A crew from the Trapani Centre took part in the international SAR exercise organised by the French Authorities. On Friday 8 June, the international maritime S.A.R. (Search and Rescue) exercise concluded in France, which a crew and an HH-139A helicopter from the 82nd C.S.A.R. (Combat Search and Rescue) Centre of the 15th Wing of the Italian Air Force participated in. The crew from Trapani redeployed to Beziers Airport in Southern France. Fixed-wing and rotary-wing assets from France, Italy, and Spain participated in the exercise, with the support of two support vessels for shipwrecked survivor recovery activities. The aim was to enhance experience in the S.A.R. field, refine and improve joint intervention procedures with multiple flying assets, and test the effectiveness of the command and control chain for managing complex recovery operations. The exercise saw the crew of the 82nd Centre engaged, jointly with French and Spanish crews, in simulating a complex scenario for the recovery of shipwrecked survivors from the water and individuals in imminent danger from vessels. The exercise context allowed for the exchange of experiences between pilots, aircrew operators, and air-rescue personnel from the three participating nations, achieving the goal of improving mutual recovery procedures and techniques.
The 82nd Centre is one of the Squadrons of the Air Force's 15th Wing, which guarantees, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, non-stop, the search and rescue of flight crews in difficulty. It also contributes to public utility activities such as the search for missing persons at sea or in mountains, the urgent medical transport of patients in life-threatening conditions, and the rescue of seriously injured individuals, operating in all weather conditions. Since its establishment to the present day, the crews of the 15th Wing have saved more than 7,300 people in life-threatening situations.
