Catania-Fontanarossa Maristaeli (MARISTAELI Catania)

Catania-Fontanarossa Maristaeli is an active Italian Navy (Marina Militare) airbase located at Catania Fontanarossa, Italy. It is one of three naval airbases in Italy, reporting to the Aviation Forces Command (COMFORAER) under the Commander in Chief of the Naval Fleet (CINCNAV). The facility was officially established on February 13, 1963, when the Italian Air Force permanently transferred infrastructure to the Navy. Its operations originate from the 1st Helicopter Group formed at Augusta Terrevecchie in 1956, which relocated to Catania in 1959. New facilities were constructed south of the airport and delivered to the Navy in December 1967. The 2nd Helicopter Group was established at the base in 1964, followed by the 3rd Helicopter Group in 1968. The 1st Group subsequently relocated to Luni in 1971.

The base operates as the primary training center for Italian Naval Aviation. It houses the Courses and Internships Office, which trains flight specialists, officers, non-commissioned officers, flight operators, and Coast Guard aviation personnel. Catania-Fontanarossa Maristaeli hosts the 2nd Helicopter Group (2º Grupelicot) and the 3rd Helicopter Group (3º Grupelicot). The 2nd Group conducts Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) training and provides technical and logistical support for helicopters embarked on naval vessels stationed at Augusta. The 3rd Group conducts ASW operations from the base and aboard naval vessels. The installation command also manages administrative and logistical services for the stationed groups and oversees the Detached Operational Base (DOB) of Pantelleria.

The 2nd Group operates AB 212 ASW helicopters, and the 3rd Group operates EH-101 ASW and HEW (Helicopter Early Warning) helicopters. Base infrastructure includes a Technical Service department, a Flight Safety Equipment Center, and a "Dilbert Dunker" facility, operational since 1969, used for aircraft ditching and water survival training.