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Further Reading

Malta Air Squadron

The Air Squadron forms part of 2 Regiment and is based at Malta International Airport. It has a total complement of around 90 personnel. Aircraft maintenance and repair is handled at the base itself by the squadron’s technicians and engineers. The Helicopter Flight was established in May 1972 at St Patrick’s Barracks, following the transfer of three AB47 G2 and one Bell 47 G2 two-seat helicopters to Malta by the Federal Republic of Germany. The Air Squadron has seen considerable improvement, having two Islander twin engined aircraft for medium-range patrol along with its small Bulldog planes, Alouette helicopters and Agusta-Bell 212 helicopters deployed by the Italian Military Mission. The squadron has two BN-2B Islander twin-engined fixed wing aircraft for medium range patrol, five Bulldog single-engined aircraft and a flight of helicopters consisting of five SA316B Alouette 3s, two AB 47 G2s and two Nardi Hughes 500s, the last being in care and preservation.

The Air Squadron of the AFM tookn delivery of its second Pilatus Britten Norman BN-2B-26 Islander in September 1998. The AFM acquired its first Islander on the 5th December 1995. The AFM owned aircraft, bearing its Maltese Registration marks 9H-ADF, has been flown to Malta from the UK by AFM Pilots: Lt. Mark Said and Lt. George Abela. They were accompanied by Capt. Alex Dalli, the Air Squadron's Commander and Lt. Thomas Briffa as Chief Engineer. The Maltese crew took off from the UK base on the morning of Thursday the 24th September and is expected to land at the Air Squadron Base late at night on Friday 25th.

The Islander is a 10-seater fixed wing aircraft and its versatility has attracted a number of customers worldwide. It has an economic cruising speed of 150 miles per hour at 12,000 feet. It can fly up to 870 miles non-stop at cruising speed with a full payload of 1,300 Kgs. In the past years, the Air Squadron has made full use of this aircraft's flying capabilities. It has been successfully used in Search and rescue operations and Maritime Surveillance. Furthermore, it has also been used occasionally to transport military delegations to overseas destinations. The arrival of a second aircraft will give the Air Squadron a significant boost to its operational capabilities. This aircraft was purchased from the makers Britten Norman of the UK. It performed its first flight in 1987 bearing registration number G-LIPP.

In 2000 the Armed Forces of Malta purchased four ex-PAF Bulldogs training aircraft from the UK's Ministry of Defence Disposal Sales Agency. The planes arrived in Malta and landed safely at the Air Squadron site at Luqa Airport 20 February 2000.

On 2 May 2000 the aircraft of the Armed Forces of Malta Air Squadron started bearing military registrations, replacing their civilian registration.