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Brazilian Army Aviation Command
Comando de Aviação do Exército
Bol avex
Army Aviation Patch
Active September 3, 1986 —
Country Brazil
Branch Army
Type Military aviation
Role Tactical Air Transport, Reconnaissance, Attack
Size 82 helicopters
Part of Brazilian Army
Garrison/HQ Taubaté
Nickname(s) Brigada Ricardo Kirk
Patron Ricardo Kirk
Commanders
Commander Brigade General ROBERTO SEBASTIÃO PETERNELLI JÚNIOR
Aircraft flown
Attack Mil Mi-35, AS550N
Reconnaissance AS550N, AS 365 K
Trainer HB 350 L1
Transport AS 365 K , AS 532 UE, EC725 Super Cougar

The Brazilian Army Aviation Command (Portuguese language: Comando de Aviação do Exército ) is a component of the Brazilian Army containing the army's helicopter units.

Tasks[]

The task of the Brazilian Army Aviation Command is to provide organic airmobility and support the ground forces by providing tactical air support, close air support and reconnaissance.

History[]

The origin of the Brazilian Army Aviation lies in the Paraguayan War, with on the one side Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay (the Triple Alliance) and on the other Paraguay, when the commander-in-chief of the Brazilian forces, Duke of Caxias, deployed observation balloons in the field to observe the enemy troops.

One of the first army aviators was Ricardo Kirk during the Contestado War 1912–1916, using monoplanes to support ground forces. These missions were predominantly flown for reconnaissance purposes.

In 1941, upon the creation of the Aeronautics Ministry and of the Brazilian Air Force (FAB), Military Aviation, which was the name of the army branch that operated the aircraft, ended its operations as all flying tasks brought under the aegis of the Brazilian Air Force.

In 1986, however, it was re-established under the name of Army Aviation to operate helicopters in support of the Brazilian Army.

Organisation[]

  • Army Aviation Command based at Taubaté SP which functions as operational command
  • Army Aviation Directorate based Brasilia which is responsible for the logistics

Brazilian Army Aviation has six units at its disposal:

Pag-32d

Army Aviation aviator badge 1988.

  • 1st Army Aviation Battalion (1º Batalhão de Aviação do Exército (1º BAvEx)) based at Taubaté
  • 2nd Army Aviation Battalion (2º Batalhão de Aviação do Exército (2º BAvEx)) based at Taubaté
  • 3rd Army Aviation Battalion (3º Batalhão de Aviação do Exército (3º BAvEx)) based at Campo Grande (MS)
  • 4th Army Aviation Battalion (4º Batalhão de Aviação do Exército (4º BAvEx)) based at Manaus (AM)
  • Army Aviation Maintenance and Supply Battalion (Batalhão de Manutenção e Suprimento de Aviação do Exército) based at Taubaté
  • Army Aviation Instruction Centre (Centro de Instrução de Aviação do Exército e a Base de Aviação) based at Taubaté

Army Aviation Command also operates and maintains the infrastructures of the Taubaté Military Airfield, thus guaranteeing the aeronautic activity of the units.

File:Bavt aerea.jpg

Aerial View of Taubaté Army Air Field 1996.

The 4th Army Aviation Battalion, based in Manaus, uses the aeronautic infrastructure provided by the Brazilian Air Force Manaus Air Base.

20GAC-OpAmv-02

AS365.

Aircraft[]

The Brazilian Army Aviation Command has 82 helicopters in service and operates the following;[1]

See also[]

References[]

  1. World Air Forces 2011/2012 | Flightglobal Insight |p.11

External links[]


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The original article can be found at Brazilian Army Aviation Command and the edit history here.