Colombian Air Force

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Colombian Air Force
Fuerza Aérea Colombiana
Coat of arms of the Colombian Air Force
Coat of arms of the Colombian Air Force
Founded December 31, 1919
Country Colombia
Branch Air Force
Size 16,100 active personnel
281 aircraft[1]
Part of Colombian Armed Forces
Nickname(s) FAC
Motto Sic Itur Ad Astra – "Thus one reaches the stars" "Somos la Fuerza" - "We are the Force"
Colors Sky Blue, Turquoise Blue
March Colombian Air Force Hymn
Mascot Capitan Paz
Anniversaries November 8
Engagements Colombia–Peru War
Colombian armed conflict
Commanders
Commander of the Air Force Lieutenant General of the Air Carlos Eduardo Bueno Vargas
AF Second Commander and Chief of the Air Staff Major General of the Air Luis Ignasio Barón Casas
Notable
commanders		 Major General Alberto Alejandro Pauwels Rodriguez
Insignia
Roundel Colombian Air Force Roundel.svg
Ensign Ensign of the Colombian Air Force.svg
Aircraft flown
Attack A-29, A-37, OV-10, AC-47
Fighter IAI Kfir
Attack helicopter AH-60, AB212 Rápaz
Reconnaissance SA2-37A/B, Skymaster C-337H, SK-350, SR-560, SR-26
Trainer T-34, T-41, T-27, T-90, Bell 206, OH-58 Kiowa
Transport C-130, C-295, CN-235, C-212

The Colombian Air Force or FAC (Spanish: Fuerza Aérea Colombiana) is the Air Force of the Republic of Colombia. The Colombian Air Force (FAC) is one of the three institutions of the Military Forces of Colombia, charge according to the 1991 Constitution of the work to exercise and maintain control of Colombia's airspace to defend the sovereignty, territorial integrity and constitutional order. It is one of the largest American air forces (after Brazil, Peru and U.S.) and increased activity due to its important role in the fight against narco-terrorism.

Air Force is the only global processes that have accredited with ISO 9001 and NTCGP 1000. The system corresponds to ISO 9001 quality management with the international standard, which inscribed the FAC as a world-class organization. The second certificate, the NTCGP 1000, corresponds to the technical standard of quality of governance, as a result of Act 872 of 2003 requires all public bodies to implement the quality management system by December 2008.

The FAC has the distinction of having been used in missions of observation and aerial combat from the Colombian-Peruvian war of 1932, never elected government was ousted by force, as the FAC helped quell many rebellions from terrorism, military and political. The Colombian Air Force also served with distinction during the Second World War in the islands of San Andrés.

History

Creation

Military aviation began in Colombia in 1919 with the creation of a military aviation school for the Colombian Army. Previously by Law 15 of 1916 of September 7 two commissions were sent overseas to study new technological advancements in aviation, infantry, cavalry, engineering and trains. Officers pertaining to the Colombian Army were also sent to take a course on flight training on techniques and tactics. The school was then created in Colombia along with the Colombian National Army Aviation as a fifth regiment by Law 126 of 1919 of December 31 authorized by President of Colombia, Marco Fidel Suárez. The unit was officially activated on February 15, 1921 in Flandes, Department of Tolima with the support of a French mission led by Lieutenant Colonel Rene Guichard. The Aviation School initially had 3 Caudron G.3 E-2, 3 Caudron G.4 A-2 and four Nieuport Delage 11 C-1. The school was closed due to financial hardships in 1922.

The School of Military Aviation was reopened on November 8, 1924 in Madrid, Department of Cundinamarca with the support of a Swiss mission headed by Captain Henry Pillichody. The aircraft used for training were 4 Wild WT and 8 Wild X performing the first air review on August 7, 1927. Then on December 28, 1928 the first combat aircraft was shown in Colombia, the Curtiss Falcon O-1.

War with Peru

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See also: Colombia-Peru War
The Hawk II F11C-origin, helped in fighting Guepí in Peruvian garrison, which lasted eight hours

On September 1, 1932 civilian Peruvians illegally crossed into Colombian territory and invaded the town of Leticia in the Colombian Amazon arguing and claiming that the town was original Peruvian territory. The Colombian military aviation only had 11 instructors, four Curtiss-Wright CW-14R Osprey air combat support planes and one Curtiss Falcon O-1. The military aviation then received full financial support from the Congress of Colombia. Colombia bought aircraft from Germany and the United States, while others were activated from the airline operating in Colombia SCADTA (Sociedad Colombo-Alemana de Transporte Aéreo) and their pilots, which included some German citizens, one of these was Major Herbert Boy. The imported aircraft were 4 Junkers F.13, 4 Junkers W 34 and 3 Junkers K 43, 6 Junkers Ju 52, 2 Dornier Merkur II, 4 Dornier Wal, 20 Curtiss Falcon F-8F and 30 Curtiss Hawk II F-11C.

