Manaus Air Force Base
Encyclopedia
Manaus Air Force Base – BAMN is a base of the Brazilian Air Force
located in Manaus
, Brazil. It was created in 1970 and between 1970 and 1976 public facilities of Ponta Pelada Airport
were shared with the military facilities of Manaus Air Force Base. In 1976, with the opening of Eduardo Gomes International Airport
, all public operations were transferred to the new airport. Ponta Pelada Airport was then renamed Manaus Air Force Base and since then it handles exclusively military operations.
Subordinated to the command of the 2nd Air Force (II FAe), which is dedicated to Search and Rescue, Rotorary Wings, and Maritime Patrol:
Subordinated to the command of the 3th Air Force (III FAe), which is dedicated to fighter and attack:
Subordinated to the command of the 5th Air Force (V FAe), which is dedicated to Transport Aviation:
Subordinated to the command of the 7th Regional Air Force Command (VII COMAR):
Manaus Air Force Base is also the base of the 4th Aviation Battalion of the Brazilian Army
(4° BAvEx), which uses the helicopters HM-1 (Eurocopter AS565), HM-3 (Eurocopter AS 532), and HM-2 UH-60 Black Hawk.
Brazilian Air Force
The Brazilian Air Force is the air branch of the Brazilian Armed Forces and one of the three national uniformed services. The FAB was formed when the Army and Navy air branch were merged into a single military force initially called "National Air Forces"...
located in Manaus
Manaus
Manaus is a city in Brazil, the capital of the state of Amazonas. It is situated at the confluence of the Negro and Solimões rivers. It is the most populous city of Amazonas, according to the statistics of Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics, and is a popular ecotourist destination....
, Brazil. It was created in 1970 and between 1970 and 1976 public facilities of Ponta Pelada Airport
Ponta Pelada Airport
Ponta Pelada Airport was until 1976 the main airport of Manaus, Brazil. Between 1970 and 1976 public facilities were shared with the military facilities of Manaus Air Force Base. In 1976, with the opening of Eduardo Gomes International Airport, all public operations were transferred to the new...
were shared with the military facilities of Manaus Air Force Base. In 1976, with the opening of Eduardo Gomes International Airport
Eduardo Gomes International Airport
Brigadeiro Eduardo Gomes-Manaus International Airport , is the main airport serving Manaus, Brazil. It is named after the Brazilian politician and military figure Air Marshall Eduardo Gomes ....
, all public operations were transferred to the new airport. Ponta Pelada Airport was then renamed Manaus Air Force Base and since then it handles exclusively military operations.
Units
The following units are based at Manaus Air Force Base:Subordinated to the command of the 2nd Air Force (II FAe), which is dedicated to Search and Rescue, Rotorary Wings, and Maritime Patrol:
- 7th Squadron of the 8th Aviation Group (7°/8°GAv), the Hárpia Squadron, using UH-1H (UH-1 IroquoisUH-1 IroquoisThe Bell UH-1 Iroquois is a military helicopter powered by a single, turboshaft engine, with a two-bladed main rotor and tail rotor. The helicopter was developed by Bell Helicopter to meet the United States Army's requirement for a medical evacuation and utility helicopter in 1952, and first flew...
) and H-60L (UH-60 Black Hawk) helicopters for transportation, search and rescue and humanitarian missions.
Subordinated to the command of the 3th Air Force (III FAe), which is dedicated to fighter and attack:
- 1st Squadron of the 4th Aviation Group (1°/4°GAv), the Pacau Squadron, using F-5EM (Northrop F-5) fighter.
Subordinated to the command of the 5th Air Force (V FAe), which is dedicated to Transport Aviation:
- 1st Squadron of the 9th Transportation Group (1°/9°GAv), the Arara Squadron, using C-115 (de Havilland Canada DHC-5 BuffaloDe Havilland Canada DHC-5 BuffaloThe de Havilland Canada DHC-5 Buffalo is a short takeoff and landing utility transport, a turboprop aircraft developed from the earlier piston-powered DHC-4 Caribou...
) and C-105 (EADS CASA C-295EADS CASA C-295The EADS CASA C-295 is a twin-turboprop tactical military transport aircraft manufactured by Airbus Military in Spain.-Design and development:...
) aircraft for missions of troops and cargo transportation.
Subordinated to the command of the 7th Regional Air Force Command (VII COMAR):
- 7th Squadron of Air Transportation (7°ETA), the Cobra Squadron, using C-95B (Embraer EMB 110 BandeiranteEmbraer EMB 110 BandeiranteThe Embraer EMB 110 Bandeirante is a general purpose 15-21 passenger twin-turboprop light transport aircraft suitable for military and civil duties...
), C-97 (Embraer EMB 120 BrasíliaEmbraer EMB 120 Brasilia-Accidents:*Brazilian Air Force on July 8, 1988 an Embraer EMB 120RT Brasília registration FAB-2001 crashed during and engine-out landing at São José dos Campos. Five of the 9 occupants died....
) and C-98 (Cessna 208 CaravanCessna 208The Cessna 208 Caravan is a single turboprop engine, fixed-gear short-haul regional airliner and utility aircraft built in the United States by Cessna. The airplane typically seats nine passengers, with a single person crew, although with a FAR Part 23 waiver, it can seat up to fourteen passengers...
) aircraft for transport, logistics, and humanitarian missions.
Manaus Air Force Base is also the base of the 4th Aviation Battalion of the Brazilian Army
Brazilian Army
The Brazilian Army is the land arm of the Brazilian Military. The Brazilian Army has fought in several international conflicts, mostly in South America and during the 19th century, such as the Brazilian War of Independence , Argentina-Brazil War , War of the Farrapos , Platine War , Uruguayan War ...
(4° BAvEx), which uses the helicopters HM-1 (Eurocopter AS565), HM-3 (Eurocopter AS 532), and HM-2 UH-60 Black Hawk.
Accidents and incidents
- 28 April 1971: Brazilian Air ForceBrazilian Air ForceThe Brazilian Air Force is the air branch of the Brazilian Armed Forces and one of the three national uniformed services. The FAB was formed when the Army and Navy air branch were merged into a single military force initially called "National Air Forces"...
, a Douglas DC-6BDouglas DC-6The Douglas DC-6 is a piston-powered airliner and transport aircraft built by the Douglas Aircraft Company from 1946 to 1958. Originally intended as a military transport near the end of World War II, it was reworked after the war to compete with the Lockheed Constellation in the long-range...
registration FAB-2414 en route from Manaus to Rio de JaneiroRio de JaneiroRio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
had problems with engine vibrations which forced the crew to return to Manaus. On the ground one of the right hand engines burst into flames. The fire spread to the fuselage causing the death of 16 of the 83 occupants.
External links
- Manaus Air Force Base Photo Archive at airliners.net
- Photos of the UH-1H and H-60L used by Hárpia Squadron at spotters.com.br
- Photos of the F-5EM used by Pacau Squadron at spotters.com.br
- Photos of the C-115 and C-105 used by Arara Squadron at spotters.com.br
- Photos of the C-95B, C-97 and C-98 used by Cobra Squadron at spotters.com.br