The Colombian National Army Aviation is an aviation combat arms unit in the

National Army of Colombia The National Army of Colombia ( es, Ejército Nacional de Colombia) is the land warfare service branch of the Military Forces of Colombia. With over 361,420 active personnel as of 2020, it is the largest and oldest service branch in Colombia, an ...

. Its history dates back to December 31, 1919, but was not fully developed until August 25, 1995 when this unit is officially activated under the name "''Aviación Ejército''" (Army Aviation). The Army Aviation was created to support ground operations from the air.

History

Military aviation began in Colombia in 1919 with the creation of a military aviation school for the

Colombian Army The National Army of Colombia ( es, Ejército Nacional de Colombia) is the land warfare service branch of the Military Forces of Colombia. With over 361,420 active personnel as of 2020, it is the largest and oldest service branch in Colombia, ...

. Previously by

Law 15 of 1916 Law is a set of rules that are created and are law enforcement, enforceable by social or governmental institutions to regulate behavior,Robertson, ''Crimes against humanity'', 90. with its precise definition a matter of longstanding debate. ...

of September 7 to 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 is 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 The president of Colombia ( es, Presidente de Colombia), officially known as the president of the Republic of Colombia ( es, Presidente de la República de Colombia) or president of the nation ( es, Presidente de la Nacion) is the head of stat ...

Marco Fidel Suárez Marco Fidel Suárez (April 23, 1855 – April 3, 1927) was a Colombian political figure. He served as president of Colombia from 1918 to 1921. He was born on April 23, 1855, in the town of Hatoviejo, Antioquia. His parents were Rosalía Suárez ...

. The unit was officially activated on February 15, 1921 in

Flandes Flandes is a town and municipality in the Tolima department of Colombia. The population of the municipality was 22,064 as of the 1993 census. Municipalities of Tolima Department {{Tolima-geo-stub ...

, Department of Tolima with the support of

French French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents ** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...

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 on 1922.

Current Order of Battle

25th Army Aviation Brigade * Army Aviation Operational Command (AAF Fuerte Tolemaida) Army Aviation Airfield "TG. General Gustavo Rojas Pinilla" * 2nd Air Assault Aviation Battalion operating UH-60L * 3rd Equipment and Troop Transport Aviation Battalion operating Ми-17-1В/МД/B5 * 4th Reconnaissance and Escort Aviation Battalion operating UH-1N * 5th Aerial Movement Aviation Battalion operating UH-1H-II * Special Operations Aviation Battalion * Aviation Training Battalion * Aviation Maintenance Battalion * 25th Aviation Support and Service Battalion Army Aviation Base Bogotà, El Dorado I.A.P. * 1st Aircraft Aviation Battalion operating AN-32A, C212-100, Ce208B, RC695/A and various Beech aircraft types * Army Aviation School * Aviation Logistics and Service Battalion Army Aviation * Detachment of 2nd AAABn operating UH-60L * Detachment of 4th REABn operating UH-1N * Detachment of 5th AMABn operating UH-1H-II * 6th Mobility and Manoeuvre Battalion operating helicopters detached from the parent units Army Aviation Base San José del Guaviare * Detachment of 2nd AAABn operating UH-60L * Detachment of 4th REABn operating UH-1N * Detachment of 5th AMABn operating UH-1H-II * 4th Mobility and Manoeuvre Battalion operating helicopters detached from the parent units Army Aviation Base Tumaco * Detachment of 2nd AAABn operating UH-60L * Detachment of 4th REABn operating UH-1N * Detachment of 5th AMABn operating UH-1H-II Batallón de Movilidad y Maniobra No. 1 Forward Operating Base Buena Vista * 1st Mobility and Manoeuvre Battalion operating helicopters detached from the parent units Forward Operating Base Saravena * 5th Mobility and Manoeuvre Battalion operating helicopters detached from the parent units

Aircraft inventory

While reliant on the

Colombian Air Force , "We are the Force" , colours = , colours_label = , march = Colombian Air Force Hymn , mascot = Capitan Paz , anniversaries = 8 November , ...

for heavier air support, the Army maintains a fleet of 163 aircraft, including 141

helicopter A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by horizontally spinning rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forward, backward and laterally. These attributes ...

References

External links

*
Colombia: Seguridad & Defensa
- Unofficial site *
UNFFMM
- Unofficial site {{Military of Colombia Army aviation National Army of Colombia

History

Current Order of Battle

Aircraft inventory

See also

References

External links