The seminar within the Postgraduate Master's degree in Sustainability and Energy Management
Wednesday 21 June a delegation from the Air Experimentation Department of Aeronautics and Space, guided by Air Division General Commander Alessandro De Lorenzo, held within the framework of the university Master's degree in “Sustainability and Energy Management”, a seminar on biofuels and on experimentation that the Italian Air Force has conducted with university and research bodies in that specific sector.
The Master’s programme, the flagship of the Milanese university’s academic offering, is attended by students from a variety of academic backgrounds (economics, engineering, chemistry, law, etc.) and of various nationalities (with international students accounting for approximately 50% of the student body). The Master’s programme aims to train young professionals specialising in environmental sustainability, renewable energy, energy efficiency and climate change.
Following a brief introduction to the main activities of experimentation and Operational Test & Evaluation (OT&E) conducted at the Division, as well as on the numerous and ever-increasing collaborative relationships with other institutions, industries and academia in the Aerospace sector and more generally in the Research and Development (R&D – research and development), the Italian Air Force's experience in the field of biofuels for aviation use was presented.
The intervention was particularly appreciated by students and teaching staff, who expressed enthusiasm for the opportunity to learn about the skills present in the Air Force and who stated they were absolutely determined to foster other collaboration opportunities in the sector in the future.
The Air and Space Experimental Flight Division represents the first and only example in Italy of rationalisation and centralisation into a single structure of individual study and experimental centres dependent on a Armed Forces. An Entity that, in synergy with national and international aeronautical excellences, carries out activities of study, experimentation, testing, technical-operational evaluation, and research support for new aeronautical weapon systems, also for the benefit of other Armed Forces and/or State Armed Corps, when requested.
The DEAF It also ensures technical-logistical, administrative and operational support to the Air Force bodies/departments located on the airport site, as well as to other Armed Forces and State Armed Corps bodies present. Finally, it ensures the services necessary for the safe and effective conduct of flight activities and the management of activities related to the reception, embarkation and disembarkation of personnel, materials and means arriving at and departing from Pratica di Mare airport.
In particular, the activities carried out by the Aeronautical and Space Materials Technologies Department cover all materials used in aeronautical and space applications, including armaments. These activities fall within the scope of materials science, analytical chemistry, applied chemistry, and merchandising. In these fields, the Department demonstrates capabilities in analysis, control, research, and experimentation. Furthermore, it is tasked with conducting technical-operational evaluations, experiments, and efficacy investigations of weapon systems and armaments of aeronautical interest, while also undertaking training and qualification activities for personnel in all these areas.
The Experimental Flight Department is the department of the Italian Air Force responsible for the study and conduct of all ground and flight tests of the Air Force's aircraft, and the development of modifications. Software e hardware of aeronautical weapon systems, as well as the execution of the’Operational Test & Evaluation (OT&E) of new weapon systems in the real context of their use.
