Cervia, 16 June 2026 – A new and advanced Flight simulation system joins the training capabilities of 15th Wing of the Air Force. The inauguration ceremony took place today at Cervia Airport in the presence of the Prefect of Ravenna, Dr. Raffaele Ricciardi, military authorities, industry representatives and department personnel.
The new training hub includes a simulator Full Flight intended for pilots, a workstation Advanced Mission Console for system operators and a Virtual Procedure Trainer. Thanks to the integrated architecture and the connection“Interlink”the various platforms can interact with each other, allowing pilots and operators to train simultaneously as if they were on board the same helicopter during a real mission.
On the sidelines of the event, the Commander of the 15th Wing, Colonel Antonio Viola, emphasised the importance of the new system for the professional growth of crews and for maintaining the high operational standards required of the Italian Air Force's search and rescue units. «This infrastructure represents a concrete investment in our personnel and their skills. The simulator will allow us to train our crews in increasingly complex and realistic scenarios, enhancing safety, operational effectiveness, and response capability in the missions we carry out daily for the country.», said Colonel Viola.
The strategic value of the initiative was highlighted by the General Alessandro De Lorenzo, Commander of Mobility and Support Forces, who highlighted the excellent role played by Italy in the field of aeronautical training. «Italy continues to be a benchmark in the international flight training landscape thanks to the professionalism of its personnel and its constant focus on innovation. Facilities such as the one inaugurated today enable the preparation of increasingly qualified crews, keeping our country at the forefront of training and operational excellence., General De Lorenzo stated.
Also speaking during the ceremony was Aurelio Cavallaro, Head of Italian MoD Helicopter Sales at Leonardo S.p.A., the aerospace, defence, and security company that manufactured both the Aeronautica Militare's HH-139s and the new simulation systems. He highlighted the value of collaboration between industry and the Armed Force in developing advanced simulation systems capable of meeting current and future operational needs.
The event concluded with the ribbon-cutting ceremony and the blessing of the facility by Don Marco Galanti, military chaplain of the Cervia base, who expressed his thoughts to the crews engaged daily in operational activities in service of the community.
With this new infrastructure, the 15th Wing further strengthens its ability to train highly specialised crews, ready to operate in the most complex scenarios, and the entry into service of the new system represents an important step forward in the modernisation process of the training capabilities of the 15th Wing, a unit that ensures national air search and rescue service 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, as well as contributing to public utility and population support activities.
