Transportation Air Command No (Comando Aereo De Transporte Militar)
CATAM is located at the "BG. Camilo Diaz Alvarez" airbase in Bogota, Colombia. It is led by Air Group 71 and comprised of 4 squadrons.
Squadron 711 is responsible for the FAC's heavy transport. It is equipped with a mix of C-130 and CN-235 planes.
Colombia's first 3 transport planes (C-130B Hercules) were acquired from the Canadian Air Force in 1969. Two of those planes were later lost in accidents and replaced by 2 C-130H planes. In 1996 the FAC ordered 3 CN-235M's and recieved them 2 years later. The US Air Force (USAF) provided Colombia with 6 C-130B planes. In 2001 the USAF offered to donate another C-130B. The Douglas C-47 is still used by the FAC, making Colombia one of the last countries in the world to operate this plane (Colombia recieved its first C-47 in 1944).
Squadron 712 conducts general transportation operations. Among its planes are 3 Israeli Arava's (acquired in 1980) and one Beech King Air and Queen Air each.
The Presidential transport squadron uses the Boeing 757, which replaced the Fokker F-28 Fellowship.
The SATENA (Servicio de Aeronavegacion a Territorios Nacionales) air line was created in 1962 with the goal of developing national aviation and providing transportational services to the less-developed regions of the country. SATENA utilizes C212-300, Do328-120, EMB145LR, and EMB120ER.
Narco-transport
In November 1998 a Colombian C-130 was detained in the US (Ft. Lauderdale). The plane was carrying 600 kg of cocaine and led to the resignation of FAC Commander- General Manuel Sandoval. Furthermore, in 1996 4 kilograms of heroine were found in a Fokker F-28 presidential plane before departing to a UN conference in New York.
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