(by Andrea Pinto) Landing on improvised runways for an emergency, bringing food and medicines even in hostile territory, this is a capability of the Air Force. To be always ready, the Armed Force periodically conducts trainings that simulate those scenarios that one is then forced to face in reality in a very short time. A team effort that starts from the operators on the ground (17 ° Stormo Incursori) who validate the improvised runway for landing to those who ensure the physical safety of the operations area and then mention those who deal with the logistic services.
It took place, in fact, at the 72 ° Stormo of Frosinone an exercise particularly complex that saw an aircraft C-130J of 46ª Pisa Air Brigade landing and taking off from semi prepared grass track the 72 ° Stormo has available on its airport grounds.
Una the only track of its kind in Italy both for the particular consistency of the grass surface and because to date it appears to be, according to the data found on the ENAC website, still the longest in the entire national territory, which thanks to its 1427 m., given yesterday's drill, it is usable down to the last clod.
The semi prepared grass track of the 72 ° Stormo therefore, it is part of the specific training potential that theair Force owns to allow its fixed wing aircraft to be maintained tactical skills landing and take-off from semi-prepared slopes.
Landings, the latter, made in runways prepared in a short time following the compromise of ordinary airports due to natural disasters or armed conflicts.
The aircraft of the 46th Air Brigade, C130J e C27J, possess and maintain the peculiarity of being able to land even on semi-prepared slopes, a capacity that can be exploited in environments such as Operating theaters or in situations where it is necessary to land to bring aid to partially damaged airports.
The realization of the exercise at the 72 ° Stormo, as reported by the institutional website ofair Force it was possible thanks to Logistic Command, which through the 2nd Engineering Department assessed the landing ability of the runway by CBR measurements - California Bearing Ratio. Activity also carried out by the Combat Controller operators of the 17 ° Stormo Incursori who validated the semi-prepared landing strip. The Air Force Commandinstead, he gave the availability of the aircraft and the Command of the Schools, through 72 ° Stormo, ensured the entire logistical support.