SATER 1-22, a joint and inter-agency exercise organized annually by the Italian Air Force
The mountain area of Mugello will host the "SATER 14-16" between 1 and 22 March next, an important exercise by the Armed Forces with the aim of training military defense crews and other institutional entities in the field of Search and Rescue. (Search and Rescue).
The SATER (abbreviation of SAR-Terra) is a training activity organized several times a year and throughout the national territory through the Aerospace Operations Command (COA) of the AM of Poggio Renatico (FE) together with the National Alpine Rescue Corps and Speleological (CNSAS), and is the result of planning by the Rescue Coordination Center - RCC of the COA, with the aim of developing synergies and constantly improving techniques and procedures to carry out Search and Rescue missions.
On the "Collina" airfield, in the municipality of Borgo San Lorenzo (FI), the use of 10 aircraft is foreseen: three of the Italian Air Force (an HH-139 helicopter of the 85th SAR Center of the 15 ° Stormo di Pratica di Mare - Rome, an NH-500 helicopter from the Milan Linate Connections Squadron and a U-208 aircraft from the Linate Connections Squadron) and seven other helicopters belonging to the Italian Army (a UH-205 from the 4th "Altair" Regiment of Bolzano), to the Navy (an SH-90 ° of the Luni Sarzana - Spezia Helicopter Station), to the Carabinieri (1 AW-139 of the CC Helicopter Unit of Pisa), to the Guardia di Finanza (an AB-412 of the GdF Air Section of Pisa and a UH-169 of the 1st Air Group of the GdF of Pratica di Mare), the State Police (a UH-139 of the 8th Flight Department of the State Police of Florence) and the Fire Brigade (an AW -139 of the Helicopter Unit of the VV.F. of Bologna).
Knowledge of shared means and procedures is essential to ensure speed, effectiveness and safety in search and rescue operations, always keeping in mind the ultimate goal of training crews and rescuers: to always be ready to safeguard human life, wherever it is. in danger.
The CNSAS, which will participate with highly specialized operators to act in the mountain environment, together with other search and rescue teams of the Italian Army and the Guardia di Finanza, will have the opportunity to train in different operational scenarios which include, for example, the embarkation and disembarkation of personnel and stretchers from the aircraft used, descent and ascent operations with the use of a winch. Within the exercise scenario, the direction of ground operations (DIREX Terrestrial) will be attested to the National Alpine and Speleological Rescue Corps, while the Rescue Coordination Center of the Air Force will be responsible for the direction and coordination of all air operations (DIREX Aerial).
The exercise scenario also includes the night use of helicopters and search and rescue teams, an extremely qualifying factor for achieving the training objectives.