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The Aeronautica Militare Italiana, the Italian Air Force, accepted its new National Training Center at Pisa AB, Italy, on 3 April. Lockheed Martin led a team composed of Italian industry leaders in the design, building, and completion of the facility. The center will be used primarily to conduct C-130J aircrew and maintenance training. The initial equipment in the two-story, 57,000-square-foot facility includes an operational flight trainer and a cockpit avionics part task trainer designed and built by CAE in Tampa, Florida. The building’s design allows for a second operational flight trainer to be installed. The center includes classroom and training space for other aircraft programs as well. Italy is Europe’s second-largest C-130J operator, with a total of twenty-two aircraft on order. The Italian configuration of the C-130J is among the most sophisticated yet. It has a highly advanced suite of communications and defensive systems that include combined multiband radios and a laser warning receiver system. In addition, it is the first C-130 with the ability to both refuel other aircraft and to be refueled itself during flight. |
