On Tuesday 3 June, the Extraordinary Detachment of the Air Force for Sea Survival and Training “Lido Persefone”, located at Marina di Pulsano (Taranto), was the scene of a search and rescue exercise for persons missing at sea.
The training day, aimed at the recovery of flight crews via an HH-139A helicopter, was organised by the A.M. Volunteers School (SVAM) with the main objective of consolidating the preparation and training of aircrew by simulating the recovery of survivors following an aircraft accident.
The event saw several Departments actively involved, who on this occasion operated synergistically to ensure the best possible outcome of the exercise, making it as realistic as possible; in particular, the 84th SAR Centre (Search and Rescue) based in Gioia del Colle, the flying personnel in training and the flight instructors of the 61st Wing of Galatina, and the SVAM of Taranto itself, which provided the necessary technical-logistical support.
This year, representatives from the Imperial Flight Academy aeroclub, who conduct their activities at the AEROTRE airfield in Manduria, also attended as observers, in order to acquire some survival knowledge for overcoming potential dangers in the marine environment.
Colonel Del Buono, Commander of SVAM, reiterated the importance of the event, stressing how today's exercise “really allows one to see firsthand what the Air Force does every day: it trains to be ready to face any situation in any condition [...] thanks to the fundamental synergy and coordination of all Air Force components and beyond, to effectively and efficiently deal with this type of intervention.”.
The 84th SAR Centre is one of the Departments of the 15th Wing of the Italian Air Force, which guarantees, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, continuous search and rescue for flight crews in distress, as well as contributing to public utility activities such as the search for missing persons at sea or in mountains, the emergency medical transport of patients in imminent danger of death and the rescue of seriously injured individuals, operating even in extreme weather conditions; since its establishment to date, the crews of the 15th Wing have saved several thousand people in danger of death.
This activity confirms the important and dual purpose of the A.M. Extraordinary Detachment of Torre Castelluccia, which as a “Sea Survival and Training Centre” supports the operational needs of the Armed Force to train crews in rescue activities and, as “Lido Azzurro Persefone”, supports human, sporting, cultural and social promotion for the entire Ministry of Defence in the Ionian Territory. The Detachment is under the direct command of the A.M. Volunteers School, the only national training and instructional centre that provides basic military and moral training for the Italian Air Force's enlisted personnel, as well as specific professional instruction in accordance with the Mission and guidelines indicated by the A.M. Schools Command/3rd Air Region.
