{"id":17,"date":"2009-12-13T05:00:00","date_gmt":"2009-12-13T04:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/2011\/09\/03\/dec09-news\/"},"modified":"2021-11-11T02:58:22","modified_gmt":"2021-11-11T01:58:22","slug":"dec09-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/dec09-news\/","title":{"rendered":"Christmas news brief"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Pilatus PC-12 HB-FSL\/GN-812 staging through Gran Canaria\/Gando (Spain) in November (photo Alejandro Hern\u00e1ndez Le\u00f3n).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The 54th anniversary of the Gendarmer\u00eda<\/strong> aviation component, held on 27 November at Campo de Mayo (B.A.), marked several new steps in the service’s re-equipment program. The day before the ceremony, three AS-350-B3 Ecureuil were officially accepted by the Servicio de Aviaci\u00f3n: GN-928 (c\/n 4686), GN-929 (4812) and GN-930 (4871). Furthermore, sources in Spain, Brazil and Argentina confirmed that a Pilatus PC-12\/47E transport (GN-812, c\/n 1165), which had been first noted outside the factory in Stanz (Switzerland) in August this year, entered Argentine territory via Salta on 1 December flying with Swiss ferry registration HB-FSL.<\/p>\n

Following several years away from European skies, the controversial Agrupaci\u00f3n A\u00e9rea Presidencial<\/strong> flagship, Boeing 757-23A T-01, was again noted flying President Cristina Fern\u00e1ndez de Kirchner flew to Europe to pay tribute to Pope John Paul II in the 25th anniversary of the peace treaty signed in 1984 between Chile and Argentina as well as to attend the XIX Ibero-American summit in Portugal. According to assorted reports, their aircraft was noted staging through Rome (Italy), M\u00e1laga (Spain) and Lisbon (Portugal) between 28 November and 2 December.<\/p>\n

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Boeing 757 T-01 visiting Lisbon (Portugal) in November (photo Miguel Claudio).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In a 4 December interview, Fuerza A\u00e9rea<\/strong> Chief of Staff, General Brigadier Normando Costantino, confirmed plans to further consolidate transport aircraft fleet. Following the acquisition of four Saab SF-340B and modernization of all existing DHC-6 Twin Otter for LADE service, Air Force now looks to strengthen tactical cargo and air refuelling capabilities by maintaining five C-130 Hercules into operational condition. Models that will remain active comprise only the C-130H, KC-130H and L-100-30 variants; since the remaining C-130B airframes have been deemed unserviceable.<\/p>\n

He was also emphatic about the definitive retirement of Boeing 707 transports from Argentine Air Force service. Citing huge fuel costs, lack of certified in-country maintenance capabilities and shrinking usage of the type, he said “with those engines, the seven-oh-seven is no longer flying anywhere in the World”. Furthermore, he forecast that neighboring air forces (Brazil and Chile) will continue to operate their Pratt & Whitney JT3D powered examples for no more than a further two years.<\/p>\n

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