Rotorcraft
Italians Honored by Sikorsky Humanitarian Service Award
A daring rescue at sea over 72 hours took teamwork and stamina to succeed.
The Italian-flag ferry Norman Atlantic burned in high winds at sea, putting the lives of nearly 500 in peril. Italian military helicopter pilots plucked them all to safety one at a time.
The Italian-flag ferry Norman Atlantic burned in high winds at sea, putting the lives of nearly 500 in peril. Italian military helicopter pilots plucked them all to safety one at a time.

Of the nine Salute to Excellence Awards distributed each year during Heli-Expo, the Sikorsky Humanitarian Service Award stands out because it honors those who use helicopters for the missions that Igor Sikorsky first envisioned: saving lives. The Italian coast guard’s 2nd Nucleo Aereo; the Italian navy’s Gruppo Elicotteri 1 and Gruppo Elicotteri 3; and the Italian air force’s 15th Stormo 84th and 15th Stormo 85th Centro CSAR were awarded the Sikorsky Humanitarian Service award during Heli-Expo 2016, for their part in a massive marine helicopter rescue mission off the coast of Italy in the last days of 2014.