controversy about the helicopters of the Fire Brigade without the instrumentation to fly by night and on those of the forest, absorbed fromcarabinieri the effect of reform Store, firm in the base of operations of Rieti and the whole central Italy is in an emergency for the earthquake, and under the snow. The deputies M5s Patrizia Terzoni and Massimiliano Bernini and senator Elena Fattori, presented a question where they ask for "the immediate release of the helicopters of the Forest", since "as we know from the news, the former base of operations of the helicopte rs of the State Forestry corps of Rieti, at the airport Ciuffelli, is currently closed with three helicopters stopped for thecompletion of the technical and bureaucratic procedures for the acquisition from part of the Arma dei Carabinieri and the Fire Brigade". The Weapon in the evening he pointed out that the base is open, but in his note he explained that in fact, among those stoppages for maintenance and those that are not able to operate in these conditions, there is no means available for the rescue operation in the area.
the Sources of the former trade unions of the forest service claim that the helicopters of the Body were turned to civilian use, and the conversion to military use, the request to transit to the Police – it would be extremely complex in addition expensive. the Antonio Brizzi, general secretary of Conapo, the trade union independent of the Fire, said then that the Firefighters were not equipped with the tools and the number of pilots needed to fly the helicopters at night in case of need of rescue. "And we talk about those helicopters that already on August 24, 2016, have had to wait for the light to transport Firefighters in the areas affected by the earthquake remained isolated," he stressed Brizzi. "Those same helicopters that also this morning, before dawn, they carried the rescuers to the hotel Rigopiano. Our Fire Department, 5 months from the first shock, are in a logistical situation was surreal, with tents buried in snow, cold and with items of clothing and footwear are not suited to ice and snow, the same that are used in the fire".
In the evening, the general command of the Carabinieri stated that "the operational base of helicopters of Rieti, located at the airport Ciuffelli, already in use at the State Forestry corps and, from 1 January 2017 gained from the Weapon is not closed". "With regard to the use of helicopters transferred, based in Rieti and Pescara, by the State Forestry corps to the “Arma dei Carabinieri” – is still read in the note – it must be clarified that the NH500, efficient, are not in a position to operate in the snowy areas in the current conditions while the three AB 412 transferred to the Weapon one is operating in the north of Italy, and the other two are inefficient to months, in the expectation of extraordinary interventions of maintenance, as well as the three of 109". In practice "they are efficient and use" only "the three AB412 already belonging to the Carabinieri, and in his time cleared of asbestos, sent in the bases, already belonging to the Forest of Rieti and Pescara, active air missions of verification risks avalanche, with on board experts from the Carabinieri, the Forest. The aircraft are also useful to provide assistance to breeders, being able to transport hay and food for the animals," concludes the general command.
