The periodic event took place in recent days at the Aeronautical Detachment of Lido di Venezia training for the use of emergency equipment and Sea rescue from a helicopter using a winch. The activity, which involved the pilots of 51st Wing of Istrana and the staff of the 15th Air Wing of Cervia, aimed to maintain an adequate level of preparedness in emergency situations and renew the planned “Currency”annual for flight crews.
For water-resistance and sea survival training, as provided for by training programmes and Flight Safety of the Italian Air Force flight crews, the body of water in front of the Detachment of the Italian Air Force of Venice Lido, the recovery at sea of pilots from the 51st Wing was carried out by the crew of an HH139 B helicopter from the 15th Wing of Cervia.
A drill that allowed for the consolidation of water survival techniques and search and rescue procedures among the authorities and bodies involved in emergency situations, including the Port Authority of Venice, and to test buoyancy and swimming techniques while wearing flight gear, so as to refine winch recovery techniques, conducted by helicopter.
Among the pilots who participated in the training activity, the Commander of the 51st Wing, Colonel Fabio De Luca, who was able to confirm the degree of professionalism of the staff involved, in a particularly difficult operational context such as sea recovery.
The 51st Wing of Istrana is under the command of Combat Forces Command (CFC) of Milan, whose assigned mission is to acquire and maintain the operational readiness of all air defence, attack, and reconnaissance defence bodies, ensuring the operational efficiency of weapon systems, means and materials, as well as personnel training and the constant updating and optimisation of operational procedures. The CFC reports to Air Squad Command which exercises the powers relating to the training, readiness and operational preparation of its Squadrons, so that they acquire and maintain the foreseen levels of operational readiness. The 51st Wing, equipped with the F2000 aircraft, in addition to supporting surface forces and carrying out attack and reconnaissance operations, is one of the five Wings of the Air Force that ensure national air defence and service of Quick Reaction Alert of NATO.