The contingent was then sent to southern Colombia to fight Peruvian forces with the main mission of delivering supplies to the front lines, aerial reconnaissance and air to land attacks. The fleet was divided into three squadrons with Puerto Boy as the main camp site. Support bases were in Caucaya airstrip (Puerto Leguízamo), El Encanto, Puerto Arica, La Pedrera and Tarapacá. The main combat operations started on February 14, 1933 in Tarapacá where the Peruvian garrison was bombed by seven Colombian aircraft and later assaulted by land forces. Later, on March 26, in the village of Guepi eleven Colombian planes and two cannon boats (MC Cartagena y MC Santa Marta) bombarded Peruvian positions and took over the town.

The last military actions of the conflict with Peru were on May 8, 1933 and in which there was an aerial engagement between the two forces. Peruvian planes were attacking the fluvial fleet of Colombia over the Algodón River and were surprised by the Colombian squadron. One of the Peruvian aircraft, a Douglas O-38P was gunned down and taken to Colombian territory. On May 24, 1933 a cease fire was declared after an agreement was reached with the intervention of the League of Nations. The town of Leticia was returned to Colombia. The captured plane was then returned to Peru. As a result of the war, four pilots died in four accidents during non-combat related actions. Among these was one of the German pilots. Four planes were lost in these accidents a Falcon O-1, an Osprey C-14, a Junker F-13 and a Curtiss F-11.

World War II

The AT-6 Texan U.S. origin served as a support during the Second World War, defending the country's Caribbean coast
Thunderbolt F-47D of the Colombian Air Force in 1946

The Second World War was the diplomatic breach between Colombia and the Axis countries (Germany, Italy and Japan), December 18, 1941, when President Eduardo Santos took the decision following the Japanese attack on military bases, naval and U.S. carriers at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Thereafter, the Colombian government introduced special measures to limit and counter the Axis military action in areas of national jurisdiction. However, the June 23, 1942 a German submarine attacked and sank the schooner Colombian "Resolute", 50 miles northwest of the island of San Andrés. The same schooner had rescued some Marine officers and 23 British Royal Navy survivors of a capsized ship, 200 miles north of Cartagena just five days before.

Following these events, the government took the decision to patrol and monitor the Pacific Coast and the Colombian Caribbean coast. The Palanquero Air Base commanders decided to move one fighter squadron and a Combat Reconnaissance Squadron, consisting of F-8 Falcon aircraft, to Barranquilla,. In 1943, the Falcons were relieved of their mission and replaced by the AT-6 Texan. This Squadron was active until 1945, when the AT-6 were transferred back to Palanquero Air Base.

