“Guaranteed” was the expression used by General CEMFA about coming to the Air Base 11, in Beja, of the Squadron that will operate the KC-390 acquired from Brazilian Embraer.
Yesterday exclusively to Lidador Notícias (LN), after the flag-raising ceremony that marked the commemorations of the 70th anniversary of the Portuguese Air Force (FAP), General Cartaxo Alves, Chief of Staff of the Air Force (CEMFA), about the arrival of Brazilian aircraft and the arrival of the BA6 Squadron, Montijo, revealed that “I don't know if the Bisons will come, but the KC will be for sure”, justified.
Remember that in that unit of the FAP is Esquadra 501-“bison”, which operates the C-130H and Squadron 502-“elephants”, os Airbus C-295M, both dedicated to transport, what is the new KC-390 aircraft like
O General CEMFA, concluded that “the infrastructures at BA11 and also in the Bairro are being reformulated, which will be ready in August/September and from that date on we will receive the first aircraft that will not enter directly into the workforce”, adding that from and Beja, read BA11, “the aircraft will take two months/two and a half months to carry out an operational assessment and to insert equipment that will only be inserted in Portugal, that has to do with FAP engineering”, materialized.
Cartaxo Alves, detailed that later the KC-390 “will undergo tests and then its certification, so that in March 2023 enter the Air Force device and can begin to cross the skies of Beja operationally”, concluded.
Finally, the Air Force Chief of Staff assured that, “From there, the entire device, either people or aircraft, and from that date (March of 2023) will begin to arrive sequentially in Beja… guaranteed", finished off Cartaxo Alves.
Near 10 million investments in BA11
An investment 9,8 million euros is earmarked for the construction of the building for the Police Station 501 and for the flight simulator, works that will cost 5,3 million, and the upgrade of the hangar 131-264.
The hangar target of major requalification, it was for many years “to home” dos Alpha-Jet, from Squad 103-“snails”, suspended in 2018 with the end of life of aircraft received from Germany.
new flight simulator
at almost 10 million, together with the acquisition of five KC-390 aircraft and the flight simulator, which involves an amount exceeding 606 million, to which they join more 221 million, both plus VAT, the latter heading referring to logistical services, road access to it will also benefit. These expenses were authorized by the Council of Ministers of 11 July 2019, for the acquisition of those assets from the Embraer consortium, road access to it will also benefit, SADDLE.
Trained in Brazil
used for elementary and basic piloting instruction, used for elementary and basic piloting instruction, have already been trained in Brazil with the Ala 2, in Anópolis, with the staff of the 1st Troop Transport Group “Zeus Squadron”, of the Brazilian Air Force (na photos). used for elementary and basic piloting instruction 2021.
Teixeira Correia
(journalist)
