On Friday 23 April, the opening ceremony of the new Command building of Aviano Airport took place. Brigadier General Vincenzo Panaro, Chief of Staff of the General Staff, took part in the ceremony and, in his speech, emphasized the importance of the NATO investments made for the construction of the new military airport facilities. These investments led to the construction of a series of infrastructure facilities, including the Command, the guard corps, the entrance, the accommodation, the infirmary, and which will culminate in the construction of a new multifunctional building.
In his speech, Colonel Zampella highlighted how the new facilities allow personnel to operate in functional environments and keep up with the times. He also recalled that the new Command has regained its historical function, having hosted, in its long past, the Command of the Hunting School and the Command of the ‘Ariete’ Armored Brigade. At the end of the speeches, the Commander presented some honors and commendations to the officers and non-commissioned officers of the airport returning from missions abroad, before proceeding, after the traditional ribbon-cutting ceremony, to visit the historical exhibition set up in the new building. The ceremony was then crowned by an exercise by the National Acrobatics Patrol ‘Frecce Tricolori’, which thrilled the audience. At the end of the show, the commander of the airport came to greet him at the Single Departmental Circle, where the usual exchange of gifts took place, involving also the personnel of the Tricolour Arrows, who, on this occasion, presented a check to the Rosario Scarpolini ONLUS Association.
Numerous civil and military authorities were present at the opening day, including Hon. Manlio Contento, Prefect of Pordenone, Dr. Galante Pierfrancesco, the Mayors of the municipalities of Aviano, Stefano Del Cont Bernard, of Roveredo, Sergio Bergnach, of the municipality of Porcia, Stefano Turchet, of the municipality of Pordenone, Sergio Bolzonello, of the municipality of Fontanafredda, Giovanni Baviera, of the municipality of Sacile, Roberto Ceraolo, and of the municipality of San Quirino, Corrado Della Mattia, as well as the Vice President of the Regional Council, Maurizio Salvador, and Colonel Patrick McClelland, for the 31st Fighter Wing of the USAF.
