Colombian Air Force

Colombian Air Force Fuerza Aérea Colombiana
Coat of arms of the Colombian Air Force
Founded	December 31, 1919
Country	Colombia
Branch	Air Force
Size	16,100 active personnel 281 aircraft
Part of	Colombian Armed Forces
Nickname(s)	FAC
Motto(s)	Sic Itur Ad Astra – ("Thus one reaches the stars") Somos la Fuerza - ("We are the Force")
Colors	Sky Blue, Turquoise Blue
March	Colombian Air Force Hymn
Mascot(s)	Capitan Paz
Anniversaries	November 8
Engagements	Colombia–Peru War Colombian armed conflict
Commanders
Commander of the Air Force	Lieutenant General of the Air Carlos Eduardo Bueno Vargas
AF Second Commander and Chief of the Air Staff	Major General of the Air Luis Ignasio Barón Casas
Notable commanders	Major General Alberto Alejandro Pauwels Rodriguez
Insignia
Roundel
Flag
Ensign
Aircraft flown
Attack	A-29, A-37, OV-10, AC-47
Fighter	IAI Kfir
Attack helicopter	AH-60, AB212 Rápaz
Reconnaissance	SA2-37A/B, Skymaster C-337H, SK-350, SR-560, SR-26
Trainer	T-34, T-41, T-27, T-90, Bell 206, OH-58 Kiowa
Transport	C-130, C-295, CN-235, C-212

Sic Itur Ad Astra – ("Thus one reaches the stars")

The Colombian Air Force or FAC (Spanish: Fuerza Aérea Colombiana) is the Air Force of the Republic of Colombia. The Colombian Air Force (FAC) is one of the three institutions of the Military Forces of Colombia, charge according to the 1991 Constitution of the work to exercise and maintain control of Colombia's airspace to defend the sovereignty, territorial integrity and constitutional order. It is one of the largest American air forces (after Brazil, Peru and U.S.) and increased activity due to its important role in the fight against narco-terrorism.

Air Force is the only global processes that have accredited with ISO 9001 and NTCGP 1000. The system corresponds to ISO 9001 quality management with the international standard, which inscribed the FAC as a world-class organization. The second certificate, the NTCGP 1000, corresponds to the technical standard of quality of governance, as a result of Act 872 of 2003 requires all public bodies to implement the quality management system by December 2008.

The FAC has the distinction of having been used in missions of observation and aerial combat from the Colombian-Peruvian war of 1932, never elected government was ousted by force, as the FAC helped quell many rebellions from terrorism, military and political. The Colombian Air Force also served with distinction during the Second World War in the islands of San Andrés.

Military aviation began in Colombia in 1919 with the creation of a military aviation school for the Colombian Army. Previously by Law 15 of 1916 of September 7 two commissions were sent overseas to study new technological advancements in aviation, infantry, cavalry, engineering and trains. Officers pertaining to the Colombian Army were also sent to take a course on flight training on techniques and tactics. The school was then created in Colombia along with the Colombian National Army Aviation as a fifth regiment by Law 126 of 1919 of December 31 authorized by President of Colombia, Marco Fidel Suárez. The unit was officially activated on February 15, 1921 in Flandes, Department of Tolima with the support of a French mission led by Lieutenant Colonel Rene Guichard. The Aviation School initially had 3 Caudron G.3 E-2, 3 Caudron G.4 A-2 and four Nieuport Delage 11 C-1. The school was closed due to financial hardships in 1922.