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.
It’s interesting to note how it consistently operated at an altitude of around 5,000 feet at a speed of approximately 160 knots.