Early 1930s to present

  • While the war was ongoing in southern Colombia, the Air Force built bases in the towns of Buenaventura and Cartagena. The base in Buenaventura was dubbed Air Base of the Pacific and covered the area of the Colombian Pacific region by the Pacific Ocean and began operations on January 26, 1933. The main purpose of this base was to protect the Pacific coast from any maritime intervention since there were reports that the Peruvian protected cruiser BAP Almirante Grau was patrolling the area, as well as two submarines. The Buenaventura base closed in 1949 while the base in Cartagena was handed over to the Colombian Navy in 1936 becoming the ARC Bolívar Naval Base, the most important naval base in Colombia.
  • During World War II, North American T-6 Texans and Boeing PT-17 Stearmans were received from the USA for pilot training. Soon after World War Two, the Aviación Militar became an independent part of the armed forces, and the Colombian Air Force was created.
  • During the period of La Violencia, The Air Force had the necessity to expand its radius of action, so in 1947 the aeródromo nacional de Apiay was created, named the 17 of November 1948 Base Aérea de Apiay, today it home of the Comando Aéreo de Combate No. 2. In this period, the Air Force became more involved in counterinsurgency tasks and B-26C Invaders were acquired. Also, in 1954, the jet age began for the Colombian Air Force with the arrival of Silver Star T-33 and six Canadian Sabre Mark IV F-86. The F-86 were retired from service 1966, while the T-33 continued to operate until 1972 when 18 Mirage 5 fighters arrived in three different versions. Sixteen F-80 Shooting Stars were also delivered.
  • In 1952, Hiller UH-12 helicopters arrived to the country, initially acquired for the Ministerio de Obras Públicas, but later assigned to the Air Force. In consequence, in 1954, the first helicopter base was created in Melgar, Tolima. Nowadays this base is known as Base Aérea “Capitán Luis F. Gómez Niño”, home of the Comando Aéreo de Combate No. 4 and the Joint Helicopter School of the Armed Forces. In 1959, with the inauguration of the El Dorado International Airport, the Base Aérea de Transporte Militar was created, later renamed as Base Aérea “Brigadier General Camilo Daza”, home today of the Comando Aéreo de Transporte Militar (CATAM). In 1962 in order to integrate economically and socially the furthest regions of the country the Servicio Aéreo a Territorios Nacionales Satena was created.
  • In 1977, to increase control in the northern part of the country, the Grupo Aéreo del Norte was created in Malambo, Atlántico, home today of the Comando Aéreo de Combate No. 3. In 1979, the Grupo Aéreo del Caribe (GACAR) was created, to defend the sovereignty of San Andrés and Providencia from the pretensions of Nicaragua. In 1983, the Grupo Aéreo de Oriente was created in Marandúa, Vichada to exert more control of the airspace in the eastern part of the country.
  • Further expansion took place in the eighties with considerable deliveries of the A-37 Dragonfly, which earned fame over Vietnam. At the end of the decade a batch of Kfir C2 fighters was delivered from Israel and subsequently upgraded to Kfir C7 by the Comando Aéreo de Mantenimiento (CAMAN) in Madrid in the nineties. The Mirages were upgraded to the same standard by CAMAN, with the installation of canards and improved fuel systems. Both types are also equipped for air-to-air refuelling from the FAC's sole Boeing 707 tanker and transport aircraft. The nineties saw the delivery of specialised COIN-aircraft like the OV-10A Bronco and Embraer Tucano trainers, some of the latter are able to carry bombs and unguided rockets. These aircraft operate mainly over the east of the country, where the Los Llanos region has a high level of guerrilla activity. They regularly deploy to Puerto Carreño under the command of the Grupo Aéreo del Oriente formed in 2000. To deal with continuing guerrilla activity Escuadrones Aerotácticos (tactical squadrons) were formed at the main FAC bases in the late nineties, consisting of several types of helicopters and AC-47 gunships supplied by their respective Grupos.
A Colombian Air Force AH-60L firing its flares
  • The 1999 'Plan Colombia' emphasizes on technology, rather than on large numbers of new aircraft being procured, although several new UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters (dubbed Arpía in Colombian service) entered FAC service in recent years. Other recently acquired types include Schweizer SA2-37A Condors and Cessna 560 Citations equipped with cameras and sensors to monitor guerrilla and narcotic related activities. Technology upgrades are scheduled for the Bronco fleet, the venerable AC-47 gunships and Huey-helicopters.
  • The Colombian Air Force monitors the country's airspace and engages suspicious flights, occasionally forcing non-compliant aircraft to the ground. A Hawker 800 carrying 1.2 tonnes of cocaine was shot to the sea in 2015.[2]

Organization

Mapa fac.GIF

Combat Air Commands (Comando Aéreo de Combate or CACOM):

Transportation and Maintenance:

Air Groups:

  • Grupo Aéreo del Oriente (GAORI) "CR. Luis Arturo Rodríguez Meneses"
    in Marandúa, Vichada[21][22]

Training:

  • Instituto Militar Aeronáutico (IMA) "CT. José Edmundo Sandoval"
    in Bogotá D.C.[27]

Airline:

Personnel

As of 2010,[1] the Air Force fields approximately 13,500 personnel, including 2,171 officers, 3,304 Non-commissioned officers, 903 student officers, 4,673 soldiers, these usually allocated to base security, Military Police etc., and 2,382 civilians, the latter usually dedicated to specialized technical or professional activities, e.g. medical, communications, etc.

