Natal Air Force Base

Natal Air Force Base – BANT (Portuguese: Base Aérea de Natal) is a base of the Brazilian Air Force, located in Parnamirim, near Natal, Brazil.

Natal Air Force Base

Base Aérea de Natal
Summary
Airport typeMilitary: Air Force Base
OperatorBrazilian Air Force
ServesNatal
LocationParnamirim, Brazil
Elevation AMSL52 m / 170 ft
Coordinates05°54′41″S 035°14′51″W
Map
Natal AFB
Location in Brazil
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
16L/34R 2,600 8,530 Asphalt
16R/34L 1,800 5,905 Asphalt
12/30 1,825 5,987 Asphalt
Sources: Brazilian Air Force[1]

It shared some facilities with Augusto Severo International Airport until 31 May 2014.

History

Originally called Parnamirim Airport, this facility had an important role during World War II as a strategic base for aircraft flying between South America and West Africa. Particularly between 1943 and 1945, the base was used jointly by the Brazilian Air Force, United States Army and United States Navy, the Royal Air Force, and commercial airlines. The maintenance and security installations were made by the U.S. Army in the South Atlantic (USAFSA).

Units

The following units are based at Natal Air Force Base:

Subordinated to the command of the 1st Air Force (I FAe), which is dedicated to Training:

  • 2nd Squadron of the 5th Aviation Group (2º/5ºGAv), the Joker Squadron, using A-29A and A-29B aircraft for training with combat aircraft.[2]
  • 1st Squadron of the 11th Aviation Group (1º/11ºGav), the Gavião Squadron, using UH-50 aircraft for rotary wing aircraft training.[3]

Subordinated to the command of the Department of Airspace Control (DECEA), which is dedicated to the control of the Brazilian Airspace:

  • 3rd Squadron of the 1st Communications and Control Group (3º/1ºGCC), the Morcego Squadron, using radars and equipment for air defense.

Additionally, the Base has a Cessna 208 Caravan for administrative missions.

Accidents and incidents

Access

The base is located 18 km from downtown Natal.

See also

References
  1. Brazilian Air Force Official Website Archived 20 April 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  2. "2º/5ºGAv – Esquadrão Joker" (in Portuguese). Spotter. Retrieved 30 April 2011.
  3. "1º/11ºGAv – Esquadrão Gavião" (in Portuguese). Spotter. Retrieved 30 April 2011.
  4. "Accident description FAB-2055". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 9 May 2011.
  5. "Accident description FAB-2169". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 9 May 2011.
  6. "Accident description FAB-2157". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 9 May 2011.
  7. "Accident description FAB-7102". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 9 May 2011.
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