HH-3F: NVG FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL TRANSPORT

On Saturday, 15th May, an HH-3F helicopter from the 85th CSAR Centre transported an 82-year-old woman in imminent danger of life from the island of Ponza to Latina. The helicopter, under the command of Flight Leader, Major Diego Sismondini, supported by Second Pilot, Captain Marco Ferrara, with 1st Marshal Francesco Bullara and 1st Class Marshal Massimiliano Cervera acting as onboard operators, Marshal Giovanni Stella as a rescue swimmer, and 1st Class Marshal Giovanni D’Angelo as a medical assistant, along with a civilian nurse, headed towards the island of Ponza. Despite adverse weather conditions, exacerbated by winds exceeding 40 knots, the crew, who used Night Vision Goggles (N.V.G.) throughout the mission, landed at 20:55 local time to board the elderly patient accompanied by her daughter. The helicopter immediately departed for the military airport of Latina, where it landed at 21:49. An ambulance was already waiting for the patient to transfer her to the civilian hospital in the provincial capital. The HH-3F helicopter then returned to Pratica di Mare, landing at 22:25. Multimedia content: Audio: Radio RAI interview with Maj. Diego Sismondini.