During the month of August the AFM’s King Air maritime patrol aircraft, were deployed to Brindisi, Italy to participate in the FRONTEX sponsored Operation Aeneas. This deployment was split between two separate air crews.
FRONTEX, the European Agency for the Management of the External Borders of the EU regularly sponsors operational areas around European member state borders in an effort to monitor illegal activities such as irregular migration and the trafficking of contraband. Operation Aeneas covers the Adriatic and Ionian Sea between the coasts of Italy, Greece, and Albania.
On the first of August one AFM King Air maritime patrol aircraft and a crew consisting of two pilots, two aircraft mission systems operators, and one ground engineer deployed to Brindisi Italy and immediately began carrying out surveillance missions in the area.
As scheduled, this crew was substituted on the 15 August with a second crew that returned back to Malta on the 31 of August.
Operation Aeneas patrols consisted mainly of night air patrols covering parts of the Adriatic and Ionian Seas. Both crews achieved a high level of success in interdicting irregular migrants and contraband at sea.
The participation and success of the Maltese crews even made it into the Italian news media after finding a ship transporting migrants towards the Italian shores and a fast boat smuggling narcotics into Albania. The AFM received very encouraging remarks from Frontex Command Headquarters in Poland as the AFM personnel were commended for their “professionalism and commitment demonstrated throughout the deployment.”
The logistical and operational experience gained by the participation of AFM aircrew in such joint operations has proved to be an excellent opportunity for the AFM. Apart from establishing valuable military-to-military relations with foreign counterparts, this deployment broadens the knowledgebase of AFM personnel that then translates into the enhancement of the AFM’s air capabilities within the Maltese area of operations.
Air Wing personnel taking part in Aeneas:
Crew 1: Lieutenant Pierre Carabez – Copilot Warrant Office 1 Aldo Borg – Pilot Warrant Office 2 Norman Sciberras – Lead Mission System Operator Sergeant Harold Titley – Aircraft Engineer Lance Bombardier John Louis Cassar – Mission System Operator
Crew 2: Warrant Office 1 Loreto Spiteri – Pilot Warrant Office 2 Mark Brincat – Copilot Warrant Office 2 Ivan Saliba – Aircraft Engineer Bombardier Gordon Galea – Lead Mission System Operator Bombardier Bernie Scicluna – Mission System Operator
A video relating to the above was compiled by the AFM PI CELL