Brazilian Army Aviation Command

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name=Brazilian Army Aviation Command
"Comando de Aviação do Exército"


caption=Army Aviation Patch
dates= September 03, 1986 — current
country= Brazil
allegiance=
branch= Army
type= Military aviation
role= Tactical Air Transport, Reconnaissance, Attack
size=
command_structure=Brazilian Army
garrison=Taubaté
garrison_label=
nickname=Brigada Ricardo Kirk
patron=Ricardo Kirk
motto=
colors=
colors_label=
march=
mascot=
equipment=
equipment_label=
battles=
anniversaries=
decorations=
battle_honours=
commander1=Brigade General Eduardo Cunha da Cunha
commander1_label=Commander
commander2=
commander2_label=
commander3=
commander3_label=
notable_commanders=
identification_symbol=
identification_symbol_label=
identification_symbol_2=
identification_symbol_2_label=
identification_symbol_3=
identification_symbol_3_label=
aircraft_attack=AS550N
aircraft_bomber=
aircraft_electronic=
aircraft_fighter=
aircraft_interceptor=
aircraft_patrol=
aircraft_recon=AS550N
aircraft_trainer=HB 350 L1
aircraft_transport=AS 365 K , AS 365 K , AS 532 UE

The Brazilian Army Aviation Command (Portuguese: "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 War of the Triple Alliance, 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 respnsible for the logistics

Brazilian Army Aviation has six units at its disposal:
*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 Taubaté
*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.The 4th Army Aviation Battalion, based in Manaus, uses the aeronautic infrastructure provided by the Brazilian Air Force Manaus Air Base.

Aircraft inventory

Brazilian Army Aviatin Command has the following 84 aircraft at its disposal:

ee also

* Army aviation

References

External links

* [http://www.4esqdavex.eb.mil.br/ 4th Army Aviation Battalion page in Portuguese]
* [http://www.cavex.eb.mil.br/ Army Aviation Command page in Portuguese]