Ranks & Insignias

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Further information: Military ranks of the Colombian Armed Forces

The tables below display the rank structures and rank insignias for the Colombian Air Force personnel.[28]

Ranks and Insignias – Colombian Air Force

Officers
NATO code[n 1] OF-10 OF-9 OF-8 OF-7 OF-6 OF-5 OF-4 OF-3 OF-2 OF-1
 Colombia No Equivalent General col fuerza aerea.svg Teniente general col fuerza aerea.svg Teniente general col fuerza aerea.svg Mayor general col fuerza aerea.svg Coronel col fuerza aerea.svg Teniente coronel col fuerza aerea.svg Mayor col fuerza aerea.svg Capitan col fuerza aerea.svg Teniente col fuerza aerea.svg Subteniente col fuerza aerea.svg
Spanish – General del Aire Teniente General del Aire Mayor General del Aire Brigadier General del Aire Coronel Teniente Coronel Mayor Capitán Teniente Subteniente
Abbr. – GR TG MG BG CR TC MY CT TE ST
English - General of the Air Lieutenant General of the Air Major General of the Air Brigadier General of the Air Colonel Lieutenant Colonel Major Captain Lieutenant Second Lieutenant

Non-Commissioned Officers and Airmen
NATO code[n 1] OR-9 OR-8 OR-7 OR-6 OR-5 OR-4 OR-3 OR-2 OR-1
 Colombia Tecnico jefe de comando fuerza aerea.svg Tecnico jefe de comando fuerza aerea.svg Tecnico jefe fuerza aerea.svg Tecnico subjefe fuerz aerea.svg Tecnico primero fuerza aerea.svg Tecnico segundo fuerza aerea.svg Tecnico tercero fuerza aerea.svg Tecnico cuarto fuerza aerea.svg Aerotecnico fuerza aerea.svg No equivalent
Spanish Técnico Jefe de Comando Conjunto Técnico Jefe de Comando Técnico Jefe Técnico Subjefe Técnico Primero Técnico Segundo Técnico Tercero Técnico Cuarto Aerotécnico –
Abbr. TJCC TJC TJ TS TP T2 T3 T4 AT –
English Joint Command Chief Technician Command Chief Technician Senior Chief Technician Chief Technician Technician First Class Technician 2nd Class Technician 3rd Class Junior Technician Airman –

Aircraft

Current inventory

An IAI Kfir on take off
Colombian KC-767 lifting off from Heathrow airport
A Colombian T-90 Calima on final approach
A FAC Boeing 737 at Zürich Airport
A Bell 206 fly over during the Colombian Bicentennial
A CASA CN-235 in Flight
celebration
Aircraft Origin Type Variant In service Notes
Combat Aircraft
A-37 United States light attack / COIN 7[29]
IAI Kfir Israel multirole 20[29]
EMB 314 Brazil light attack / COIN 24[29]
Basler BT-67 United States attack AC-47T 6[29] modified DC-3 with turboprop engines, and port mounted guns for CAS.
Reconnaissance Aircraft
Cessna 208 United States reconnaissance 6[29]
Electronic Warfare
King Air United States electronic attack 300/350 3[29]
Metroliner III United States EW / reconnaissance 1[29]
Maritime Patrol
Cessna Citation United States maritime patrol Ultra 5[29]
Turbo Commander United States maritime patrol 2[29]
Tanker
Boeing KC-767 United States aerial refueling / transport MMTT 1[29] tanker transport conversion by Israeli Aerospace Industries
Boeing 707 United States aerial refueling 1[29] tanker transport conversion by Israeli Aerospace Industries
Transport
Boeing 737 United States VIP 2[29]
Boeing 727 United States VIP 2[29]
C-130 United States transport C-130B/H 7[29]
IAI Arava Israel transport 1[29]
CASA C-212 Spain transport 4[29]
CASA C-295 Spain utility transport 9[29]
Cessna 208 United States utility transport 10[29]
EMB 110 Brazil utility / transport 2[29]
Turbo Commander United States transport 1[29]
King Air United States transport 90/350 8[29]
PA-31 United States light transport 1[29]
KC-390 Brazil transport / aerial refueling 12 on order[29]
Helicopters
MD 500 United States light utility 530 10[29]
Bell 206 United States utility / liaison 12[29]
Bell UH-1 United States utility UH-1H 52[29]
Bell 212 United States utility 10[29]
UH-60 United States SAR / COIN U/M/AH-60L 24[29]
Trainer Aircraft
EMB-312 Brazil advanced trainer 14[29]
Lancair T50 United States primary trainer 50[29]
Cessna T-37 United States jet trainer 17[29]

