From helicopters to snowmobiles: charges for unnecessary rescue operations are being introduced

One hour’s flight in a medium twin-engine helicopter operated by the Guardia di Finanza will cost more than 4,000 euros. One hour’s flight in a mini quadcopter drone, by contrast, will cost less than 100 euros. These are just two examples from the new fee schedule that the Ministry of the Economy has introduced to implement the provision of the 2026 Budget Law, which requires anyone who causes an operation to be carried out through wilful misconduct or gross negligence — or who requests unjustified assistance — to bear the cost of the Guardia di Finanza’s operation.

First and foremost, the decree sets the pay rates for men and women in the Corps serving in the field. The system is based on a hierarchical structure: it starts at just over 30 euros an hour for constables and finance officers in the ordinary ranks and rises, rank by rank, to 60 euros for senior officers. Those working in the air and naval units earn slightly more — the ceiling reaches 70 euros in the air force, and is slightly lower in the navy — in recognition of the specialisation required for those roles. One rule applies to everyone: those on duty for less than an hour are still paid for a full hour, whilst for periods exceeding sixty minutes, fractions of an hour only count if they exceed half an hour.

As regards land vehicles, the decree sets out detailed provisions on engine capacity and fuel type. A diesel van costs just a few cents per kilometre, whilst rates rise for hybrid or petrol-powered vehicles and peak with snowmobiles, which cost one and a half euros per kilometre — the most expensive item in the entire vehicle table, followed by ATVs. Off-road vehicles, four-wheel-drive vehicles, dog transport vehicles and mixed-use vehicles each have their own rate, which is always rounded up to the nearest whole kilometre.

It is, however, in the air and at sea that the figures reach a whole new order of magnitude. Turboprop aircraft are the most expensive item on the price list, with rates peaking at nearly 5,000 euros an hour for medium-light models; twin-engine helicopters are just below that, whilst drones remain in a league of their own, with rates not exceeding a few hundred euros even for the most sophisticated models.

Among naval vessels, the range is just as wide: the most modern patrol vessels cost over €1,000 per hour, whilst smaller coastal patrol boats remain below €60 — demonstrating how the pricing structure accurately reflects the technical complexity and operating costs of each vessel, rather than following a uniform logic by category.