The visit of General Gruber, Chief of the Austrian Air Staff of the Joint Force Command (JFC), is part of the Italy–Austria international cooperation plan for 2012 for an exchange of experiences at the level of the Air Operation Center (ACO). On Thursday, June 14, Brig. Gen. Karl Gruber, Chief of the Austrian Air Staff of the Joint Force Command, visited the Air Operations Command (COA) of Poggio Renatico, accompanied by a delegation from the Austrian JFC; the purpose of the activity was to exchange experiences at the ACO (Air Operation Center) level in the fields of Air Defense, Rescue and Air Transport.
Upon his arrival, General Gruber was received by Air Division Commander Mirco Zuliani, COA and CAOC5 Commander, who handed over the Department Crest to the Austrian military authorities. After a presentation briefing on the activities of the Command, the visit continued at the National Operations Room of the A.O.C., where attention was focused on the Air Policing activity carried out by the A.M., both domestically and within the context of NATO integrated defense. Specifically, this consists of the use of radar systems and interceptor aircraft (from the 4th, 36th and 37th Squadrons) to monitor and preserve the integrity of a specific airspace, against a complex organization of personnel, means, procedures and national and NATO connections.
The international cooperation activity also included a visit, on Wednesday 13 June, to the A.M. Coordination and Control Service (SCCAM) in Abano Terme, where the delegation, after a welcome greeting by the Commander, Lt. Col. Gianluca Dell’Aere, received a briefing on the activities carried out by the Air Traffic Control Operations Room. In this context, the delegation was particularly interested in the effective synergy and close coordination between the military personnel of the A.M. and the civil personnel of the ENAV (National Agency for Flight Support), in the provision of Flight Support services to the Operational and General Air Traffic within the national airspace. Leaving the Air Operations Command, General Gruber thanked for the hospitality received and congratulated the professionalism demonstrated by the personnel of the Air Force during all phases of the visit.