Former aircraft

Pervious aircraft operated by the Air Force consisted of the Gavilán G358, and the OV-10A Bronco[30]

Aircraft identification

Super Tucano to the Colombian Air Force. these aircraft were acquired in 2006

The aircraft used by the Colombian Air Force are identified with the letters "FAC" followed by three or four numbers that are painted on the tail, nose and nose landing gear doors. The serial numbers are assigned according to the aircraft's primary role as follows:

  • 001 Avión Presidencial
  • 002 to 100 trainer
  • 101 to 200 liaison
  • 201 to 300 helicopter
  • 301 to 500 miscellaneous
  • 501 to 600 light transport
  • 601 to 700 transport
  • 701 to 800 advanced trainer
  • 801 to 900 fighter-bomber
  • 901 to 1000 crew-trainer
  • 1001 to 1300 transport
  • 2001 to 2300 Close support
  • 2501 to 2600 bomber
  • 3001 to 3100 Fighter
  • 3101 to 3200 COIN
  • 4001 to 4600 helicopter
  • 5001 to 5600 liaison
  • 5701 to 5800 recon/ELINT

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Colombia is not a member of NATO, so there is not an official equivalence between the Colombian military ranks and those defined by NATO. The displayed parallel is approximate and for illustration purposes only.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2015-05-21/video-shows-shootdown-hawker-800
  3. ↑ (Spanish) CACOM 1 – Puerto Salgar (Cundinamarca) – Comando Aéreo de Combate No.1
  4. ↑ (Spanish) Capitán Germán Olano Moreno
  5. ↑ (Spanish) CACOM 2 – Apiay (Meta) – Comando Aéreo de Combate No.2
  6. ↑ (Spanish) Capitán Luis F. Gómez Niño
  7. ↑ (Spanish) CACOM 3 – Malambo (Atlántico) – Comando Aéreo de Combate No.3
  8. ↑ (Spanish) Mayor General Alberto Pauwels Rodríguez
  9. ↑ (Spanish) CACOM 4 – Melgar (Tolima) – Comando Aéreo de Combate No.4
  10. ↑ (Spanish) Teniente Coronel Luis Francisco Pinto Parra
  11. ↑ (Spanish) CACOM 5 – Rionegro (Antioquia) – Comando Aéreo de Combate No.5
  12. ↑ (Spanish) Coronel Fernando Arturo Lema Posada
  13. ↑ (Spanish) CACOM 6 – Tres Esquinas (Caquetá) – Comando Aéreo de Combate No.6
  14. ↑ (Spanish) Capitán Ernesto Esguerra Cubides
  15. ↑ (Spanish) CATAM – Aeropuerto El Dorado (Bogotá D.C) – Comando Aéreo de Transporte Militar
  16. ↑ (Spanish) Brigadier General (H) Camilo Daza Álvarez
  17. ↑ (Spanish) CAMAN – Madrid (Cundinamarca) – Comando Aéreo de Mantenimiento
  18. ↑ (Spanish) Mayor (H) Justino Mariño Cuesto
  19. ↑ (Spanish) GACAR – San Andrés Isla (San Andrés, Providencia y Santa Catalina) – Grupo Aéreo del Caribe
  20. ↑ (Spanish) Teniente Coronel Benjamín Méndez Rey
  21. ↑ (Spanish) GAORI – Marandua (Vichada) – Grupo Aéreo del Oriente
  22. ↑ (Spanish) Coronel Luis Arturo Rodríguez Meneses
  23. ↑ (Spanish) EMAVI – Santiago de Cali (Valle) – Escuela Militar de Aviación
  24. ↑ (Spanish) Marco Fidel Suárez
  25. ↑ (Spanish) ESUFA – Madrid (Cundinamarca) – Escuela de Suboficiales FAC
  26. ↑ (Spanish) Captain Andres Maria Diaz Diaz
  27. ↑ (Spanish) IMA – Instituto Militar Aeronáutico
  28. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  29. ↑ 29.00 29.01 29.02 29.03 29.04 29.05 29.06 29.07 29.08 29.09 29.10 29.11 29.12 29.13 29.14 29.15 29.16 29.17 29.18 29.19 29.20 29.21 29.22 29.23 29.24 29.25 29.26 29.27 29.28 29.29 29.30 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  30. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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