Page 20 - Air Forces Monthly - September 2017

NEWS Latin America

Brazilian C-767 at G20 Summit

THE FORÇA Aérea
Brasileira (FAB, Brazilian
Air Force) sent its sole
C-767 VIP transport to the
Group of Twenty (G20)
Summit in Hamburg,
Germany from July
7-8. Serial FAB 2900 is
operated by Esquadrão
‘Corsário’, 2°/2° Grupo
de Transporte (GT), part
of Ala 11, and is based at
Base Aérea do Galeão, Rio
de Janeiro. The former
Martinair 767-300ER
was delivered to Brazil
on July 10 last year on
a three-year lease with
an option for a further
Rene Köhler 12-month extension.
First AH-11B Brazilian P-3
Super Lynx problems

modernised JUST THREE or four out of
LEONARDO HELICOPTERS nine modernised P-3AM
anti-submarine warfare
has completed mid- aircraft are reportedly in
life upgrade work on a operational service with
first Marinha do Brasil the Força Aérea Brasileira
(Brazilian Navy) AH-11B (FAB, Brazilian Air Force).
Super Lynx multi-role Despite undergoing a
helicopter. The company significant upgrade, the
is modernising eight aircraft’s wingboxes
AH-11As (Mk21As) in were not repaired,
service with 1° Esquadrão which is alleged to limit
de Helicópteros de their serviceability.
Esclarecimento e Ataque Brazil acquired nine
Anti-Submarino (HA-1, P-3As from US Navy
1st Reconnaissance stocks in 2006, together
and Attack Helicopter with another three that
Squadron) ‘Lince’ at São were used for spares.
Pedro da Aldeia naval Airbus upgraded the nine
air base as part of a aircraft with new avionics
$132m contract signed in and systems including
June 2014. The updated Above: Currently three Super Lynxes are undergoing upgrade to AH-11B standard with the Fully Integrated
helicopters are due to Leonardo Helicopters. Another two are scheduled to begin modernisation in the second half of Tactical System (FITS).
be returned to the navy the year. via Juan Carlos Cicalesi Any repairs are expected
from November with to be completed as part
deliveries completed Bolivian RJ70 in the UK of a service life extension
in February 2019. before the Orions are
The upgrade includes transferred to the
CTS800-4N engines, a digital Brazilian Navy in 2020.
cockpit with three large- Juan Carlos Cicalesi
area displays and Garmin
GTN-650 touchscreen,
General Dynamics UK Uruguayan Air
tactical processing system
and secure data recorder, Force trains
Leonardo SAGE electronic in the US
support measures system
and defensive aids THE FUERZA Aérea
controller and Thales Uruguaya (FAU,
Vicon XF countermeasures Uruguayan Air Force) has
dispensers. Also added sent personnel to the US
are an Avionics RX-5 Above: Avro RJ70 FAB-107 lands at Southend in the late evening of July 15. It wears the basic to train to operate the
identification friend or foe MDLR colours with titles painted out, and the military serial FAB-107 taped on. Keith Burton recently acquired BAe
system, Garmin GTS-855 AVRO RJ70 FAB-107 on joint operations was latterly registered as 125-700A presidential
traffic collision avoidance arrived at London with the Fuerza Aérea T7-KMA, and still stored aircraft. The courses
system and GTX-33DH Southend Airport, Essex Boliviana (FAB, Bolivian in Romania. Although are being taught by
Mode S digital transponder, from Bacău Airport, Air Force). Stored for planned to make only CAE in Dallas, Texas.
Curtiss-Wright software- Romania on July 15. eight years in the open a night stop in the UK, In addition, the FAU is
configurable air data unit, The aircraft was on its at Bacău, the aircraft the RJ70 was still in preparing to acquire
instrument landing system, delivery flight to customer still wears the colours of the country several a new navigation aid
VHF omnidirectional TAM (Transporte Aéreo previous operator MDLR days later, apparently system for the aircraft.
range system and an Militar), with which it is Airlines, with which it was held up by unspecified Juan Carlos Cicalesi
electrically driven hoist. expected to be operated registered as VT-MDN. It technical problems.

20 // SEPTEMBER 2017 #354 www.airforcesmonthly.com