Article - Cali Colombia - Escuela Militar de Aviación - April 2018

Cali Colombia - Escuela Militar de Aviación

History

The Military Aviation School (MAS) was founded in Flanders, Tolima in 1921, but later moved to Madrid, Cundinamarca in 1924 after financial difficulties at Flanders. Whilst at Madrid the MAS flew the "Swiss" built Wild WT-3. As a result of the conflict with Peru, the MAS was transferred to the city of Santiago de Cali in 1933, here the school began to expand with the purchase from the United States of 10 Curtiss Hawk II trainers. During World War II the United States under the Lend Lease Programme provide the MAS with the Valiant BT-15, Kaydet PT-17, Texan AT-6 and the Cornell PT-19. These aircraft were flown after WWII into the early 1950's until the arrival of the Beechcraft Mentor T-34A in 1954. The late 1960's saw the arrival of the Mescalero T-41 primary trainer and the Tweety Bird T-37 advanced trainer, with 14 of these being purchased from the United States. During 1983 the first 2 gliders arrived for the flight training program followed by the addition to the program in 1992 of the Embraer Tucano T-27. In 2010 the Colombian built CIAC Calima T-90 featuring a composite material construction began to arrive into service, this was soon upgraded with a stronger undercarriage and better avionic controls, this serves with the MAS as the T-90C variant. The arrival of the T-90 replaced the ageing T-34s and partially replaced the T-41D. In 2008, the Military Aviation School at Marco Fidel Suárez Air Base celebrated it's 75th Anniversary.

Command Structure

The Marco Fidel Suárez Air Base at Cali falls under the command of Comando Aéreo de Combate No.7 (CACOM-7) which has 3 squadrons assigned as part of Grupo de Combate 71:

Escuadrón Preparatorio 111 S-10VT, SZD-54 & T-41D

Escuadrón Basico 712 T-90C

Escuadrón de Combate Táctico 713 B-212, C-208, C-212, AC-47T & UH-60L

The commander of the facility is Brigadier General Carlos Silva.

Training

Around 150 cadets enter the MAS annually and are selected from over 2,000 candidates. Only the best is expected from the cadets with the standards set very high and the training schedule long. Groups of 5-10 cadets are formed and these are known as squads, the squad size will vary depending on which stage of the course they are on. A squad then forms a Element which is between 5-7 squads, this Element along with two more Elements are joined to a squadron:

Year 1 Delta squad

Year 2 Charlie squad

Year 3 Bravo squad

Year 4 Alpha squad

From here follows three months of basic and academic training. The cadets are a taught the doctrine and organisation of the Air Force, field training, field tactics and survival training which is normally carried out at other bases around Colombia. These first few months of training can be make or brake for the cadet. At the end of three months each cadet is forwarded to a select committee, which is a panel of high-ranking officers who grand their initial training, once in front of the committee the cadet will be informed if he or she will be continuing on the course. If successful each cadet will make their oath to the National flag and country.

The cadet will now begin their phase of university aeronautical education with four courses of training:

Mechanical Engineering

Computer Engineering

Aeronautical Administration

Military Aeronautical Sciences (which includes flying)

Aeronautical Sciences has 4 initial levels:

Level 1 Virtual Flight, a computerised system in which instructors and students interact.

Level 2 Guabito Virtual, a scenario with lectures and a visual environment for the Unit.

Level 3 Glider training, a student goes on to practical training in a glider.

Level 4 Parachuting, gives the opportunity to jump by parachute with the advice and accompaniment of an instructor (this is optional).

Primary flight training begins in the students 3rd year with the choice of T-41 or T-90, the latter has a height restriction in the cockpit which effects their choice. The Primary qualification takes 45 to 60 hours of flight and takes around three months.

Year 4 is at least 100 hours of flying during the Basic Training stage, students will fly the T-27 at Apiay AB, The T37 at Palanquero AB or Helicopters out of Melgar AB, the type flown is dependent upon the students choice.

After completing their 100 hours of flying during year 4 in the EMAVI the students graduate to the official rank of Second Lieutenants.

The Colombian Institute for the Promotion of Higher Education (ICFES) has certified EMAVI as a Higher Education Institution with it also achieving the ISO 9000 quality systems management accreditation in 2006.

Following our Aviation Reporting visit to Escuela Militar de Aviación in Cali, our base guide Captain Pedro Andres Rojas Forero, tragically died in a gliding accident a week later. This article is dedicated to Captain Forero.

With thanks to Brigadier General Carlos Silva, Lieutenant Luisa Bolivar and Captain Pedro Andres Rojas Forero for hosting our visit and Major Monica Barrero of the Fuerza Aérea Colombiana Press Office, Aviation Press Ltd and Paolo Di Biagio of JP4 magazine for organising the visit.

Author Mark Forest

Photography Mark Forest & John Alexander