At Lecce's Piazza Duomo, the ceremony for the awarding of pilot licenses to students who have completed flight training courses at the Italian Air Force's flight schools.
Today, in the splendid setting of Piazza Duomo in Lecce, in the presence of President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, of the Secretary of State for Defence, Lorenzo Guerini, of Chief of the Defence Staff, Admiral Cavo Dragon, and of Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Air Force General Luca Goretti, as well as the highest Civil, military and religious authorities of the territory, the ceremony of awarding pilot's licences to cadets who have completed their pilot training course at the Italian Air Force flight schools.
There were forty-eight “eagles” delivered by the Minister of Defence and the highest military authorities of the Air Force, to mark the conclusion of a long and demanding training path that has been developed along the line Jet al 61st Wing of Galatina (LE), for helicopters at 72nd Wing of Frosinone and for multi-engine aircraft too MultiCrew Crew Training Centre at Pratica di Mare (Rome). In addition to the students of the’Italian Air Force, have also patented helicopter pilots’Italian Army, of the’Carabinieri, of Financial Guard, of the State Police, del National Fire Corps e foreign armed forces personnel.
“Today's event gives substance to the existing spirit of sharing and collaboration between institutions – declared General Goretti in his welcoming address, which preceded the certificate awarding ceremony – a collaboration that sees the Air Force making its natural and undisputed expertise in the aerospace sector, and in particular in the field of flight training, available to all those who aspire to operate in the third dimension, with an absolutely valuable training system, developed over one hundred years of operations, within which the International stands out Flight Training School (IFTS), An advanced flight training school already chosen by many nations because in it they find the expertise, professionalism, and quality to train their military pilots to the highest standards currently in existence.
Then, addressing the graduating students, he continued: “Always have courage in challenges, a pure and sincere heart in the choices you make, the highest professionalism by always doing better than the last mission, team spirit because we pilots are not solitary pioneers but form a cog in a larger, more complex mechanism that allows us to ‘lift our shadow from the ground’ every day, all with the sole and noble aim of continuously defending the skies of our Italy, protecting our people and the friends of allied countries, just as is happening at this moment with our Eurofighters deployed in Poland to guarantee the security of the Alliance's Baltic Area and, as we have always done, within NATO with operations Air Policing.
The most significant moment of the ceremony, the presentation of the “eagles“was celebrated by a flypast of a formation of four T-346A trainer aircraft belonging to the Salento Flight School, used for the most advanced phase of fighter pilot flight training.
Then spoke the Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone who addressed the newly qualified pilots: “You are embarking on an exceptional adventure that will fill you with joy and pride, but will also lead you to face numerous challenges and greater responsibilities. I am sure that your preparation will allow you to meet the expectations of the Defence and of the Country. Your wings – added the Chief of the Defence Staff – it is proof of how the most sophisticated technology cannot make a difference where it is not supported by the quality of the human element, training, and teamwork, elements in which we firmly believe”.
The closing speech was given by Secretary of Defence, Lorenzo Guerini: “The awarding of the Eagles, as we have seen in this moving ceremony, represents the culmination of a training journey and, at the same time, the start of a new professional phase. It is, in short, both an end and a beginning: a moment for reflection and, at the same time, for anticipation and future plans. I know for certain what is expected of you. – declared the Minister of Defence – so that the sky becomes a safe environment, that the pilot's spirit of adventure becomes the tranquility of those who, in flight or on the ground, entrust themselves to you, with confidence. It is a fascinating task, one which I am sure you will be up to. This is confirmed by the values that your families, your parents, have instilled in you and by the determination and skills that you have developed in the Air Force, which have brought you this far.
Before leaving the ceremony venue, the Head of State, to which has been delivered the Airplane Observer's Licence As a symbolic testament to the respect, admiration and closeness of the Air Force, he placed a personal dedication and his signature in the 'Book of Honour” of the 61st Wing.
Trainees who have completed their training at Galatina and are destined for fighter aircraft will continue their training at the 61st Wing on the T-346 aircraft; those trained at the 72nd Wing will be employed on helicopters, while pilots certified by the MultiCrew Training Centre will fly support aircraft with multi-person crews.
