57 young Student Pilots have completed the flight selection process, obtaining their Aeroplane Pilot Licence
It took place on Tuesday 12 December, at the 70th Stormo based in Latina, the traditional ceremony for the presentation of the Eagles to 57 young officer cadets who obtained the Aeroplane Pilot Licence.
The event, chaired by Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Air Marshal Luca Goretti, featured the participation of Commander of the Schools/3rd Air Region, Air Squad General Silvano Frigerio and Commander of the 70th Wing Colonel Giuseppe Bellomo.
Symbolically represented by a’Golden eagle which, from today, can be proudly displayed on their uniforms, the event marks the first significant milestone achieved by the Students who have thus become, to all intents and purposes, aeroplane pilots.
“Today's ceremony marks a fundamental milestone in the career of every pilot in our Armed Force. It is a moment that I experienced first-hand years ago as a young trainee, an essential transition in my career and my life, of which I still retain the vivid memory of the emotions I felt. I am convinced those exact same feelings are present in your hearts and minds today”. Thus the Chief of the General Staff of the Air Squad, Luca Goretti, upon taking the floor immediately after the presentation of the Eagles. Following that, General Goretti wished to express his gratitude to all the military and civilian personnel of the Schools Command of the Italian Air Force, which through its Units has the delicate task of educating and training pilots: “Absolute expertise in the’training, recognised in Italy and abroad, resides within you and must always remain within you. Thanks, in particular, to the flight instructors and to all staff at 70th Wing for the incredible teamwork in achieving the best environmental, logistical and training conditions that have allowed the student pilots to express their potential to the full”Finally, the Chief of Defence Staff expressed his gratitude to the families of the new pilots“who have arrived here today from all over Italy to celebrate alongside their lads a unique and exhilarating moment in their lives.
To achieve the BPA, specifically, 42 cadets belonging to the Navigating Branch of the First Eolo VI Course of the Air Force Academy (Pozzuoli), 14 Supplementary Pilot Cadets belonging to the 129th AUPC Course, and a single trainee, of Tunisian nationality, belonging to the Navigating branch of the Second Drago VI Academy Course.
57 new pilots, out of a total of 98 students who arrived in Latina for flight selection and training, have thus successfully completed their training on the SF260EA aircraft in service with the 70th Wing, and the gold badge depicting the Eagle, proudly worn on jackets as of today, is the distinguishing mark that fully rewards the efforts made.
It 70th Wing, under the authority of Schools Command of the Italian Air Force and 3rd Air Region of Bari, is based at the “Enrico Comani” Military Airport in Latina and for over sixty years has represented the mandatory first step in the professional training of the “military pilot”, as it carries out the institutional tasks of selecting and training future military pilots of the Italian Air Force, other Armed Forces and State Armed Corps, and cadets from other Nations, through the issuance of the first pilot's licence, the Aeroplane Pilot Licence.
The training path of Student Pilot Officers, both of the Regular and Short-Service Navigating Cadres, begins at the Air Force Academy and includes various training stages. At the end of the initial phase, which concludes right in Latina with the attainment of the BPA, begins the Phase 2 in Galatina (Lecce), at the 61st Wing. This slice is aimed at identifying, based on the aptitudes and potential of the individual aspiring pilot, the career path they will subsequently be assigned to (Fighters, transport, helicopters and RPAs, namely remotely piloted aircraft).
Given the line of employment, the pilots begin the Phase 3 at the dedicated Flight Schools: 61st Wing for the tactical line and UAV, 72° Stormo di Frosinone for the line helicopters and the newly renamed “Air Transport Training School” of Pratica di Mare for the fleet transport. At the end of the Phase 3 therefore, as a distinguishing mark, a new Eagle is assigned, this time turreted, a field marked by sacrifice and expertise, and through which one officially becomes, military pilots.
Finally, the Officers destined for the aerotactical lines will continue with the following Stage 4 at the 212th Flight Group IFTS in Decimomannu, Sardinia. Following this, the newly qualified military pilots will go to the units of operational conversion unit (OCU – operational conversion unit) where they will carry out the conversion training on the aircraft assigned to them.
