signed on Monday 19 January, at the Sala delle Costellazioni Minori of the Palazzo Aeronautica, in Rome, the Technical Arrangement (TA) between the Ministry of Defence of the Italian Republic and the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Lithuania concerning “Flight training of Lithuanian Air Force military personnel in Italy”. The document was signed, in a detached manner, by Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Air Squadron General Antonio Conserva and from Chief of Staff of the Lithuanian Air Force, Colonel Antanas Matutis.
The agreement governs the provision of training courses for the pilots of Lithuanian Air Force (LTAF), with particular reference to training activities MPL – Phase III (ME-MP) – Military Pilot Licence e MCC – Multi Crew Coordination, scheduled within the Air Force training pipeline.
The Italian training proposal in the field of flight training has represented the key element in defining cooperation with LTAF, making it necessary to update the regulatory framework. The agreement replaces and updates the previous document from 2013, now no longer suitable to fully meet the training and operational needs of the parties.
The TA will come into force on the date of signature and will regulate all courses of the training process described, delivered by 204th Flying Group at the Air Transport Training School (SATA), on the Pratica di Mare site, for the benefit of Lithuanian personnel, and will have a Indefinite duration, continuing to give continuity and stability to bilateral cooperation.
The signing of this memorandum of understanding provides a solid regulatory, administrative and procedural framework for all activities related to the provision of training to LTAF personnel. It contributes to consolidating the international recognition of the’high quality of the Italian Air Force's training offer, strengthening the strategic bond with a NATO member state of fundamental importance for collective security. The breadth and quality of the training offered are recognised by numerous allied air forces which, in recent years, have chosen Italy for the training of their military pilots, in line with similar initiatives already illustrated through agreements with other allied nations.
The SATA, a structure dependent on the Air Force Schools Command/3rd Air Region of Bari, uses modern aircraft P-180 “EVO+” for advanced training on multi-engine aircraft, aimed at obtaining a military pilot's licence under the new procedure IPTS 2020. The school also provides “Multi Crew” training, ensuring the standardisation of training on operational lines and the attainment of flight qualifications and licences recognised by ENAC.
Cooperation with Lithuania fits into the broader framework of Italian activities and participation in the Baltic region, where the Air Force continues to strengthen interoperability and collaboration with NATO partners, as also demonstrated by the activities of Air Policing and joint training exercises conducted in recent years on Lithuanian territory.
