The Commanders of the Air Force Flying Schools subordinate to the Command of Schools A.M./3rd Air Region of Bari participated in the meeting. After welcoming the participants and thanking Colonel Volpari for his hospitality, Air Division General Vitantonio Cormio opened the proceedings by outlining the delicate tasks within Flight Safety. Subsequently, Colonel Raimondo D’Andria, Head of the Flight Safety Office of the Command of Schools/3rd Air Region, and the Commanders of Squadrons/Departments spoke, each analysing, within their area of competence, all flight incidents and reports made during the period under review. From the analysis carried out, the importance of planning in an area as essential as it is sensitive, such as Flight Safety prevention, was reiterated. During the meeting, in addition to statistical data for the current year, individual experiences were shared and various events were analysed in order to implement preventative actions in the field of Flight Safety, which are of particular importance, especially in Flying Schools, including the 72nd Squadron, where all helicopter pilots from all Armed Forces and State Armed Corps are trained. This important meeting served to emphasise the concept that a safety culture must be the heritage, above all, of those who lead complex organisations. Organisational factors and decision-making processes must, in fact, be imbued with an awareness of risk factors and their correct management; in this regard, the Air Force, with its decades of experience, represents a point of reference in the field of Flight Safety.
The 72nd Wing of Frosinone, the sole basic helicopter flight school in Italy, is responsible for training new helicopter pilots from all Armed Forces as well as all State Armed Corps. During the training process for a helicopter pilot, fundamental importance is given to raising awareness in a very significant and continuously evolving area, namely Flight Safety. To this end, during the training phase dedicated to theoretical ground study, students follow a specific course on the subject, and during the training phase dedicated to the flight phase, students participate in various Wing briefings and the monthly organised ‘SV Days’ (Flight Safety Days) to focus attention on individual Flight Safety topics.
