Defense Minister Jorge Taiana, accompanied by the head of the Argentine Air Force (FAA), Brigadier General Xavier Julián Isaac, led today the “First Solo Flight” ceremony at the Cordoba Military Aviation School and toured facilities Applied Research Center (CIA) of the same force in that province.
“It is stimulating to see so many men and women committed to the Air Force and to the mission of defending our skies. Today is a day of celebration,” said the minister during the act in which 22 young pilots from the promotion No. 87 of the Military Aviator Course (CAM 04) had to take off and land for the first time without a flight instructor.
In this sense, the minister encouraged the second lieutenants – who have the lowest rank within the FAA officers – to be able to “train themselves and do their best so that the task they perform is of excellence, especially given the prestige international won by this force”.
In the ceremony, which was attended by Malvinas war veterans, the 22 officersamong them a woman, signed the Solo Flight book, and they were given the shields and handkerchiefs, corresponding to the baptism of flight.
CAM 04 students began their activities in February with a total of 17 flight themes and totaling 20 hours in the air.
The minister toured the FAA CIA facilities, where he highlighted “the work that has been done and is being resumed with the development of vectors and rocketry, where there is a lot of experience but there is a delay that must be corrected”.
This center carries out “research, development, testing and evaluation related to aeronautical, space, defense activities and other areas of science and technology, in order to fulfill the proposed objectives and act as an advisor on scientific and technological issues associated with the areas of Research and Development,” Defense said in a statement.
The CIA also “promotes links with universities and scientific-technological organizations that contribute to the development of personnel and projects in execution,” the ministry specified.
