ICAO Code | LIED/DCI |
Last Validated | 11-2010 |
City | Decimomannu |
Position | 39°21'14"N 008°58'18"E |
Runway(s) | 17L/35R, 17R/35L |
Elevation | 100 ft |
After World War II, many air forces in western Europe restarted training their pilots and needed a large airfield with vast airspace and free ground surfaces with year-round good weather. Eventually, Decimomannu airfield on Sardinia island was chosen. Decimomannu air base is the home of AWTI, the Air Weapons Training Installation, established in 1960 by NATO partners Italy, Germany, Great Britain and Canada. This ACMI (Air Combat Manoeuvring Instrumentation) range complex includes computer monitored airspace for dissimilar air combact training (DACT) and a manned, scorable bombing range, the Frasca Range. In 1970, Canada was replaced as a partner by the USA.
Well into the 21st century, the International Flight Training School, IFTS, is the main player at Deci with its fleet of 22 M346s, used extensively by the Italian and German air forces along with other customers. The base also still hosts deployments by forces utilising the favourable weather and facilities. Finally, three small helicopter units of the AMI and Guardia Costiera are based here.
The airport is located east of the SS196. The runway is almost north-south orientated, and all aprons are on the west side, between the Ss196 and the runway. The is a helicopter apron on the NW side and a large freighter apron on the SW side.
The airbase is situated at North of Cagliari, between the villages of Decimomannu, Decimoputzu, San Sperate and Villasor. It can be reached from Cagliari via the SS130 which runs also along the airport. In Decimomannu, change to the SS196 towards Villasor and the airport will be at your right. The airport of Cagliari has many flights from mainland of Europe, operated by Ryanair, easyJet, Alitalia and Air Berlin. The other airport at Sardinia, Alghero is operated by Ryanair as well, but is 160 nm away from the base.
The ranges around Deci are also used by the Israeli Air and Space Force, hence the arrival of this F16B in october 2010, shot on spot 1. Photo by Claudio Tramontin.
Moving around at spot 2, these kind of pictures are also possible. However do not stay at the fence for too long. Photo by Claudio Tramontin.
279.175 | Ground |
122.100/140.400 | Tower |
257.800/284.375 | Tower |
118.750118.400/344.000 | Cagliari APP |
389.225/362.300 | Cagliari APP |
80° Centro SAR | HH-139 |
670ª Squadriglia Collegamenti | HH-101 |
4ª Sezione Volo Elicotteri | PH-139 |
IFTS | M346 |
MM6887/5-33/9-1 | F-104S-ASA-M, preserved at gate, spot 5. |
MM54376/SST-5 | MB326E, preserved behind gate at spot 5. |
MM51-17455/ SST-1 | T-33A, preserved behind gate at spot 5. |
MM54193/SST-1 | MB326, preserved next to tower, visible from the east side. |
MM80256/AWTI | AB47J.3, preserved near helicopter apron, spot 4 |
25+14 | F-104G, preserved behind gate, spot 5. |
XV758/R | Harrier GR3, preserved behind gate, spot 5. |
Decimomannu Website | unofficial website about Decimomannu and the AWTI exercises. |
Aviano | |
Bergamo - Orio al Serio   | |
Bolzano | |
Bracciano   | |
Decimomannu | |
Frosinone (Girolamo Moscardini)   | |
Ghedi   | |
Latina   | |
Milano - Linate | |
Milano - Malpensa | |
Piacenza-San Damiano   | |
Pratica di Mare   | |
Roma - Ciampino (Giovanni Battista Pastine)   | |
Treviso - Istrana | |
Varese - Venegono (Arturo Ferrarin)   | |
Vergiate   | |
Viterbo   |
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