Bolivian Air Force


The Bolivian Air Force is the air force of Bolivia and branch of the Bolivian Armed Forces.

History

By 1938 the Bolivian air force consisted of about 60 aircraft, and about 300 staff; the officers were trained in Italy.
In 2017 Bolivia finally retired the Lockheed T-33 marking the end of 44 years of service. Bolivia was the last operator of the T-33.

Organization

FAB is organized into air brigades, which is formed by one to three air groups. The air groups are based at La Paz, Cochabamba, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Puerto Suárez, Tarija, Villamontes, Cobija, Trinidad, Riberalta, Roboré, Uyuni, Oruro, Sucre and Chimoré.
Major commands included the following:
  • General Command Systems Department in La Paz, equipped with sophisticated computers.
  • Group of Air-Defense : GADA-91, GADA-92, GADA-93, GADA-94, GADA-95, GADA-96 and GADA-97.
  • Six air brigades with subordinate air groups.
  • * First Air Brigade :
  • ** Fighter group 31 "Gral. Jorge Jordán Mercado": Fighter squadron 311, Executive squadron 310
  • ** Transport air group 71 "Gen.W.A.Rojas" :Air squadron 710, Air squadron 711, Air squadron 712
  • ** Aerophotogrammetry National Service
  • ** Air group 1 – Air group VIP
  • ** Air group 66 – air base in Oruro
  • ** Transporte Aereo Boliviano-TAB
  • ** Task Force "Black Devils"
  • ** Group air defence artillery GADA-91
  • ** Group air defence artillery GADA-97
  • * Second Air Brigade :
  • ** Fighter group 34 "P.R.Cuevas": Aerotactico squadron 340, Link training squadron 341
  • ** Air group search and rescue 51: Helicopter Squadron 511
  • ** Air group training 22 – air base in Chimore
  • ** Air group 67 – air base in Sucre
  • **Group air defence artillery GADA-92
  • * Third Air Brigade :
  • ** Fighter group 32 "B.B.Rioja" : squadron 321, squadron 320, squadron 327
  • ** COLMILAV Air group training 21 – Training squadrons: primary squadron, basic squadron, squadron "NN"
  • ** Air group 83: 831 squadron
  • ** Air group 61 "Gen.L.G.Pereiera : squadron 610
  • ** Task force "Red Devils"
  • ** Group air defence artillery GADA-93
  • * Fourth Air Brigade :
  • ** Air Group 82 "Cap.A.V.Peralta" : squadron 821
  • ** Air Group 63 "Tcnl.E.L.Rivera" : squadron 630
  • ** Air Group 41 –
  • ** Air group 65 –
  • ** Group air defence artillery GADA-94
  • * Fifth Air Brigade :
  • ** Group air 72 – air base Trinidad
  • ** Group air 62 – air base Riberalta
  • ** Group air defence artillery GADA-95
  • * Sixth Air Brigade :
  • ** Group air 64 – air base Cobija
  • ** Group air defence artillery GADA-96

Civil aviation

The General Directorate of Civil Aeronautics formerly part of the FAB, administers a civil aeronautics school called the National Institute of Civil Aeronautics, and two commercial air transport services; TAM and TAB.

Bolivian Military Airline (TAM)

Bolivian Military Airline is an airline based in La Paz, Bolivia. It is the civilian wing of the 'Fuerza Aérea Boliviana', operating passenger services to remote towns and communities in the North and Northeast of Bolivia. TAM has been a part of the FAB since 1945.
A similar airline serving the Beni Department with small planes is Línea Aérea Amaszonas, using smaller planes than TAM.
The Bolivian Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Public Works, Services and Housing announced on 8 December 2016 that TAM would cease transporting civilian passengers and cargo on 16 December 2016. The decision was to allow TAM to reorganize with a status akin to the state-sponsored Boliviana de Aviacion prior to resuming service under civilian regulations.

Bolivian Air Transport (TAB)

Although a civil transport airline, Bolivian Air Transport and is headed by an FAB general. TAB, a charter heavy cargo airline, links Bolivia with most countries of the Western Hemisphere; its inventory included a fleet of Lockheed C-130 Hercules aircraft. TAB's Base of operations was headquartered at El Alto, adjacent to La Paz's El Alto International Airport. TAB also flew to Miami and Houston, with stops in Panama.

Aircraft

Retired aircraft

BAE Systems 146, Breguet 19, Cavalier Mustang, Curtiss Hawk, Curtiss T-32 Condor II, Diamond DA40, Fokker C.V, Junkers Ju 86, Junkers W 34, Helibras HB350 Esquilo, Lockheed T-33, Vickers Vespa

Future acquisitions

During a 31 July 2017 ceremony, which was attended by the armed forces' high command, four models of lead-in fighter trainers were presented with a potential to replace the T-33 and reequip the GAC-31. The FAB's Commander expressed the FAB's preference for the Yak-130.