Brazilian Army Aviation Command

The Brazilian Army Aviation Command (Comando de Aviação do Exército) is a component of the Brazilian Army containing the army's helicopter units.

Tasks
The task of the Brazilian Army Aviation Command is to provide organic airmobility and support the ground forces by providing tactical air support, close air support and reconnaissance.

History
The origin of the Brazilian Army Aviation lies in the Paraguayan War, with on the one side Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay (the Triple Alliance) and on the other Paraguay, when the commander-in-chief of the Brazilian forces, Duke of Caxias, deployed observation balloons in the field to observe the enemy troops.

One of the first army aviators was Ricardo Kirk during the Contestado War 1912–1916, using monoplanes to support ground forces. These missions were predominantly flown for reconnaissance purposes.

In 1941, upon the creation of the Aeronautics Ministry and of the Brazilian Air Force (FAB), Military Aviation, which was the name of the army branch that operated the aircraft, ended its operations as all flying tasks brought under the aegis of the Brazilian Air Force.

In 1986, however, it was re-established under the name of Army Aviation to operate helicopters in support of the Brazilian Army.

Organisation

 * Army Aviation Command based at Taubaté SP which functions as operational command
 * Army Aviation Directorate based Brasilia which is responsible for the logistics

Brazilian Army Aviation has six units at its disposal:
 * 1st Army Aviation Battalion (1º Batalhão de Aviação do Exército (1º BAvEx)) based at Taubaté
 * 2nd Army Aviation Battalion (2º Batalhão de Aviação do Exército (2º BAvEx)) based at Taubaté
 * 3rd Army Aviation Battalion (3º Batalhão de Aviação do Exército (3º BAvEx)) based at Campo Grande (MS)
 * 4th Army Aviation Battalion (4º Batalhão de Aviação do Exército (4º BAvEx)) based at Manaus (AM)
 * Army Aviation Maintenance and Supply Battalion (Batalhão de Manutenção e Suprimento de Aviação do Exército) based at Taubaté
 * Army Aviation Instruction Centre (Centro de Instrução de Aviação do Exército e a Base de Aviação) based at Taubaté

Army Aviation Command also operates and maintains the infrastructures of the Taubaté Military Airfield, thus guaranteeing the aeronautic activity of the units. The 4th Army Aviation Battalion, based in Manaus, uses the aeronautic infrastructure provided by the Brazilian Air Force Manaus Air Base.

Aircraft
The Brazilian Army Aviation Command has 82 helicopters in service and operates the following;
 * 8 x Eurocopter AS 532 Cougar
 * 19 x Eurocopter AS 550 Fennec
 * 34 x Helibras HM-1 Pantera
 * 16 x Helibras HB 350
 * 4 x Sikorsky S-70 Black Hawk
 * 2 x Eurocopter EC 725