Organised by the Italian Air Force in collaboration with the National Alpine and Speleological Rescue Corps (CNSAS), the “Grifone 2025” exercise was held in Valtellina between 9th and 13th June.
It was a joint, international, and inter-agency event focused on Air Search and Rescue (SAR). The hub of the flight activities was the “Avio Valtellina” airfield in Caiolo, not far from Sondrio. During the busiest days, it hosted approximately 500 participants and 8 aircraft (7 helicopters and 1 police aircraft used for reconnaissance).
Specifically:
The activity is planned and conducted annually by the Air Force (A.M.) through the Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC) of the Aerospace Operations Command (COA), which was responsible for coordinating air operations over a large and very demanding area for helicopter rescue crews and technicians.
Over 80 CNSAS rescuers, belonging to all the different specialisations of the Corps, supported by personnel from the SAGF (Alpine Rescue Service of the Guardia di Finanza) and elements of the local Civil Protection, took care of the land operations.
The exercise (over 80 sorties and 48 flight hours) covered all typical mountain and difficult terrain SAR activities: from boarding and disembarking teams, stretchers, canine units, to winch operations and rescuing the injured and missing. The medical team – led by the Italian Air Force – also included personnel from the Italian Red Cross (Sondrio and Morbegno Committees) with doctors, nurses, medical equipment, and apparatus. Volunteer nurses from the Italian Red Cross with AASAR (Air Assistant - SAR) qualifications were also deployed with the military flight crews.
New for the 2025 edition is the inclusion of drones in the exercise scenarios: this tool is proving increasingly useful in the initial search phases, autonomously or with simultaneous use – but in separate areas – of the aircraft. The Drone Emergency Team (SED) of the Civil Protection of the Province of Sondrio has therefore provided equipment and qualified personnel to integrate perfectly into the system set up by “Grifone”, while other CNSAS drones were used following the search teams.
Once again, “Grifone” has reproduced the most realistic scenario possible, the same one that the “rescue machine” would face in the event of a real, extensive and prolonged intervention. All the provisions necessary to create an efficient field capable of supporting a multiplicity of essential services were ensured by personnel from the Logistics Command of the Air Force, particularly from the 3rd Wing of Villafranca, the highest expression of projection logistics.
Events like the one held in Valtellina also provide opportunities for international cooperation, particularly with nations whose SAR areas of responsibility border (or are very close to) Italy, such as Switzerland and Spain.
The specific interest in the coordination, techniques, and procedures demonstrated during “Grifone” is always high: constant presence of foreign observers is further proof of this. This year too, around twenty military personnel from 8 partner nations attended the main stages of the entire exercise activity.
