The training, organized by the A.M., took place from July 13 to 14 in the area of Urzulei (Nuoro). Among the helicopters were the AB-212 of the 670th Squadron. The purpose of the exercise was to refine the procedures that personnel adopt for the planning, direction, conduct, and execution of all rescue operations following aircraft accidents. The scenario of the exercise saw the search and rescue of a crew of a military aircraft involved in a simulated aeronautical accident in a mountainous terrain. The COFA Operations Room, alerted to the incident, initiated coordination operations for the recovery of the crew. Three helicopters were deployed at the Decimomannu air base (Cagliari): an AB-212 of the 670th SAR Squadron of Decimomannu, an AB-205 of the Army of Elmas (Cagliari), and an AB-212 of the State Police of Abbasanta (OR). At the same time, to carry out the recovery operations, an Advanced Base (PBA) was established in the locality of Urzulei, where helicopters with SAR operators were deployed to facilitate the recovery operations for the personnel of the Alpine Rescue Team. Furthermore, medical support was provided by the Italian Red Cross in case the personnel to be recovered were injured.
The SAR Service of the Italian Air Force guarantees the search and rescue of flight crews, also contributing to public utility activities such as the search for people lost at sea or in the mountains, the emergency medical transport of patients in danger of life, and the rescue of severely traumatized people. In 2009, the search and rescue operations carried out were 1,197, of which 140 were carried out with aircraft of the Italian Air Force.
