The collaborative alliance between the Italian Army Aviation, Qatari Emiri Air Force (QEAF), and the Leonardo Company has successfully accomplished 2000 flight hours training Qatari crews aboard the NH-90 helicopter. This expert training for Qatari personnel stands as one of the pivotal activities undertaken by Army Aviation, emphasizing its ongoing position as a premier flight school for military helicopters.
AVES Commander, Major General Andrea Di Stasio, who was present at the pilots’ graduation ceremony, highlighted that “the interactions with Qatar today, alongside previous endeavors benefitting various allied and friendly nations, as well as the upcoming collaboration with Austria regarding LUH (Light Utility Helicopter), underscore the international relevance of the Italian Army Aviation in the domain of military training flight, serving as a cornerstone for fostering international partnerships and military cooperation.
Furthermore, Fabrizio Peano, Head of the Training Academy at Leonardo Helicopters, was also in attendance. During his address, he remarked, “We take pride in supporting this vital program for Qatar, contributing not only helicopters but also essential training services and leveraging strong synergies with the Italian Army. Through this collaboration, together with the national Armed Forces, we are able to impart a unique operational experience directly from Italy to the end user.”
Colonel QAEF Hamad Al Hajri, the Senior Qatar Officer Representative in Italy, expressed gratitude towards AVES and Leonardo for their effective support, showing satisfaction at the high training standards achieved by their flight crews.
Throughout the three years since the initiation of the “Qatar program,” there has been a collective effort that led to the achievement of 2,000 flight hours on NH-90 helicopters, complemented by 2,500 hours on the flight simulator. The Army Aviation has successfully translated the expertise gained from numerous operational experiences, thus providing foreign colleagues with a “training platform” for the military applications of the aircraft, aimed at maximizing realism.
At the conclusion of the event, the AVES Commander, along with QAEF and Leonardo representatives, conveyed their genuine and collective appreciation for the synergistic initiative, looking forward to further opportunities and partnerships in this particular sector.
Army Aviation Statement
The NH-90 helicopter has been operational in the Army Aviation since 2007. Over these years, the units utilizing this aircraft have garnered significant operational experience, both nationally and internationally, across a variety of mission types that this versatile aircraft enables.
“Fostering international partnerships and military collaboration.”
