The first stage of the project to recover and renovate the former Bourbon prison, implemented under an agreement between the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities and Tourism and the Ministry of Defense, was inaugurated on Wednesday 2 August, in the presence of the Minister of Cultural Heritage and Activities and Tourism Dario Franceschini and the Undersecretary of State for the Presidency of the Council of Ministers Maria Elena Boschi. The helipad on the island of S. Stefano, the first stage of the recovery, restoration and return to public use of the former Bourbon Prison, was inaugurated. The infrastructure was designed and built by the 2nd Department of Military Engineering, through its 8th Military Engineering Group, in implementation of an operational agreement signed between the same MiBACT and the Ministry of Defense. Present at the ceremony as the highest military authority, the AM Logistics Commander, Air Force Brigadier General Giovanni Fantuzzi, accompanied by the Head of the Infrastructure Service, Major General Alberto De Rubeis, and the responsible personnel and a representative of the staff of the AM Engineering Departments involved. The work – completed in just 99 days and carried out according to criteria of maximum eco-sustainability and of the least possible impact on the environment and the landscape – represents a valuable example of inter-departmental and inter-agency cooperation, given that, in addition to the aforementioned AM Engineering Departments, the 1st ’Antares“ Regiment of the Army’s Air Force was also involved in the deployment and elite transport of the necessary equipment and materials to the island. The 9th Stormtrooper Squadron from Grazzanise also supported the activities, mainly with the basic logistical and deployment function for the Italian Army helicopters engaged in the transport of materials on the island. The same HH-212 helicopters of the Department have, in some cases, participated in the transport and recovery missions of the operators from the work site.
After the ceremony and the solemn raising of the flag, which formally inaugurated the work, Ministers Franceschini, Deputy Secretary Boschi and Mayor of Ventotene Santomauro wished to express their particular thanks to the Ministry of Defense, in particular to the military personnel who worked to complete the helideck within the expected time frame. The Engineering Departments, in addition to managing the real estate assets of the Air Force, carry out technical activities in the field of works, patrimonial matters and materials; they also oversee the construction and extraordinary maintenance of all airport infrastructure and technological systems in support of the Armed Forces Entities, both in Italy and outside its national borders. It is worth noting, among other things, the commitment at national and international level to the construction of infrastructure works aimed at the use of tactical transport aircraft in environments where paved runways are not normally available. Significant examples in this regard are the construction at the end of the 90s of the military airport of Dakovica, the first airport abroad built entirely by the Italian Armed Forces since the end of the Second World War, the establishment of the bases of Bagram and the construction of the Forward Support Base in Herat in Afghanistan and Tallil in Iraq. In recent years, a series of further interventions have subsequently taken place, particularly in Djibouti, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates, where the Engineering Departments have followed the infrastructure projects from the approval phase until their completion, collaborating with the local authorities and monitoring the construction phase of the works themselves. Furthermore, through the employees of Gruppi Genio Campale, and where requested, support is provided to the Civil Protection in the event of natural disasters. Following the seismic events that occurred in central Italy on August 24, 2016, the Presidency of the Council – Civil Protection (PROCIV) requested the involvement of the Armed Forces to deal with the emergency; given the evolving situation, the use of additional assets to protect the heritage was ordered; and it is in this context that some Officers of the Aeronautica Militare Corps, after acquiring the civil protection qualification, intervened in the earthquake-stricken municipalities to verify the post-earthquake usability of public and private buildings. More recently, the Aeronautica Militare Corps’ Genio Departments intervened during the G7 in Taormina to build two landing pads for helicopters dedicated to the participating delegations.
