For the first time during the exercise held in San Sepolcro, night missions were also planned and carried out. The activity is part of the annual exercise cycle organized by the Armed Forces in order to train the SAR (Search and Rescue) Operator personnel of the Air Operations Command (COA) of Poggio Renatico (Ferrara).
The exercise was carried out with the participation of the National Alpine and Speleological Rescue Corps (CNSAS) and the personnel of the Italian Red Cross Volunteer Auxiliary Medical Corps, who provided 6 land search teams, 2 medical teams and 2 canine units. For the recovery operations, the Air Force deployed an AB-212 helicopter from the 15th Squadron of Cervia (RA) and an AB-212 from the 9th Squadron of Grazzanise (CE), aircraft that are used daily for search and rescue operations throughout the national territory.
All the assets were placed under the coordination of the exercise command, composed of personnel from the Air Force and representatives of all the participating units, within an Advanced Base (PBA) established at the airfield of Palazzolo, in the municipality of San Sepolcro. At the PBA, the 1st Technical Communications Department (RTC) of Milan-Linate prepared a mobile radio unit with satellite link capabilities for data transmission and telephony, to support the air traffic control and meteorological services, which are essential for the scheduled events.
During the exercise, personnel from the Air Force, CNSAS, and the Italian Red Cross trained in the planning, direction, conduct, execution, and support of combined operations to search for and rescue survivors of aircraft accidents on land in mountainous environments, both day and night. This allowed for the exchange of experiences, an essential factor for the continuous improvement process in the field of search and rescue, safeguarding human life.
The scenario of the training activity involved the search and rescue of a crew of a military aircraft involved in a simulated aeronautical incident in a mountainous environment, with the activation of the command and control chain, which, upon notification of the event, planned and directed the aircraft and ground support assets for the search and rescue of the missing persons. Upon receiving the order, the aircraft assets then embarked and transported the search teams to the identified areas, before returning once the crew’s recovery was communicated to the PBA.
This last training phase, taking place in a mountainous area and, for the first time during a SATER at night, was conducted with the help of NVG (Night Vision Goggles).
The SAR Service of the Italian Air Force is managed and coordinated by the COA, through the use of crews and helicopters from the 15th Squadron, distributed throughout the national territory, Cervia, Trapani, Pratica di Mare and Brindisi, and the SAR Squadron of Decimomannu (Cagliari). Through these aircraft assets distributed in this way, the Italian Air Force guarantees 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, the search and rescue of flight crews in difficulty, in addition to contributing to public utility activities such as the search for missing persons at sea or in the mountains, the emergency medical transport of seriously ill patients, and the rescue of severely traumatized people. In particular, the 15th Squadron, since its establishment to date, has contributed to saving approximately 7,000 people in life-threatening danger.
