and Institutions, positioning itself as a centre of excellence at a national and international level in the field of military flight selection. Further testimony to its joint services dimension, the military flight selection phase for 10 Italian Army trainees concluded at the 70th Wing on 20 May.
The 70th Wing is subordinate to the Air Force Schools Command and 3rd Air Region, based in Bari, and for over sixty years has fulfilled its institutional duties of selecting and training future military pilots for the Air Force, other Armed Forces and State Armed Corps, as well as cadets from other nations. To date, the Pontine Flying School has issued over 15,000 pilot licenses, completing a total of approximately 500,000 flying hours.
