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Viterbo, Center of Italian Army Aviation by Lucien Blok and Leonard van den Broek, Four Aces Aviation Photography
Viterbo, situated some 120 kilometres (80 miles) north-west of Rome, has been home to Italian army aviation training for little over fifty years. Nowadays, Viterbo Army Airfield is home to two major flying units as well as the Army Aviation Training Centre (AATC). With the Italian Army Aviation Headquarters also located in the town, Viterbo can rightfully be regarded as the “Center of Italian Army Aviation”.
Army aviation in Italy began in 1951 with four Piper Super Cub L-18s. The first helicopters arrived in 1956, in the shape of Agusta Bell AB47s. In 1958, the “Centro Addestramento Aviazione Leggera dell’Esercito” (Army Light Aviation Training Centre) moved from Bracciano to Viterbo. Although the training centre has remained at Viterbo ever since, the Army Aviation department itself has undergone many changes in command structure and designation.
In 1976, unit names were introduced, each unit receiving a name referring to a star, a planet or a constellation. Since 1993, Italian Army Aviation has been referred to as the “Aviazione dell’Esercito” (AvEs), though for a brief period (2000 - 2003) it was called “Cavalleria dell’Aria” (Air Cavalry). The present command structure is still quite complicated, as only the Army’s training and combat support units, which include the Army Aviation Training Centre and the transport helicopters units, are controlled by Army Aviation Headquarters. The combat units, including the A129 Mangusta attack helicopters units, are under control of the “Airmobile Brigade”.
The Army Aviation Training Centre
AATC, the “Centro Addestramento Aviazione dell’Esercito” provides flight courses for Italian Army pilots, but also training courses for non-flying officers (technical engineering) and NCOs and enlisted personnel (maintenance technicians, fire fighters, air traffic controllers etc.). Flight training makes extensive use of simulators, with four AB205-type simulators used for basic simulator flying (VFR and IFR). There are also two dedicated A129 Mangusta simulators. The A129 simulators will be incorporated in a large “battlefield” simulator system under development. The new system will allow complex battlefield situations to be practiced, including multiple vehicles in the air and on the ground.
Besides training, the AATC also has a major role in research and development for operations and new equipment. The AATC has in its inventory all eight helicopter types that are currently operational with the Aviazione dell’Esercito. The AB206, a license built Bell 206 Jet Ranger) is mainly used for advanced helicopter flight training. The A109, AB205 (Bell 205), AB212 (Bell 212), AB412 (Bell 412), A129 and CH-47C are used for type qualification and operational task training, while the NH90 and A129 are also used for current development and testing programmes.
Operational Flying Units at Viterbo
Besides the Army Aviation Training Centre, Viterbo is also home to several operational Army flying units. The 1st Regiment “Antares” and the 28th Squadron Group “Tucano” are both located on Viterbo Airport “T.Fabbri,” whereas the Army Aviation Training Centre is housed at the adjacent heliport. The 1st Regiment operates the CH-47C and the AB412, while the 28th Gr.Sq. operates the Dornier Do.228. 28th Gr.Sq. also operates the Piaggio P.180, but these aircraft are based at Roma-Ciampino.
Heavy Lifters
In 1976, the 1st Regiment received the first of a total of 36 CH-47Cs, of which some 22 remain operational with the regiment’s 11th Group Squadron “Ercole.” Replacement of the present C-model by the F-model Chinook is expected around 2011 or 2012. As Colonel Centritto, Commander of 1st Regiment “Antares,” explained, “A few C-model Chinooks have already been sold to the United Arab Emirates; probably, more will follow in the future. These aircraft will actually be sold to the Agusta company, which then sells them to the UAE after refurbishing the aircraft. Besides a major overhaul, the refurbishment includes an avionics update and a pressurised fuel system.”
The 1st Regiment’s main task is operational support of Italian Army ground units, both at home and abroad. Its secondary tasks include fire-fighting and medical evacuation. In the past, the 1st Regiment has been deployed to Bosnia, Kosovo and Iraq. The “ITALAIR” detachment in support of UN operations in Lebanon, was originally a detachment of the 1st Regiment as well. Active since 1979, ITALAIR is now a separate aviation battalion of the AvEs, with four AB212/AB412-type helicopters. Currently, the 1st Regiment has a detachment of three CH-47s in Afghanistan, in support of the ISAF mission there.
Special Ops
26th Group Squadron “Iove,” the 1st Regiment’s other Group Squadron, operates eight AB412 helicopters. Like the Chinooks, the 412s are night vision goggle (NVG)-capable and some have been fitted with a nose-mounted weather radar.
In 2002, 26th Gr.Sq. was designated as a Special Operations squadron, known as REOS (Reparto Elicotteri Operazioni Speciali, Special Operations Helicopter Unit). For this mission the 26th also uses some CH-47s from the 1st Regiment pool alongside its AB412s. The twin-engined, four-bladed AB412 offers more speed, agility and reliability than the earlier AB205 and AB 212, making it an excellent mount for special operations duties.
New Aircraft
The 26th has been selected as the Army’s first operational unit to receive the NH90 TTH (Tactical Transport Helicopter). Four NH90s have been delivered to the unit, all in the Intermediate Operational Capability (IOC) configuration. This includes initial software and mission equipment suitable for operational testing and training. In the IOC configuration, it is not possible to use the rear ramp. In the future, all IOC aircraft will be upgraded to FOC (Full Operational Capability) standard. Ultimately, six NH90s will replace the eight AB412s now flown by the 26th Gr.Sq. Although the 412 is regarded as an almost ideal special operations platform, the NH90 will provide a major improvement. Besides having a higher payload, larger cargo bay and a rear ramp, the NH90 is also equipped with several features lacking in the AB412. It has a weather radar and FLIR, both mounted in the nose, as well as fly-by-wire controls and helmet-mounted displays.
A total of 60 NH90s are on ordre, as a replacement for some of the Army’s AB205, AB212 and AB412 helicopters. Most of the NH90s will be delivered to the 5th Aviation Regiment “Rigel," based at Casarsa and the 7th Aviation Regiment “Vega," based at Rimini. However, many personnel still expect a long service life for the venerable Huey. As one of the pilots at Viterbo adapted a previously-used expression, “When the last NH90 is put into storage, the crew will be picked up by a 205.”
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank Colonel Centritto and Warrant Officer Rigon of the Italian Army and Ms. Beek and Ms. Ben Yakov of the Dutch Embassy in Rome, for their assistance in creating this article.
