Atlantic have transitioned to the new
aircraft in a training process for pilots and
technicians co-ordinated by Leonardo.
Currently, pilots spend two months at
the ATR school in Toulouse, France, for
ground lessons, six to eight missions in the
simulator, plus a final flight to obtain a basic
qualification on the civil ATR 72-600. The pilots
then return to the 41° Stormo at Sigonella,
where they obtain their certification on the
military machine with the 86° Gruppo Centro
Addestramento Equipaggi (CAE, 86th Crew
Training Centre). First, they complete four
missions to qualify for operations in maritime
patrol environments. The second phase
introduces the skills required for SAR missions,
including launching SAR kit, plus operations
in more complex scenarios with other aircraft
and vessels, and in more dangerous airspace.
The Italian Air Force has adopted the
manufacturer’s courses for training maintenance
technicians, which are conducted in-house
by the 86° CAE. The first level of maintenance
is conducted at Sigonella and is planned
as follows: weekly inspection, monthly
inspection (a different one each month) and
further inspections at three-month, six-month,
nine-month and 18-month intervals. Then
there is the two-year inspection – the most
invasive of the first level. Next is the two-
and-a-half-year inspection, undertaken by
the manufacturer. Alongside these planned
inspections are checks based on flight hours:
these are carried out at Sigonella every
500hrs (Check A) and 5,000hrs (Check C).Conclusion
The P-72A is clearly a modern patroller,
equipped with the latest technologies. Since
its first mission, it has received positive
feedback in terms of its versatility, reliabilityand efficiency. Not least, the crews appreciate
the comfort compared with the Atlantic; it
offers an excellent working environment
thanks to low noise levels, ergonomic seats,
air conditioning and cabin pressurisation.
The aircraft have already taken part in
numerous exercises and real-world missions,
in Italy, over the wider Mediterranean and
abroad. These include Exercise Mare Aperto
2018, organised by the Italian Navy and
involving a variety of vessels and air assets (see
Blue-water warriors, January, p80-83); three
missions as part of the Tactical Leadership
Programme in 2018, performing ASuW, slow-
mover interception and defence and escort of
high-value assets; a SAR mission to locate aTunisian Air Force F-5 pilot who ejected over
the Mediterranean last October; and support
and escort for Italian Air Force Eurofighters
deployed to Iceland for air policing duty.
There’s also daily engagement in patrolling the
Mediterranean Sea, including monitoring illegal
immigration and other unauthorised traffic.
The one piece of the MPA puzzle missing from
the P-72A is an offensive capability. However,
the aircraft has provision for this to be retrofitted,
and the Turkish Navy’s similar ATR 72-600
patrol aircraft have a full ASW suite. In future,
the Italian government may well find the funds
to convert the existing P-72A fleet, or perhaps
acquire additional, armed examples to join the
fleet of four that will soon be in service.N ATO
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http://www.airforcesmonthly.com #378 September 2019 // 79AFM76-79 ItalianP72A AFM Sep2019.indd 79 8/2/2019 3:06:55 PM