Flight & Training Operations - Alenia Aermacchi

Via Campania, 45
00187 Rome - Italy
Press Office
Tel. +39 06 42088985
pressoffice@alenia.it
A Finmeccanica Company
June 2011
Alenia Aeronautica’s / Alenia Aermacchi’s Flight & Training Operations: one only team to lead the
company towards new successes
The Flight & Training Operations Department of Finmeccanica’s Aeronautics Sector, led by Alenia
Aeronautica, provides an essential contribution for the development and integration of the weapon systems,
such as high-performance defence aircraft, basic and advanced trainer aircraft, military transport and
commercial and unmanned aircraft.
The Flight & Training Operations Department is also responsible, through the Head of Training Centre, of
managing, coordinating and integrating the training classes approved for the flight crews, as established by
the contractual commitments, as well as integrating theoretical classes with trainer flight activities and
updating publications of interest. Flight & Training Operations are regularly carried out at Caselle (near
Turin) and Capodichino (near Naples) sites, at Alenia Aermacchi in Venegono Superiore (near Varese), and
in Sardinia, at Decimomannu’s air base, by a highly-skilled team made of seven test pilots, a flight instructor
and a testing navigator. This group represents the “first line” of the Flight & Training Operations’ team,
directly under the responsibility of the Alenia Aeronautica’s Chief Operations Officer.
All team members come from the Italian Air Force where they have developed meaningful operational
experience and acquired test pilot and/or instructor qualifications. After the twenty-year experience in the
Armed Forces and, for some, also in the civil aviation sector as quality commanders/instructors, the pilots
have joined Alenia Aeronautica’s team. The Director of Flight & Training Operations, Commander Marco
Venanzetti, works in close cooperation with other team members to manage all the flight activities carried
out at Alenia sites and of the several Customers in Italy and in the rest of the world.
The group is currently accomplishing flight tests on several airplanes: C-27J tactical transport aircraft,
Eurofighter Typhoon multi-role fighter, M-346, MB339 and SF260 trainers, Tornado MLU, AM-X ACOL,
ATR42 MP and UAV Sky-Y demonstrator.
The team is also engaged in the development of other international programmes like nEUROn UCAV
Demonstrator and Sukhoi SuperJet 100, and will contribute to the development and introduction in service
of the F-35 JSF (Joint Strike Fighter).
The team makes an average 3,000 flight hours per year.
By far beyond the attractive idea of “top-gun” pilots, these professionals are involved in each phase of
design and development of Alenia Aeronautica’s products, with the aim of achieving a progressive
improvement and providing an innovative approach towards the success of the company’s projects.
Marco Venanzetti (Chief of Flight & Training Operations)
Born in Rome in 1962, he enrolled in the Italian Air Force in 1982, where he stayed, as combat aircraft pilot
and test pilot, until 1998, when he joined Alenia Aeronautica. Commander Venanzetti has reached over
5,500 flight hours on over 80 different aircraft types and has contributed to the development and flight tests
of the Eurofighter Typhoon, Tornado e AM-X programmes.
Enrico Scarabotto (Chief Pilot of Transport and Combat Aircraft)
Born in Ancona in 1964, he enrolled in the Italian Air Force in 1983, where he stayed, as combat aircraft
pilot, until 2000, when he joined Alenia Aeronautica. Commander Scarabotto has reached over 4,500 flight
hours on over 35 different types of aircraft and has contributed to the development of the C-27J, Eurofighter
Typhoon, Tornado, AM-X and UAV programmes.
Finmeccanica’s aeronautical sector is led by Alenia Aeronautica and includes the wholly owned companies Alenia Aermacchi and
Alenia North America, together with its participation in jvs and consortia like ATR, SuperJet International, Eurofighter and GMAS.
Finmeccanica’s aeronautical sector has a role of primary importance in the world’s civil and defence aeronautical industry, counts a
total workforce of ca. 12,600 people and operates in the design, development, production and integrated support of commercial and
military aircraft, trainers, unmanned aerial vehicles and aerostructures. In 2010 it reported revenues of € 2.8 billions, orders of € 2.5
billions and a backlog of € 8.6 billions.

Mario Mutti (Supervisor of Standardization, Evaluation & Training Quality)
Born in Milan in 1966, he enrolled in the Italian Air Force in 1985, where he stayed, as combat aircraft pilot
and test pilot, until 2001. After a civil aviation experience as Commander / Instructor, he joined Alenia
Aeronautica in 2004. Commander Mutti has reached 8,000 flight hours on 60 different types of aircraft.
Quirino Bucci (Chief Pilot of Trainer Aircraft)
Born in Rome in 1964, he enrolled in the Italian Air Force in 1984, where he stayed, as combat aircraft pilot
and test pilot, until 2001. After a civil aviation experience as Commander / Instructor, he joined Alenia
Aermacchi in 2005. Commander Bucci has reached over 6,000 flight hours over 50 different types of
aircraft.
Gianni Ammoniaci (Test piIot)
Born in Forlì in 1956, he enrolled in the Italian Air Force in 1975, where he stayed, as combat aircraft pilot
and test pilot, until 2000. After a civil aviation experience as Commander /Instructor, he joined Alenia
Aeronautica in 2006. Commander Ammoniaci has reached over 9,000 flight hours on different types of
aircraft.
Matteo Maurizio (Test Pilot)
Born in Rome in 1972, he enrolled in the Italian Air Force in 1991, where he stayed, as combat aircraft pilot
and test pilot, until 2008, when he joined Alenia Aeronautica.
Commander Maurizio has reached over 4,300 flight hours on 50 different types of aircraft.
Giampaolo Goattin (Production Test Pilot)
Born in 1967 in Verona, he enrolled in the Italian Air Force in 1986, where he stayed, as combat aircraft
pilot and production pilot / instructor, until 2007, when he joined Alenia Aeronautica. Commander Goattin
has reached over 3,500 flight hours on different types of aircraft.
Gregorio Marchegiani (Instructor Pilot)
Born in 1966 in Milan, he enrolled in the Italian Air Force in 1985, where he stayed, as pilot and instructor of
the C-130J aircraft, until 2010, when he joined Alenia Aeronautica supporting training activities as instructor
of the C-27J aircraft. Commander Marchegiani has reached over 9,000 flight hours.
Marcello Battaglia (Test pilot)
Born in Rome in 1956, he enrolled in the Italian Air Force in 1975, where he stayed, as Tornado
navigator/operator, and as test pilot, until 2000, when he joined Alenia Aeronautica. Commander Battaglia
has reached about 3,500 flight hours on over 15 different types of aircraft.