Italian Air Force, Leonardo sign management agreement for International Flight Training School

Eng. Lucio Valerio Cioffi, Head of Aircraft Division of Leonardo S.p.A. and General Air Team Luca Goretti, Chief of Staff of the Italian Air Force, sign management agreement for International Flight Training School at Decimomannu AFB, Sardinia.

On July 28, 2020, the Italian Air Force and Leonardo signed an agreement that defines the rules for the management of their joint pilot training system, called the International Flight Training School - IFTS, at Decimomannu Air Force Base, Sardinia, Italy.

This agreement was signed by the General Air Team Luca Goretti, Chief of Staff of the Air Force, and by Eng. Lucio Valerio Cioffi, Head of Aircraft Division of Leonardo S.p.A.

The new training platform will be operational from the first half of 2022 and will become a reference point for the training of military pilots from all over the world, starting from Phase IV (Advanced/Lead-In Fighter Training).

Defense Minister Lorenzo Guerini defined the new International Flight School as "A major major project, which confirms the importance of the Region [Sardinia] for Defense and the role of the Air Force as Italian excellence. Decimomannu's choice was simple for the Ministry as the air base has an already operational and efficient structure. The establishment of the School will represent an important growth factor for the economy of the Region and for local businesses with a strong focus on environmental protection".

The IFTS project, which was born from the need to meet the growing demand of the Italian Air Force and partner countries for the training of their pilots, will allow to double the current training offer by creating the new training center at Decimomannu AFB.

The partnership between the Italian Air Force, which boasts a long experience in flight training, and Leonardo SpA, a leader in integrated training systems, will allow the armed force to optimize the cost/effectiveness of flight training while the company will strengthen its international role as a "Training Service Provider".

Written by Matteo Sanzani
Source, Image: Italian Air Force