Helicopter Rescue Specialists – Urgent request for snow-ice training. – CONAPO

The helicopter rescue personnel reported to this CONAPO OS the need for specific training of the “snow and ice” training package.

The recent and increasingly frequent interventions, which also appeared in the mass media (https://www.vigilfuoco.tv/piemonte/cuneo/frabosa-sottana/cuneo-salvati-dai-vigili-del-fuoco-tre-alpinisti-sul -monte-mondole https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-europe-68596923), of rescue operations carried out by the crews of the aircraft of the National Corps’ air fleet are proof of this urgent training need to protect of rescue and safety of the operators themselves.

Unfortunately, however, we are told that approximately 90% of helicopter rescue specialistsemployed daily in interventions in inaccessible areas and at high altitudes, has incredibly not yet had the possibility of accessing the necessary and foreseen “snow and ice” training.

A fact which, if confirmed, turns out to be truly worrying and above all paradoxical given that the transit of helicopter rescuers in the airborne specialty has already occurred for years.

Having said this, remembering that helicopter rescuers are exposed, daily and throughout the national territory, to the risks associated with snowy environments, the verticality that the mountain environment entails and the danger of avalanches (especially in the spring period), this OS CONAPO asks to urgently launch “snow and ice” courses throughout the national territory in order to guarantee the safety of operators and rescue for citizens.

Certain of an effective and timely intervention, we await your kind response. Best regards.