Naval Aviation

Naval Aviation is headed by the Commander of the Naval Aviation, which is a General Officer grade of Rear Admiral. It has under its command two Air Corps forces that rely upon the squadrons and Air Corps detachments and logistical support facilities. This is a force of operational support that has under its control the planes and helicopters of the institution, along with the entire infrastructure and corresponding support. Its main base is located in Concón, where they base squadrons of aircraft that meet roles of attack, aerobeacon exploration, instruction and general purposes. Naval Aviation units provide support to naval surface forces, submarine and naval infantry, to contribute to the success of naval operations.

Its aircraft performing tasks in aerobeacon exploration and monitoring of the Territorial Sea and the exclusive economic zone of irreplaceable way. Furthermore, they meet an important work of search and rescue at sea, for the benefit of bathers, nautical sports and ships of all flags that are found in the waters subject to the control and responsibility of the Navy.

The "Alcatraz" project, consists of the renewal the modern exploration aircraft multi-purpose C-295 transport aircraft. Although both Colombia and Brazil already had requested the freighter version of the C-295M, Chile would be the first user of the destined for the maritime patrol variant, that was initially itended to replace both the P-3ACh Orion as to the Embraer Emb-111. The model requested by the ACh is actually a derivative of the maritime patrol CN-235MP version Persuader, which shares the integrated tactical system developed by CASA and is known as FITS (Fully Integrated Tactical System), which consists of a series of consoles or jobs for operators of systems, which are redundant with each other.

Chile was one of the first countries to place an order with the former company CASA (now part of Airbus Defence and Space) in 1978 and today has a fleet of 12 military transport aircraft produced by Airbus Defence and Space. Chilean Navy and Brazilian Air Force also use the Airbus Defence and Space C295 for search and rescue (SAR) missions.The Surveillance activities can be performed thanks to the Fully Integrated Tactical System (FITS), which can be installed in both permanent or palletized solution. Airbus Defence and Space and Enaer’s long-standing and successful cooperation dates back to the 1980s, when they started working together on acquisition programmes for the Chilean Armed Forces. Their cooperation has been extended to various fields, from the manufacturing of the C101 to the joint production of parts for the CN235 and C295 aircraft. Naval Aviation is tied to Chile's history since the beginning of the 20th century. Thus, on April 27, 1916, started the first course of Naval Aviators at the school of aeronautical military del Bosque, in Santiago of Chile. On 18 October of that same year dies in Lieutenant second don Pedro Luco Christie, collide in a "Sanchez kisses" biplane with a forest of eucalyptus, in circumstances that took off to perform final tests that would enable it to graduating as a pilot. The Navy of Chile thus lost its first member in overhead activities, the initial effort of creating a new specialty.

Naval Aviation service, started its activities of flight in 1919, upon receiving an important departure of aircraft from England, delivered by that country in compensation for the seizure of naval units Chilean in construction to start the first world war, battleships "Almirante Latorre" and "Admiral Cochrane" and "Admiral Goñi"ships, "Almirante Riveros", "Admiral Simpson" and "Admiral Williams"for delivery to the service of the British Royal Navy. The first Air Corps operations were carried out with a Sopwith Baby carrier-based seaplane aboard the cruise "O'Higgins". In 1921 the Naval Aviation settled in the torpedo in Valparaiso Cove, in an improvised and first base.

On March 16, 1923, the President of the Republic don Arturo Alessandri Palma signed the Supreme Decree which regulated the activities of Naval Aviation as an integral part of the Navy. In 1925 begin Air Corps operations at the new Naval Air Base of Quintero, occasion in which the institution started its first acquisitions of seaplanes that consisted of:

• 8 flying boat Dornier Wall.
• 6 hydroplanes Avro 504-N.
• 4 seaplane Fairey III-F (26).

Until the end of the 1920s, the Naval Aviation provided valuable air services to the national squad and made several raids along the Chilean coast. The year 1930, under a Supreme Decree of the then President of the Republic, Army General, don Carlos Ibañez of the field, Naval Aviation was recast with the military aviation to give birth to a new institution, the national air force, which later adopted the name of air force of Chile. However the Air Corps activities was followed developed aboard battleship "Almirante Latorre" with seaplanes Fairey III.

The year 1945, according to the experiences gained in the second world war, the Navy sent 10 officers to obtain the title of Naval Aviators in the Navy of the United States of America. These naval pilots came to qualify and operate aircraft fighter and torpedo bombers aboard the aircraft carrier USS "Wright", laying the groundwork that propelled the rebirth of Naval Aviation in the year 1953. The same General Carlos Ibáñez del Campo in a second presidential term, signing a Supreme Decree which authorizes the Navy to acquire helicopters and transport aircraft. The activities were restarted from the El Belloto aerodrome, in the commune of Quilpué, 20 kilómeros of Valparaiso, in the central zone of the country. Since that date began to the definitive consolidation of the Naval Aviation, which has become an important arm armed to the Chilean naval forces.