Urgent medical transport: double life-saving mission for a Falcon 900 of the 31st Wing

Cagliari and Catania are the two airport hubs used by the Air Force to embark the two very young patients in imminent danger of death.
The double life-saving flight involving an Italian Air Force Falcon 900 concluded late this afternoon. The first medical transport, from Cagliari to Ciampino, allowed a very young patient, just 4 days old and in imminent danger of death, to reach the Bambino Gesù Paediatric Hospital in Rome. Immediately after landing at the Roman airport, the crew received a second mission order for a second life-saving intervention. The aircraft took off for Catania where, upon arrival at the Sicilian airport, it embarked a young patient, only 6 months old, who required immediate specialist treatment at the Bambino Gesù Paediatric Hospital in Rome.
In the initial operation, the very young patient was transported inside a thermal incubator aboard a military aircraft belonging to the 31st Wing, accompanied by both parents and specialised medical personnel. The request for transport from the “Duilio Casula” Hospital – Cagliari University Hospital to the Bambino Gesù Paediatric Hospital in Rome was received from the Prefecture of Cagliari, in accordance with emergency procedures.
The second intervention was carried out for a six-month-old female patient who required urgent medical transport from the ’G. Rodolico - San Marco“ University Hospital Polyclinic to the Bambino Gesù Paediatric Hospital. The infant travelled in an incubator and was accompanied by her mother and a medical team. The request for urgent medical transport was received from the Prefecture of Catania.
Both requests were managed and coordinated by the Summit Situations Room of the Air Squad Command, the operational room of the Air Force which, among its functions, also includes the ordering and management of these types of missions for the benefit of citizens.
Crews and transport aircraft of the Italian Air Force are ready day and night, 365 days a year, 24 hours a day to ensure, where requested and deemed necessary for reasons of urgency, the medical transport of people in imminent danger of death, organ transport or medical teams.
Hundreds of flight hours are carried out each year for this type of operation by aircraft from the 31st Wing of Ciampino, the 14th Wing of Pratica di Mare and the 46th Air Brigade of Pisa, and by helicopters from the 15th Wing of Cervia.