Colombian Army desires pair of new helicopter training facilities

The Colombian National Army (Ejército Nacional de Colombia: EJC) wants to develop a pair of rotary wing training facilities as part of a goal to have an aviation training brigade recognised by 2025 as an international and regional aviation training centre.

The army wants to develop an advanced rotary wing training centre and expects this facility to require an initial investment of USD26.5 million, according to briefings slides presented to an audience on 5 December at Tolemaida Air Base, Colombia.

A Colombian Army Mil Mi-17 ‘Hip’ helicopter on display in the army’s Tolemaida Air Base maintenance, repair, and overhaul hangar on 5 December. (Janes/Pat Host)

The EJC wants to improve its current helicopter training centre and offer training services to all of the Colombian armed forces and their allies. Of this initial investment, the EJC expects room facilities to cost approximately USD7 million and support maintenance to cost USD8.7 million. The classroom facilities expenditure would acquire hangars, room facilities, furniture, classroom equipment, and instruction models. The EJC has not yet spent this initial investment.

The EJC also wants to develop a high-altitude landing and operations center and expects this to cost USD55.1 million. This would acquire needed infrastructure for a facility to open in Sogamoso, Boyacá, by 2022–23, depending on funding availability.

This high-altitude landing and operations centre would provide international-level training to all Colombian and foreign military rotary wing crews with a goal of empowering capabilities while reducing accident rates in high-altitude and mountainous operations. This effort would acquire lodging facilities and hangars among other equipment and facilities.