The operation was made possible thanks to the crew's use of special night-vision goggles
On the evening of Wednesday 2 March, a helicopter HH-139B of the’83rd Group Combat Search and Rescue del 15th Wing of the’Italian Air Force he intervened to rescue a hiker stuck in the Gola del Corno of Mount Catria (PG), in the Umbrian-Marche Apennines.
The helicopter, one of the Armed Force's assets that is always ready to take off on national territory even for operations of this kind, was activated by Rescue Coordination Centre del Aerospace Operations Command of Poggio Renatico (FE) and it immediately took off from the military airport of Cervia, home to the 15th Wing of the Italian Air Force, before heading to the operations area to begin the search and subsequent rescue.
Once the hiker on the via ferrata has been located, thank you to the use of special night vision goggles (NVG), The crew carried out the recovery using a winch and a double sling. The hiker was then transported to the Cantiano sports ground (PU), where a team from the was also present CNSAS MARCHES.
It 15th Wing with its helicopters HH-139 (in versions A and B) has the mission to rescue crews in difficulty both in peacetime (S.A.R. – Search and Rescue, i.e. Search and Rescue) that in times of crisis and in operations outside national borders (C.S.A.R. – Combat S.A.R.In the event of severe disasters, the Stormo contributes to public utility activities, such as searching for missing persons at sea or in the mountains, emergency medical transport of life-endangered patients, and the rescue of severely traumatised individuals. For a number of years, the 15th Stormo has also provided invaluable support for forest firefighting operations.
The quality of crew training, the technological characteristics of the helicopters supplied, as well as the use of special equipment and techniques, such as the use of night vision goggles (Night Vision Goggles), often make the 15th Wing the only helicopter unit capable of successfully managing the most complex emergency situations. The commitment of the men and women of the 15th Wing in saving human lives is tireless and constant. Since its establishment to date, the crews of the 15th Wing have saved over 7,300 people whose lives were in danger.
