Base Aérea de Manaus – Força Aérea Brasileira

Author: Ian French
Photography: Ian French & Força Aérea Brasileira

Manaus hosts the 4th Aviation Battalion of the Brazilian Army (4° BAvEx) “Batalhão Coronel Ricardo Pavanello” which operates the HM-1 Pantera, HM-2 Black Hawk, and HM-4 Jaguar.

The following Força Aérea Brasileira squadrons are based at Manaus and constitute Ala 8 (which reports to the Amazon Air Command (VII COMAR)):
– 7 Esquadrão /8 Grupo de Aviação
– 1 Esquadrão /9 Grupo de Aviação
– 7 Esquadrão de Transporte Aéreo

7/8 GAv was formed in 1980 at Belém/Pará as 1° Esquadrão “Falcão” / 8° Grupo de Aviação (1°/8° GAv), when 1° Esquadrão Misto de Reconhecimento e Ataque (1º EMRA) with Bell UH-1D Iroquois, two Cessna L-19E Bird Dog and North American T-6D/G Texan was disbanded. The squadron moved to Base Aérea de Manaus in 1980 and stayed there until it became 7°/8° GAv in 1987.

In 1987 the 1° Esquadrilha of 7°/8° GAv with Aérospatiale AS.355F2 Fennec (CH-55) was formed at Base Aérea de Belém and 1° Esquadrão “Falcão” / 8° Grupo de Aviação (1°/8° GAv) was reformed in 1992. After the reestablishment of 1°/8° GAv in 1992 the unit’s name was “Falcão Pioneiro”, as the name “Falcão” was used by 7°/8° GAv. In 1998 however, the latter unit became known as “Harpia” and 1°/8° GAv received its original name back.

Helicopters operated: UH-1D 1980-, AS355 (CH-55) 1987-1992, AS332M (H-34) 1987-1991, UH-1H 1997-2006 & UH-60L from 2006

1/9 GAv was formed in 1970 at Base Aérea de Belém with de Havilland DHC-5A Buffalo but moved to Base Aérea de Manaus in 1970.

Aircraft operated: DHC-5A (C-115) 1970-2008 & Casa 295M (C-105) from 2008

7 ETA was formed in 1983 at Base Aérea de Manaus, Amazonas, part of VII Comando Aéreo Regional (VII COMAR). In 1984 1° Esquadrilha, which later became 1º/3º GAv, moved to Base Aérea de Boa Vista, while 2° Esquadrilha, which later became 2º/3º GAv, moved to Base Aérea de Porto Velho. 1° Esquadrilha received new aircraft in 1988, the Cessna 208 Caravan (C-98). These two units performed a transport role until they were reequipped with Embraer EMB-312 Tucano (AT-27) whereupon the role changed to light attack. In 1995 these two Esquadrilhas were disbanded and became 1º/3º GAv and 2º/3º GAv.

Aircraft operated: EMB110 (C-95) 1983-2007, C208 (C-98A) from 1988, EMB120 (C-97) from 2007 & C208A (C-98B) from 2009

Aviation Press would like to thank the Força Aérea Brasileira for their hospitality and assistance with the article.