# 2nd Army Aviation Support Regiment "Orione"

The 2nd Army Aviation Support Regiment "Orione" (Italian: 2° Reggimento Sostegno Aviazione dell'Esercito "Orione") is an Italian Army unit based at Borgo Panigale Airport near Bologna in the Emilia Romagna. The regiment is part of the Italian Army's army aviation and assigned to the Army Aviation Support Brigade. The regiment provides 2nd-line maintenance, upgrade and test services for the NH90 transport helicopters of the 3rd Special Operations Helicopter Regiment "Aldebaran", 5th Army Aviation Regiment "Rigel", and 7th Army Aviation Regiment "Vega".

## History

On 1 March 1957, the 2nd Army Light Aircraft Repairs Unit was formed in Bologna. In 1959, the unit was renamed 2nd Army Light Aviation Repairs Unit. In 1962, the unit moved from Bologna to Borgo Panigale Airport. At the time the unit consisted of a command, a command squadron, a supply section, an inspection and recovery section, an aircraft maintenance and repair section, a helicopter maintenance and repair section, and a subsystems repair section. The unit provided technical-logistical services for all of the army's flying units in northeastern Italy and the Tuscan-Emilian Military Region.
On 12 December 1989, the President of the Italian Republic Francesco Cossiga granted the unit a flag. In 1990, the unit consisted of a command, an administration office, an aviation materiel office, a general services department, a technical department, and aircraft squadron. On 2 June 1993, the unit was renamed 2nd Army Aviation Repairs Unit. On 1 September 1996, the unit was renamed 2nd Army Aviation Support Regiment "Orione".
On 1 June 1999, the Army Aviation was assigned to the Italian Army's Cavalry Arm as a speciality of the arm. Consequently, the 3rd Army Aviation Support Regiment "Orione" was renamed 3rd Air Cavalry Support Regiment "Orione". On 3 November 2003, the Air Cavalry left the Italian Army's Cavalry Arm and became, as Army Aviation Specialty, a separate speciality of the Italian Army. Consequently, the 3rd Air Cavalry Support Regiment "Orione" was renamed 3rd Army Aviation Support Regiment "Orione". In 2012, the regiment was assigned to the Army Aviation Support Command, which, on 31 July 2019, was renamed Army Aviation Support Brigade.

## Naming

Since the 1975 army reform Italian Army aviation units are named for celestial objects: aviation support regiments are numbered with a single digit and named for one of the 88 modern constellations. As in 1996 the 2nd Army Aviation Repairs Unit was supporting the 5th Army Aviation Regiment "Rigel", which was named for Rigel, the brightest star in the Orion (Italian: Orione) constellation, the army decided to name the 2nd Army Aviation Support Regiment "Orione" to affirm the two regiments' relationship. As the regiment was founded in the city of Bologna the regiment's coats of arms fourth quarter depicts Bologna's coat of arms.

## Organization

As of 2024 the 2nd Army Aviation Support Regiment "Orione" is organized as follows:
* 2nd Army Aviation Support Regiment "Orione", at Borgo Panigale Airport
** Command and Logistic Support Squadron
** Maintenance Unit
** Flight Squadron (AB 206 helicopters)
** Quality Control Section