The ‘Air’ Task Force’s commitment to ensuring the full operational capability of the logistics and flight support services at the air base in Kosovo. Since the start of the winter season, the ‘Air’ Task Force has ensured the full operational capability of the logistics and flight support services at AMIKo Airport, situated in a climate zone where temperatures can drop to very low levels and heavy snowfall is common. In January 2010 alone, despite weather conditions that were often at the very limit of operational feasibility, assistance was provided to all transit flights, totalling over 100 movements (+351 TP3T compared with the same period in 2009). AMIKo Airport provides numerous services on a daily basis to aircraft making stopovers or redeploying, including meteorological assistance, refuelling, firefighting, de-icing, aeronautical information and customs clearance. In this capacity, it remains a well-equipped airbase for air operations in the theatre and, for fixed-wing aircraft, serves as the only alternative in Kosovo to Pristina International Airport. The ‘Air’ Task Force, commanded by Colonel Angelantonio Palmiero, provides Air Traffic Control services in the western region of Kosovo and meteorological assistance in accordance with NATO and ICAO standards. For several months now, it has also been providing meteorological information to the local population via a weekly radio programme on a well-known station in the town of Gjakovë/Djakovica. Also stationed at AMIKo Airport is the Army Aviation Helicopter Group, known as Task Force ‘Ercole’, which operates under the command of the Commander of the KFOR Multi-National Battle Group West (MNTBG-W). Furthermore, the airbase provides assistance to Swiss and Austrian civilian and military aircraft transiting through the area to support their respective contingents, as well as to aircraft from other KFOR nations deployed in the theatre for MEDEVAC (Medical Evacuation) and STRATEVAC (Strategic Evacuation) requirements.
