19-01 Holding headquarters at sunset

19-01 Company

Building the future of emergency response aviation.

An aerospace and technology group bringing together aircraft development, training and operations under a single strategic vision.

Mission

Solving the wildfire crisis at scale.

19-01 exists since 2011 to solve the wildfire crisis at scale. We are building a complete response system, combining a next-generation multirole amphibious aircraft with big data and artificial intelligence, designed to dramatically reduce the damage caused by large-scale wildfires. Behind this system is a team with more than 30 years of experience each in managing complex, high-stakes programs, bringing the discipline and expertise required to turn this ambition into an operational reality.

Vision

A world where large-scale wildfires no longer devastate what matters most.

Because prediction, response, and technology finally work as one system. We envision a future in which prediction, prevention, and response are no longer separate battles fought with outdated tools, but one integrated system — where aircraft, data, and intelligence work together to act faster than the fire itself.

Key people

Operational experience behind next-generation aerospace programs.

A multidisciplinary team combining aerospace engineering, test flight experience, industrial development, finance, communications and operational know-how.

Renato Sacchetti

Renato Sacchetti

Founder & Chief Executive Officer

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Renato Sacchetti

Founder & Chief Executive Officer

Renato is a pilot and flight instructor with 25 years of aviation experience spanning training, maintenance, and certification. He has led international projects for major industry players, culminating in the creation of the world's first simulator for an amphibious firefighting aircraft. Renato founded a boutique consultancy in Hong Kong, developing and managing end-to-end programs for clients and eventually establishing offices across three continents. He has collaborated with leading companies in the association sector (with over $600 billion in aggregate revenue), manufacturing (over $50 billion USD), and training (over $10 billion USD), as well as with specialized investment funds, leading multicultural teams across multiple continents simultaneously.

Steven Taylor

Steven Taylor

Founder & Chief Financial Officer

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Steven Taylor

Founder & Chief Financial Officer

Steven is an executive with an international career spanning aviation, consulting, and technology. He served as CFO of Alitalia and Olivetti and as a Partner at Ernst & Young Consulting in the transport and energy sectors. He brings to 19-01 expertise in financial strategy, operations, and stakeholder engagement, built across Italy and the United Kingdom.

Antonio Maglione

Antonio Maglione

Chief Technical Officer

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Antonio Maglione

Chief Technical Officer

Antonio is the CTO and Head of Design Organization at 19-01. Holding a degree in Naval and Aeronautical Engineering and boasting a 40-year career spanning Aeritalia/Leonardo and Piaggio Aerospace, he led the certification of iconic aircraft such as the P.180 Avanti and developed the P.1HH — the only MALE UAS in Europe eligible for certification. Today, he brings this experience to the conception and development of the WF-X.

Maurizio Cheli

Maurizio Cheli

Brand Ambassador & Technical Advisor

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Maurizio Cheli

Brand Ambassador & Technical Advisor

Maurizio Cheli is a test pilot, former astronaut, and entrepreneur. A top graduate of the Empire Test Pilots' School at Boscombe Down, he flew as a Mission Specialist aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia (STS-75) and served as Chief Test Pilot at Alenia Aeronautica, leading the operational development of the Eurofighter Typhoon. He founded CFM Air and DigiSky, companies operating in the advanced aerospace sector. He holds degrees in Aerospace Engineering (University of Houston) and Political Science (University of Turin) and an MBA from ESCP Europe; he is also the author of the book Tutto in un istante.

Andrea Canetto

Andrea Canetto

Chief Experimental Test Pilot

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Andrea Canetto

Chief Experimental Test Pilot

Andrea is a test pilot and aerial firefighting expert at 19-01. A former military pilot and graduate of the RAF's Empire Test Pilots' School (where he won the Hawker Hunter Trophy), he has led test programs for the F-104, AMX, and Tornado, and held NATO command positions. Having flown the Canadair CL-415 for 19 years, he is one of the world's leading experts in aerial firefighting. Since 2020, he has been working on the development of the WF-X.

Nicolas Dauber

Nicolas Dauber

Test Pilot & Technical Advisor

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Nicolas Dauber

Test Pilot & Technical Advisor

Nicolas is a pilot with over 40 years of experience, having begun his career as a fighter pilot in the French Air Force (serving in the 1991 Gulf War and with the Patrouille de France). He spent nearly 24 years as an aerial firefighting pilot for the French Civil Protection — serving as a Captain for 20 of those years — where he held command and training roles and has been a member of the EU interoperability group since 2016. A recipient of the Legion of Honour and the Croix de Guerre, he brings unique expertise in CL-415 aircraft and firefighting operations to 19-01.

Eric Guerin

Eric Guerin

Test Pilot & Technical Advisor

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Eric Guerin

Test Pilot & Technical Advisor

Eric is a pilot with over 40 years of experience, having begun his career in the French Navy flying carrier-based Super Étendards. Since 1997, he has served as a pilot for the French Civil Protection, flying water-bombing aircraft for over 20 years — including 17 as a captain — while holding roles in training, flight safety, and operational management, as well as serving on the EU interoperability group. He brings advanced expertise in electronic systems and aerial firefighting operations to 19-01.

Emiliano Leone

Emiliano Leone

Head of Marketing & Communication

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Emiliano Leone

Head of Marketing & Communication

Emiliano is a communication and marketing expert with over 20 years of experience across CGI, Visual Effects, and Creative Direction, recognized by outlets like Capital and named one of Italy's 30 best Art Directors in 2004. He managed the web presence for the Rome Jubilee 2000 and has consulted for international groups with revenues exceeding $24 billion. He joined 19-01 in 2019.

Timeline

Our innovation journey

2011

The Genesis. The 19-01 project is born, setting out to solve the wildfire crisis at scale through a new generation of aerial response.

2012

Know-How Acquisition. Specific expertise is acquired across aviation, engineering and aerial firefighting operations to build the foundations of the project.

2013

Feasibility & Business Planning. A feasibility study and business plan are developed, defining the industrial and commercial path for the platform.

2014

Key People Secured. The founding team of aviation, engineering and industrial experts joins the project.

2015

Mission Requirements. Mission requirements are defined, setting the operational scope and design targets of the future aircraft.

2016

Flight Simulator Core. Development begins on the first Full Flight Simulator for an amphibious firefighting aircraft.

2017

Customer Network. The customer network is consolidated across the aerial firefighting and civil protection sectors.

2018

Technology Research. All available technologies are researched and evaluated to inform the design of the platform.

2019

Engineering Staff Secured. The engineering team is secured to lead the aircraft's technical development.

2020

Aircraft Preliminary Design. The preliminary design phase of the WF-X aircraft is completed.

2021

Aircraft Specs Consolidation. Technical and aerodynamic specifications of the WF-X aircraft are consolidated and validated.

2022

System Specs Frozen. The complete system specifications are frozen, locking the architecture for structural engineering.

2023

Political Network Consolidation. The institutional and political network supporting the program is consolidated.

2024

Key Partner's Choice. Key industrial partners are selected to support the development and production of the WF-X.

2025

Sites Chosen. The production site, test site and maritime test site are officially chosen.

Our Network

Powered by Excellence, Proven in the Field

Every project partner brings category-leading expertise in their domain — united in one system built to outperform where it matters most.

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