Page 80 - Air Forces Monthly - September 2017

4° GRUPPO ELICOTTERI

These are ready to respond at minimum
notice to any kind of military operation
or in support of the civilian population.
In recent years the SH-90A has taken part
in a range of national and NATO exercises
including Mare Aperto, the main Italian
training event of the year held in the central
Mediterranean. It involves a variety of air,
naval and amphibious assets, with the aim
of testing the operational effectiveness of
the naval commands and assigned forces.
Another important event is NATO’s annual
ASW exercise Dynamic Manta, one of the
most challenging of its kind and an excellent
opportunity for NATO navies to practise
and evaluate their anti-submarine skills.
Periodically the SH-90As are also involved
in exercises with Italy’s Corpo Nazionale
Soccorso Alpino e Speleologico (National Above: The Italian Navy has ordered 56 NH90s, of which 46 will be delivered in the SH-90A configuration
Corps for Mountain and Speleological Rescue). seen here, for anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare missions. The remaining ten will be in MH-90A
While the SH-90A is designed to operate configuration, with a rear ramp, optimised for heliborne assault.
primarily in a naval environment, it can be blade/tail fold and deck handling system SH-90A depends on the individual background
reconfigured to support troops ashore. The to ensure safe ship operations day and of each pilot. Pilots who are qualified combat-
mission operator stations can be replaced night and in adverse weather conditions. ready on other types, such as the AB212
with troop seats or stretcher-mounting kits The delivery of the first MH-90A to 5° Gruppo or SH-3D, require 150 hours to transition
to evacuate casualties. For land warfare, the Elicotteri at Maristaeli Luni in January marked to the SH-90A. Pilots fresh out of flight
M134 machine gun is normally mounted on a significant step forward in capability for the school require a total of 450 flight hours on
one of the sliding side doors for self-defence. Italian Navy. Even before its arrival, crews helicopters and 150 hours on the SH-90A.
In order to better project military power trained for some of the MH-90A’s missions The SH-90A and MH-90A represent
from the sea and to support amphibious with the available SH-90As. Eventually, a generational leap compared to the
and special forces operations, the Italian the MH-90A will succeed the AB212, which AB212. The SH-90A is twice as heavy as
Navy has also acquired the tactical transport remains a familiar sight at Grottaglie. an AB212, and offers greater autonomy,
version of the NH90. The TTH variant Crews of the venerable AB212 are still proud power and speed. Its real strength lies
is designated MH-90A in Italian Navy of their mount and especially its achievements in its multi-role capability, achieved
service. It is lighter than the SH-90A and when deployed to Afghanistan. One of the through a combination of technology and
equipped with a new tactical and weapon airframes took nine bullet hits and survived integrated systems. Pilots told AFM that a
control system, including a completely to complete its mission. This airframe is now single SH-90A can do the work of multiple
integrated helmet display for the pilot. on display at the air base’s museum. Used AB212s, and that despite its heavier weight,
The MH-90A provides commonality with in support of the San Marco Brigade, Italian it offers superior handling characteristics
the SH-90A and combines the main features Navy AB212s are compatible with night- due to its fly-by-wire flight controls.
of the TTH version, such as the rear ramp vision goggles (NVGs). Low-visibility ‘Panther’ In the near future SH-90As and MH-90As
and mission equipment, with SH-90A naval Squadron patches on their uniforms identify will completely replace the Italian Navy
features including the ‘harpoon’ deck lock, the crews qualified to fly night missions. AB212s and will become a familiar sight on
freely castoring nosewheel, automatic rotor Achieving combat-ready status on the board the ships of the Marina Militare. AFM
A pilot’s path to the SH-90A

Before being assigned to the SH-90A, Italian After graduating from API, SNAs enter
pilots receive their ‘Wings of Gold’ in the Primary Flight Training. This lasts around
United States, having followed the same six months and consists of the following
training syllabus as a US Navy helicopter pilot. sections: ground school, contact (take-off
Naval Flight School consists of four phases: and landing, limited manoeuvres, spins),
Aviation Pre-flight Indoctrination (API), basic instruments, precision aerobatics,
Primary, Intermediate, and Advanced Flight formation, radio instrument navigation,
Training. night familiarisation, and visual navigation.
All Student Naval Aviators (SNAs) start Italian Navy students conduct primary
out at the same place: Naval Air Station training at NAS Whiting Field in Pensacola,
Pensacola, located on the Gulf Coast in the Florida, where they learn the basics of
Florida panhandle. flying in the T-6 Texan II.
Known as the ‘Cradle of Naval Aviation’, API Upon successful completion of Primary
is the first step in flight training for student Flight Training, SNAs are selected either for Above: An in-cockpit briefing for SH-90A crew of 4°
officers. It lasts for six weeks (four weeks helicopters or jets, according to their grades, Gruppo Elicotteri at Grottaglie.
of academics and two weeks of survival preferences and the needs of the service. including basic helicopter familiarisation;
training). The four weeks of academics Advanced Flight Training for helicopter tactics; basic and radio instruments; visual,
focus on aerodynamics, aircraft engines pilots takes place at NAS Corpus Christi, instrument, and low-level navigation;
and systems, meteorology, air navigation Texas, beginning with around five months formation; night familiarisation (including
and flight rules and regulations. An exam in a multi-seat, twin-engine turboprop: the use of NVGs) and search and rescue.
is taken at the end of each course. Once T-44C King Air. Once they receive their Wings of Gold,
academics are over, API students begin each During the final phase of Advanced Flight the naval aviators return to Italy. Pilots
morning learning water survival skills. The Training, students receive more than 100 selected for the SH-90A attend ground
swimming course culminates in a one-mile hours’ instruction in which they learn school at Catania, Sicily, for around eight
swim in a flight suit. Survival training the unique characteristics of rotary-wing weeks before continuing flight training
includes classes on basic land survival, aviation in the TH-57 Sea Ranger. They at their assigned operational squadron.
survival equipment, physiology and first aid. progress through several phases of training Andrea Avian

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