Today we have the rather rare opportunity to track an Italian Air Force ATR P-72A (reg. MM62279 – f/n IAM4101) during the entirety of a patrol mission in the Sicily Channel.
The aircraft, taking off around 08:00 CET from Sigonella and returning here around 14:15, first covered the stretch of sea along southern Sicily before heading south, repeatedly traversing the stretch of sea between Tunisia and Lampedusa.
![](https://i0.wp.com/www.itamilradar.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/image-9.png?resize=681%2C439&ssl=1)
It’s interesting to note how it consistently operated at an altitude of around 5,000 feet at a speed of approximately 160 knots.