On Saturday, 10 April, the unit established at the Aeroporto dei Parchi handed the airport back to the local authorities. The airport proved to be a hub of particular importance, becoming one of the focal points for rescue operations, the management of which took place under the auspices of the Department of Civil Protection – Directorate General for Aeronautical Activities. However, the airport's reality, until then dedicated almost exclusively to Aeroclub activities, was characterised by infrastructural deficiencies such as the lack of parking, taxiways, radio aids, and a proper control tower, thus preventing air traffic management for rescue operations. This necessitated the initiation of complex activities aimed at the enhancement, setup, and subsequent management of the entire airport. This situation was entirely new in the history of the Department of Civil Protection, which, in emergency situations to date, had always made use of already operational airport facilities from which to coordinate interventions. The need to enhance the entire airport system, with the activation of all necessary functions for air traffic management, saw the participation of other national institutions (Defence, Fire Brigade, State Armed Corps, ENAC, ENAV, etc.).
The Air Force has sent air traffic controllers, meteorologists, firefighters, and logisticians; assisted by the Guardia di Finanza, the State Forestry Corps, and supported by a mobile tower and flight controllers sent by ENAV.
Among the rescue operations carried out in the immediate hours following the earthquake that affected ‘Aeroporto dei Parchi’, particular importance was given to the air transfer of 150 patients evacuated from the 'San Salvatore' Hospital in L'Aquila to hospitals in Rome and Abruzzo. The decision to move the G8 Summit venue from La Maddalena to L'Aquila subsequently led to a further acceleration of the works already planned. The works concerned infrastructural adjustments, including the expansion of the aircraft parking area (16,000 sq m), and the taxiways were more than doubled. Technologies for instrumental approaches, a fully equipped control tower were installed, and the runway lighting system was completed. In parallel, improvements were also made to the access roads to the airport.
The summit was attended by 39 delegations, including 27 Heads of State or Government; 21 of the latter landed at Preturo Parks Airport, located just two kilometres from the G8 venue.
During the G8 days, there were over 250 air movements with 26 aircraft, without any incidents for the Heads of State.
Overall, the flight activity from 6 April to 25 March 2010 was approximately 770 hours, broken down as follows:
-113 hours from the Italian Air Force;
-76 hours from the Italian Army;
-167 of the Navy;
-103 of the Carabinieri Corps;
-177 of the Guardia di Finanza;
-130 State Police;
-7 between the Fire Brigade and the State Forestry Corps.
Today, Abruzzo has a significant hub in the heart of the Apennines, a central junction connecting the region's economic and tourism activities.
