Qatari Emiri Air Force officers visit Italian Air Force flight training school

Italian Air Force T-346A trainer jet.

On July 11, the Chief of Staff of the Italian Air Force, Gen. Luca Goretti, received the Qatar Emiri Air Force Deputy Commander, Brig. Gen. Hazza Nasser Al-Shahwani, during the Airmen to Airmen Talks (AtAK) held at the Italian Air Force Palace in Rome.

During the meeting, Gen. Goretti and Gen. Al Shahwani took stock the current cooperation between the Air Forces of the two countries, focusing on the flight training of Qatar Emiri Air Force personnel.

The day before the AtAK, a Qatari delegation visited the Italian Air Force flight training school at the 61st Wing in Galatina, Italy. In Galatina they were welcomed by the base commander, Col. Alberto Surace, who introduced them to a detailed briefing on the phases and the training opportunity offered by the flight school.

The officers had the opportunity to visit the Integrated Training System (ITS) - T346 where Lead-In Fighter Training (LIFT) takes place. It is the most advanced phase intended for fighter aircraft pilots.

Furthermore, during the visit to the GBTS (Ground Based Training System) building, which hosts the flight simulators, they were attracted by the LVC (Live, Virtual and Constructive) philosophy that allows students in real flight (live) to operate with students in the simulator (virtual), interfacing with any type of computer-generated force/threat (constructive).

Members of Qatar Emiri Air Force have already had the opportunity to appreciate the peculiarities of the T-346 system on the occasion of the Middle East Tour organized by the Italian Air Force together with Leonardo SpA in November 2018, and during their previous visit to Galatina AB on 15 April, 2019.

Written by Matteo Sanzani
Source, Images (last two): Italian Air Force