On the occasion, the 40th anniversary of the Seventh Air Transport Squadron (7th ETA) – Cobra Squadron – was also celebrated.
Air Force Agency, by Lieutenant Johny Lucas
The Brazilian Air Force (FAB, per its Portuguese acronym) held the Transport Aviation Meeting (RAT-2023, per its Portuguese acronym) at Manaus Air Base (BAMN, per its Portuguese acronym), in the state of Amazonas, between July 9th and 11th, in addition to celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Seventh Air Transport Squadron (7th ETA, per its Portuguese acronym) – Cobra Squadron. More than 200 service members participated in the activities during the three-day event.
The closing ceremony of RAT-2023 was presided over by the Acting Commander of the Air Force and Commander of the Aerospace Operations Command, General Hudson Costa Potiguara, accompanied by the Commander of Preparedness, General Sérgio Roberto de Almeida.
The ceremony was also attended by the Chief of Staff of the Preparedness Command (COMPREP), Major General Luiz Guilherme Silveira de Medeiros; the Commander of the Seventh Regional Air Command (VII COMAR), Major General David Almeida Alcoforado; other Generals; veterans; Chiefs; Directors, as well as civil and military authorities.
The Acting Commander of Aeronautics, Lieutenant General Potiguara, highlighted the purpose of the Transport Aviation Meeting. “The RAT, as a meeting, is a doctrinal foundation. For the Brazilian Air Force, first, it is a doctrinal assessment to implement new actions,” he said.
The FAB currently has 13 Transport Aviation units throughout Brazil, which operate the KC-390 Millennium, C-130 Hercules, C-105 Amazonas, C-99, C-97 Brasília, C-98 Caravan, C-95 Bandeirante and U-100 Phenom aircraft. The Units are based in Manaus (AM), Belém (PA), Parnamirim (RN), Rio de Janeiro (RJ), Canoas (RS), Campo Grande (MS), Anápolis (GO) and Brasília (DF).
The ceremony was marked by the awarding of the Honorary Cobra Commendation, the Espírito RAT Trophy, the Operational Marks Award, and the air parade of the KC-390 Millennium; C-130 Hercules; C-105 Amazonas; C-97 Brasília; C-95 Bandeirante; and C-98 Caravan aircraft.
The Operations Section Chief of the First Air Transport Squadron – Tracajá Squadron, Major Sérgis Mayson Oliveira Lima, highlighted the importance of participating in the event. “The meeting is the moment when we can verify that all actions are in accordance with the doctrine that the FAB passes on to each squadron. Thus, we also exchange experience between the older crew members and the newly arrived lieutenants,” he said.
Cobra Squadron
Created on July 4, 1983, the 7th ETA, throughout its 40 years of existence, has totaled more than 200 thousand hours of flights, being the Squadron baptized as “Angels of the Amazon”. The Squadron’s purpose is to carry out logistical air transportation missions and other regional missions of interest to the Air Force Command.
Operating with C-98 Grand Caravan and C-97 Brasília aircraft, the Cobra Squadron, we highlight the missions of support to the Brazilian Navy, the Brazilian Army and other government agencies, in addition to missions of mercy and aeromedical evacuation in support of needy communities in the North Region, where transportation by other means, if not air, is scarce, highlighting the importance of the noble mission of this Squadron.
“If today in Cobra, we cultivate a sense of responsibility and commitment to the values of the Brazilian Air Force, this is due to our pioneers, who soon after the creation of the Unit, quickly began to fulfill the mission assigned to the Squadron”, emphasized the Commander of the 7th ETA, Lieutenant Colonel André Nicolazzi Da Rocha.
Honorary Cobra
The Order of the Honorary Cobra, a permanent distinction, was created with the purpose of recording the gratitude and recognition of the Seventh Air Transport Squadron to those who, in a totally selfless and committed manner, contributed greatly to the fulfillment of the Unit’s mission or provided it with relevant services.
RAT Spirit Trophy
The RAT Spirit Trophy is the symbol of Transport Aviation, embodying the essence of camaraderie, dedication and the eternal flame of the pilots who make it up. It holds immense importance as it is passed on to the representative of the next meeting location, signifying the continuity of aviation history. The location chosen for each Transport Aviation Meeting is carefully selected, and ensures that the event is nationwide in scope.
Operational Brands Awards
The Operational Marks award, achieved by an airman, demonstrates the high degree of commitment, selflessness and professionalism dedicated to the air activity in his career.
Reconnaissance Aviation Meeting
The Anápolis Air Base (BAAN) held the 76th edition of the Reconnaissance Aviation Meeting (RAREC-2023) from June 21 to 23.
Members of the four Brazilian Air Force (FAB) Reconnaissance Squadrons participated in the three-day meeting: the First Squadron of the Tenth Aviation Group (1°/10° GAV) – Poker Squadron; the First Squadron of the Seventh Aviation Group (1°/7° GAV) – Orungan Squadron; the Second Squadron of the Sixth Aviation Group (2°/6° GAV) – Guardian Squadron; and the First Squadron of the Twelfth Aviation Group (1°/12° GAV) – Horus Squadron.
The RAREC featured lectures on Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (IVR), given by experts and Commanders of different Squadrons, yielding learning and exchange of experiences lived in everyday life among the participants.
The RAREC-2023 was also attended by: the Acting Commander of the Air Force and Commander of Aerospace Operations, Lieutenant General Hudson Costa Potiguara; the Commander of Preparedness, Lieutenant General Sérgio Roberto de Almeida; the Chief of Staff of the Preparedness Command, Major General Luiz Guilherme Silveira de Medeiros; the Chief of the Air Operations Preparedness Branch, Air Brigadier Alessandro Cramer, among other civilian and military authorities.
At the end of the meeting, a ceremony was held to commemorate the Day of Reconnaissance Aviation, celebrated on June 24, and was chaired by Air Lieutenant General Potiguara. Also during the ceremony, the Brigadier Nero Moura Operational Merit Medal was imposed on Lieutenant Colonel Ricardo Starling Cardoso, Commander of the 1st/12th GAV.
In his words, the Commander of Preparedness, Lieutenant General Almeida reinforced the importance of the date. “In a scenario of constant operational evolution, the FAB implemented the IVR concept: Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, with Reconnaissance Aviation transcending the specificities of its Squadrons, since its actions can be aggregated by members of other aviations, working synergistically. This is the case of the First of the Seventh Aviation Group (1º/7º GAV), the Orungan Squadron, which has been operating the RQ-1150 Heron aircraft since 2022”, he said.
Photos: Lieutenant Dantoniele / 7th ETA, Sergeant Figueira / CECOMSAER and Sergeant Pardo / BAMN
Video: Sergeant André Souza / CECOMSAER *** Translated by the DEFCONPress FYI Team ***