Inside Wednesday 28th October's episode, the general scenario of the SAR (Search And Rescue) ‘Squalo 2009’ exercise, which concluded on 2nd October, involved the search and rescue of aircraft crews and passengers involved in aviation accidents in a terrestrial environment (SATER – Terrestrial Air Rescue) affecting the mountainous area of the Sila Plateau and Monte Pollino, and a maritime environment (SAMAR – Maritime Air Rescue) in an area of the lower Tyrrhenian Sea and the Gulf of Saint Euphemia. The exercise was conducted jointly between the Air Forces Operational Command (COFA) of Poggio Renatico (Ferrara), responsible for the SATER phase, and the 5th Maritime Rescue Sub Center (MRSC) of Reggio Calabria, responsible for the SAMAR phase.
For the SATER phase, air and ground forces were deployed, carrying out 47 sorties totalling approximately 27 flight hours by 9 Italian and foreign helicopters, with 20 winch rescue operations. 5 injured individuals were recovered, 3 of whom were classified as critical (red code). Approximately 250 people were involved in the SATER phase (including 45 flight crew members and around 80 ground team personnel).
For the SAMAR phase, air and naval forces were deployed, controlling 640 square miles as the search maritime area, with 15 naval units, 4 aircraft, and 9 helicopters, both national and foreign, for a total of 15 flight hours and 77 maritime navigation hours. Approximately 200 men and women were involved in the SAMAR, with around 150 embarked.
