Brigata Sostegno Aviazione dell’Esercito Italiano – Italian Army Aviation Support Brigade

Author: Ian French
Photography: Ian French

The Brigata Sostegno Aviazione dell’Esercito reports to the Comando Aviazione dell-Esercito and consists of four regiments which have existed for many many years. The regiments all have/had their own aircraft/helicopters which were used as base flights and to support operations.

Personnel are sent to the various regiments and on deployments to support the operational regiments as required. All types in the fleet have regular maintenance inspections every 25 flying hours and these are undertaken by the individual operational regiments. More major maintenance occurs at 100, 250 or 300 hours and is typically undertaken at one of the maintenance regiments below.

1° Reggimento di Sostegno Aviazione dell’Esercito ‘Idra’ at Bracciano

1° Reggimento di Sostegno Aviazione dell’Esercito can trace its origins back to 1953 when the 1 Light Aircraft Repair Department (1 Reparto Riparazione Aviazione Leggera dell’Esercito (“RRALE”)) was established at Bracciano.

Bracciano is the oldest army airfield and the only one owned by the army. In 1996 the unit’s name was changed to 1° Reggimento di Sostegno Aviazione dell’Esercito. The unit provided technical-logistical services for all of the army’s flying units in central and southern Italy, including Sicily and Sardinia. The unit also served as the central depot for all of the army’s aviation units.
1° Reggimento has acted as a major store for withdrawn aircraft and helicopters in the past but recent years have seen a major clear out of anything stored. Today the base has a state of the art automated warehouse with thousands of product lines. All aviation spare parts arriving for the army first come to Bracciano.
1° Reggimento is responsible for second line maintenance, upgrade and testing on the AB205, AB206, AB212, AB412 & A109 (now withdrawn).

2° Reggimento di Sostegno Aviazione dell’Esercito ‘Orione’ at Bologna/Borgo Panigale

2° Reggimento was established in 1957 as 2 RRALE and was initially responsible for gauranteeing the quality of second level maintenance on the fleet’s aircraft and helicopters.

The unit provided technical-logistical services for all of the army’s flying units in north eastern Italy and the Tuscan-Emilian Military Region. Since 2010 2° Reggimento has been the technical logistics hub for the NH-90, Europe’s first completely fly by wire helicopter. The unit works very closely with the manufacturer. The NH90 represents a major step change in technology and materials and 2° Reggimento has been at the forefront in developing maintenance processes and techniques to support and develope the NH90.
2° Reggimento is responsible for second level maintenance, upgrade and test services on the AB205 & NH90 as well as all fuel tank systems and flight helmets.

3° Reggimento di Sostegno Aviazione dell’Esercito ‘Aquila’ at Bergamo/Orio al Serio

3° Reggimento was established in 1965 as 3 RRALE to provide increased support for the Army’s new helicopters, the AB204 & AB205.

In 1977 3 RRALE also became responsible for developing and maintaining weapons systems. Today 3° Reggimento is a technical hub for the A129 fleet, weapons systems & NVGs, fire fighting vehicles and special products.

4° Reggimento di Sostegno Aviazione dell’Esercito ‘Scorpione’ at Viterbo

4° Reggimento was established in 1976 as the CH-47 Technical Logistics Unit. It became 4° Reggimento in 1996.

Today it is responsible for training maintenance personnel, maintaining and developing the CH-47F, Do228, P-180 and various drones as well as aviation flight systems, self-protection systems, flight simulators, survival materials and tents for aircraft shelter.

Aviation Press would like to thank Lt Colonel Carofalo, Chief of Public Information Office of the Italian Army Aviation HQ in Viterbo, the MOD Attache Rome and Mark Forest, Editor of Aviation Reporting UK for their assistance in arranging our visits and our very generous hosts WO4 Luigi Cortesi of 1° Reggimento di Sostegno Aviazione dell’Esercito ‘Idra’, WO4 Rocco Cavallo of 2° Reggimento di Sostegno Aviazione dell’Esercito ‘Orione’, Maj. Massimiliano Ricci of 3° Reggimento di Sostegno Aviazione dell’Esercito ‘Aquila’ and Capt. Ruben Monti of 4° Reggimento di Sostegno Aviazione dell’Esercito ‘Scorpione’.

A129D at Bergamo

A line of A129CBT & A129D at Bergamo

MM80441 AB205A coded EI251 preserved at Bologna

MM80445 AB205A coded EI253 preserved at Bergamo

MM80535 AB205A coded EI283 at Bracciano

MM80536 AB205A coded EI284 at Bologna

MM80542 AB205A coded EI290 preserved at Bologna

MM80558 AB205A coded EI306 preserved at Bracciano

MM80620 AB206C-1 coded EI559 preserved at Bolzano

MM80623 AB206C-1 coded EI562 preserved at Bergamo

MM80639 AB206C-1 coded EI578 at Bracciano

MM80644 AB206C-1 coded EI583 & MM80912 coded EI644 at Bracciano

MM80644 AB206C-1 coded EI583 at Bracciano

MM80690 AB205A coded EI319 of the Base Flight Bergamo

MM80901 AB206C-1 coded EI633 and displayed at Bracciano

MM80905 AB206C-1 coded EI637 at Bracciano

MM81248 A109 coded EI871 at Bracciano being prepared for display

MM81319 A129D coded EI906 at Bergamo

MM81392 A129D coded EI922 at Bergamo

MM81408 A129D coded EI938 at Bergamo

MM81428 A129CBT coded EI958 at Bergamo

MM81499 AB212 coded EI416 at Bracciano

MM81524 NH90TTH coded EI207 at Bologna and ready for delivery

MM81527 NH90TTH coded EI210 of 27GrSq at Bologna

MM81539 NH90TTH coded EI222 at Bologna

MM81544 NH90TTH coded EI227 at Bologna

MM81785 ICH-47F coded EI708 of 11GrSq at Viterbo

MM81791 ICH-47F coded EI714 of 11GrSq at Viterbo

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