The visit is part of the Cooperation Plan between the Italian Air Force and the Israeli Air Force. During the first day of the visit, the Israeli Officer was received by the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Air Squad General Pasquale Preziosa, and by the Chief of the 3rd Department of the Air Force Staff, Air Brigade General Gianni Candotti, with whom he attended a series of briefing sessions illustrating various aspects of common interest between the two Air Forces. In the afternoon of the same day, the delegation, accompanied by personnel from the 3rd Department of SMA, had the opportunity to visit the Air Force Experimental Flight Centre and the 14th Wing at Pratica di Mare Air Base.
On Tuesday, 30th April, the delegation visited the Alenia-Aermacchi industrial complex in Venegono Superiore (VA). On this occasion, the Chief of Air Operations of the IAF had the opportunity to take the new T-346 advanced trainer for a flight. The Israeli Air Force has recently ordered 30 of these aircraft. During the flight activity, carried out with Major Luca Campello, a test pilot from the Experimental Flight Department, the high-ranking Israeli officer was able to explore the aircraft’s flight envelope. The flight activity continued with an Agusta-Westland AW-139 helicopter, which arrived for the occasion from the nearby Vergiate heliport. In the afternoon, the delegation stopped at Pisa Air Base, home of the 46th Air Brigade, where they were welcomed by the Commander, Air Brigade General Aurelio Colagrande. During the visit, the Brigade's training activities were presented, and in particular, the methods by which the Air Force managed the transition from the C-130H aircraft to the more recent version of the C-130J, an activity that the IAF will have to face starting next year. At the conclusion of the visit, before the customary official greeting, General Norkin had the chance to visit and personally try out the full-motion C-130J flight simulator.
