On Sunday, 5th June, the satellite channel will broadcast a report on the air-dropping of materials by C-130J aircraft of the 46th Air Brigade in Afghanistan. The special report illustrates one of these phases, namely Civil-Military Cooperation (CIMIC), which also involves the use of C-130J aircraft from the 46th Air Brigade of Pisa when transporting materials to areas that are difficult to reach. In particular, the journalist follows the preparation and dropping of humanitarian supplies near the Forward Operating Base (FOB) of Bala Murghab and interviews various military personnel, including Major Nicola Ferrario, the aircraft commander during the mission. The activity described in the Sky Tg 24 report is carried out with C-130J aircraft in service with the ‘Albatros’ Task Group of the Joint Air Task Force (JATF) of the RCW. To date, approximately 850 bundles containing essential goods, including water, diesel fuel, K-rations, food supplies, and humanitarian aid, as well as various types of materials such as wood, concertina wire, and esko-bastions (structures for passive base protection), have been airdropped. This has been a significant effort, also thanks to the support of the personnel from the Air Supply Company, of the Folgore Brigade, which is subordinate to the JATF.
Over the past year, the ability to airdrop supplies using the CDS (Container Delivery System) has enabled the resupply of the Bala Murghab FOBs, and more recently those stationed in the treacherous Gulistan and Bakwah areas, ensuring the operational continuity and logistical survival of the FOBs. Since their deployment to the operational theatre, the C-130J and C-27J aircraft of Task Group ‘Albatros’, thanks to their day and night versatility, considerable cargo capacity, and high performance for take-off and landing on short, semi-prepared runways, have proven to be an excellent tool for providing essential support to the ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) mission operations, even in remote areas of the country that are difficult to reach by land and in extreme meteorological and operational conditions. From February 2007, over 60,000 passengers and nearly 6,000 tonnes of materiel have been transported to the Afghan theatre. By May 2011, aircraft from the 46th Air Brigade, deployed to Herat base, had reached 4,700 flight hours.
SKY TG24, 05/06/2011 at 12:00
