On 25 and 26 June, at Aerospace Operations Command (COA) di Poggio Renatico took place on the 1st Air Traffic Control Seminar promoted and organised by the Aerospace Control Brigade (BCA).
The event, which saw the joint participation of representatives from the Italian Air Force, of the’Italian Army, of Royal Navy and of Civil Aviation Authority ed ENAV, was born with the intention of creating an opportunity for dialogue between military and civilian entities, in order to deepen the dynamics related to safety, efficiency and the optimisation of national airspace.
The Commander of COA, Air Divisional General Luca Maineri, in welcoming them, thanked all those present for their valuable attendance and stressed that: “The Aerospace Operations Command manages five key processes: conceptual development, training and operational analysis; operations planning; current activities management; air and upper atmosphere surveillance; and Command and Control exercise. Common to these five processes is the airspace element, which is a relevant enabling factor. It's important for all of us to understand what the common needs are: I therefore encourage you, in this forum, to explain what is required to enable us to do a better job of what we do every day. This seminar will be an opportunity for open and constructive discussion and debate. What is happening in the world reminds us of the importance of capturing everyone's good ideas, and this seminar aims to be an environment capable of stimulating new ideas. It is no longer possible to tackle new scenarios that are evolving with extreme rapidity using standard processes; the only way to do so is with a broader and more creative approach.”
There were numerous participants, both civilian and military, confirming the interest and relevance of the topic discussed. The subjects illustrated by the speakers ranged from Staff Training Air traffic control officer, for the use of U-Space and the integration of drones into national airspace; from Integrated Missile Air Defence and the evolution and development of missile capability, to the discipline of “Due consideration”; from military and commercial needs in air traffic management, to those of amphibious and high-seas operations; from the importance of a safety culture in flight to Tactical Data Links and their employment to support the integration of Armed Forces components; from military/civil cooperation in the use of airspace to developments in the area Counter-UAS with particular reference to the capacity“on the move” and to the actuators“hard to kill”.
The two days of the Seminar proved to be intense but undoubtedly crucial for the mutual exchange of knowledge and experiences between all participants, custodians and users of national airspace, the management and control of which represent a complex web of responsibilities that demand constant updating and continuous preparation, as well as a high capacity for internal interconnection, among the Armed Forces, and external, with the competent civil authorities. Such initiatives play a fundamental role in guaranteeing a network of professionals who are always vigilant and aligned with the evolution of the systems, processes, and procedures that concern Airspace control.
At the closing of the event, the Commander of the BCA Brigadier General Glauco Luigi Mora he thanked everyone and in particular the speakers who, with their contributions, wished to enrich the meeting by dedicating their time and expertise to those present.“I am particularly satisfied with the level of participation at this first seminar, organised with the aim of sharing different approaches to the use of Airspace, a resource shared between military and civilian users.. The attention given to the event demonstrates the will, at an inter-force and inter-agency level, to collaborate and jointly identify solutions to make air traffic management increasingly effective and safe.
Aerospace Control Brigade The BCA is the Body that encompasses the entire range of the Armed Force's capabilities for Integrated Air and Missile Defence (IAMD) and for Operational Air Traffic (OAT). Specifically, its objective is to direct and harmonise the Armed Force's activities for the performance of its primary task of Air Defence and the ordered and coordinated use of the National Airspace on behalf of Operational Air Traffic. In carrying out its function as Service Provider, it contributes to making the Aerospace Operations Command, as an Air Component Command, the Armed Force's point of reference for the use and development of Aerospace Power.
