WASHINGTON — Further limits are being placed on low-altitude U.S. military test flights over Italy after a high-level review of the ski gondola accident that killed 20 people more than a year ago.
The procedure approved by Defense Secretary William S. Cohen and Italian Defense Minister Carlo Scognamiglio requires approval of a newly designated U.S. official and an Italian base commander for all such flights. It also limits flights lower than 2,000 feet to 25% of training sorties from Aviano Air Base in Italy. Special approval will be required for low-altitude flights from aircraft carriers or from units not permanently based in Italy.
