MaltaMedia.com

The Armed Forces of Malta’s Air Wing recently hosted at their Luqa Airport base a U.S. Navy MH-60S “Knighthawk” helicopter from HSC-28 DET 1 stationed in Naples, Italy to conduct joint training.The exercise featured numerous group lectures in subjects such as instrument flying, ship board flight operations, search and rescue procedures, and maintenance practices designed to increase interoperability and safety.

The Air Wing’s Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Claudio Spiteri stated “We’re very happy to start the year training with other professional forces that are called upon to perform in similar roles.” He continued to add “that such training is a good lead in to future joint operations between the Air Wing and US forces.”

While no flight operations were conducted by the AFM, Maltese air crews were exposed to various methods of accomplishing the various tasks that helicopters are called upon to perform in a safe and efficient manner. Independent of the AFM, the U.S. Navy team flew a one hour training flight to practice air traffic control (ATC) communications and procedures with the controllers from Malta Air Traffic Services (MATS).

U.S. Ambassador Douglas Kmiec recognized the successful partnership between Malta and the United States, and praised the AFM’s leadership role in organizing maritime training programs for the entire Mediterranean region at the AFM’s Maritime Safety and Security Training Center at Safi Barracks. “I know the safety and security of the Mediterranean is a shared and primary concern of the United States and Malta. This sophisticated training by the very best of the U.S. Navy is reserved for nations in which the U. S. has special confidence and with which we have an abiding friendship. Malta ranks highly on both counts.”

Last year the AFM’s Air Wing carried out over 1,300 flights and was called upon to perform 31 rescues both locally and from vessels offshore.