On Thursday 12 April, the Commander of the Italian Air Operation Center (IT-AOC), Colonel Maurizio Epifani, visited the Department of Services Coordination and Control of the Italian Air Force (R.S.C.C.A.M.) in Ciampino (RM). After a welcome from the R.S.C.C.A.M. Commander and a briefing on organizational and operational aspects, concerning in particular the new operating model of the integrated system of the R.S.C.C.A.M., the visit continued to the specific divisions of the Department, such as the ACU (Air Coordination Unit) and the AMC (Airspace Management Cell), national units composed of personnel from the Italian Air Force, ENAV s.p.a. and ENAC that, in a synergistic and daily manner, carry out a strong and consolidated activity of collaboration in the application of the concept of flexible use of airspace (FUA). Subsequently, the visit continued to the Military Air Traffic Control Room where the military air traffic controllers carry out their support activities 365 days a year, throughout the entire day. Colonel Epifani was able to witness the complexity, the commitment and the effectiveness of the civil-military coordination activity in the provision of air navigation services, whose ultimate goal is to support the mission of the Air Operations Command.
The day concluded with greetings and the signing of the Department Honor Roll, during which Colonel Epifani emphasized the cohesion and professionalism demonstrated by the staff, as well as the importance of visits to the employee organizations as a way to strengthen the synergy of the entire chain of command and control and reduce the “distances” in the execution of the mission assigned by the Italian Air Force.
The Coordination and Control Services are located at the Area Control Centers (ACC) of ENAV SpA and are tasked with ensuring support for air operations at the national level through the coordination and direct tactical control of Operational Air Traffic (OAT). Through the national cells called “Airspace Management Cell“ and “Airspace Coordination Unit”, both based in Ciampino, pre-tactical airspace allocation and negotiation are also ensured. Of primary importance is the information contribution provided to Area Defense activities regarding the movements of General Air Traffic (GAT). The organization, as structured, delineates a mature and widely recognized model of civil-military cooperation that serves as a reference in the European and non-European landscape.
In the structure adopted by the national area navigation service, characterized by a high degree of civil-military collaboration, the SCCAM system employs qualified military personnel as air traffic controllers, equipped with the highest level of authorization and community license.
