Aviano Air Base
Aviano Air Base (IATA: AVB, ICAO: LIPA) (Italian: Base aerea di Aviano) is a base in northeastern Italy, in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region. It is located in the Aviano municipality, at the foot of the Carnic Pre-Alps or Southern Carnic Alps, about 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) from Pordenone.
| Aviano Air Base | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Aeroporto Pagliano e Gori di Aviano | |||||||
| Near Aviano, Friuli-Venezia Giulia in Italy | |||||||
A US Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon of the 31st Fighter Wing based at Aviano | |||||||
Aviano Aviano Aviano Aviano | |||||||
| Coordinates | 46°01′53″N 012°35′49″E | ||||||
| Type | Used by the US and Italian air forces | ||||||
| Site information | |||||||
| Owner | Ministry of Defence (Ministero della Difesa) | ||||||
| Operator | Italian Air Force (Aeronautica Militare) and US Air Force | ||||||
| Controlled by | Italy | ||||||
| Condition | Operational | ||||||
| Website | www | ||||||
| Site history | |||||||
| Built | 1911 | ||||||
| In use | 1911–1954 (Italian Air Force) 1954–present (Italian Air Force and US Air Force) | ||||||
| Garrison information | |||||||
| Current commander | Colonel Luca Crovatti | ||||||
| Garrison | 31st Fighter Wing | ||||||
| Occupants |
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| Airfield information | |||||||
| Identifiers | IATA: AVB, ICAO: LIPA, WMO: 160360 | ||||||
| Elevation | 125.8 metres (413 ft) AMSL | ||||||
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| Source: SkyVector Aeronautical Charts | |||||||
The Italian Air Force has ownership, and administrative and military control of the base. It hosts the U.S. Air Force's 31st Fighter Wing and per nuclear sharing is one of six active air bases in five European countries with B61 nuclear bombs in underground WS3 Weapon Storage and Security System inside aircraft shelters.
The 31st Fighter Wing is the only U.S. fighter wing south of the Alps. The 31st Fighter Wing is made up of two General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter squadrons, the 555th Fighter Squadron and the 510th Fighter Squadron, allowing it to fly both attack and defensive missions.