This is the oldest air base in Italy, located not far north of Rome, close to the beautiful Lago di Bracciano.

At Bracciano, we met with First Lieutenant John Carlo and Lieutenant Converi Federico, who showed us around the operations conducted there and introduced us to their colleagues responsible for specific areas of activity.

Depot maintenance for the AB205, AB206, AB212, and AB412 helicopters is undertaken here. In previous years, Bracciano also had responsibility for the A109. Bracciano also serves as a training school for technicians, who learn their trade here. They can then either continue to work at Bracciano or provide first-level maintenance at any of the Army helicopter bases across the country. The importance of this technical training cannot be overstated. Without day-to-day technical support, whether engineering or software, the Army helicopters across the country could not maintain the readiness levels necessary to carry out their range of military activities and to support and assist in local civil emergencies.

Alongside this training of technicians is the logistical operations team, another key component. Trained technicians require access to equipment and parts, ranging from small panels to rotor hubs. The personnel at Bracciano have created a logistics hub, working with industry to store and provide spares for Army helicopter operations across the country. This is no small feat and is carried out by a highly experienced and proficient team who, back in 2000, developed an automated warehousing system, which has since been upgraded. It is now fully automated, providing a 24-hour response for parts needed to keep the Army’s helicopters flying.

At the time of our visit, it was not known which helicopter type would be chosen to replace models such as the AB205. Whether it is the AW169 or another model, it is highly likely that key departmental support for that helicopter will be provided by the personnel at Bracciano.

This is an extremely impressive operation, and Aviation Reporting is truly grateful to our guides and their colleagues for providing insight into the depth of work carried out here—work critical to keeping the Army flying.

Author: Peter Nelson

Photography: Peter Nelson & Michael Williams