Captain Germán Olano Moreno Air Base

Captain Germán Olano Moreno Air Base (Spanish: Base Aérea Capitán Germán Olano Moreno) (IATA: PAL, ICAO: SKPQ) is a Colombian military base assigned to the Colombian Aerospace Force (Fuerza Aeroespacial Colombiana or FAC) Combat Air Command No. 1 (Comando Aéreo de Combate No. 1 or CACOM 1). The base is located in Palanquero, near Puerto Salgar, in the Cundinamarca department of Colombia.[4] It is named in honor of Captain Germán Olano Moreno.[5]

Captain Germán Olano Moreno Air Base

Base Aérea Capitán Germán Olano Moreno
Summary
Airport typeMilitary: Air Force Base
OperatorColombian Aerospace Force
LocationPalanquero / Puerto Salgar, Colombia
BuiltAugust 27, 1933
In use1933 - Present
CommanderBrigadier General Guillermo León León
OccupantsComando Aéreo de Combate No. 1
Elevation AMSL173 m / 566 ft
Coordinates5°29′01″N 74°39′26″W / 5.48361°N 74.65722°W / 5.48361; -74.65722
Websitewww.cacom1.mil.co
Map
PAL is located in Colombia
PAL
PAL
Location of the airport in Colombia
Map
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
18/36 3,044 9,987 Asphalt
Source: WAD[1] GCM[2] Google Maps[3]

Facilities

edit

The air base resides at an elevation of 566 feet (173 m) above mean sea level. It has one runway designated 18/36 with an asphalt surface measuring 9,987 by 164 feet (3,044 m × 50 m).[1]

History

edit

Officially inaugurated August 27, 1933 by the president of the republic Enrique Olaya Herrera, as the national airport of La Dorada.[6]

In 1932, due to the conflict with Peru, the idea to create a base in a central strategic location was gaining hold. Back then the Hacienda Palanquero was already in use as an airport by the Colombian-German airline Scadta since 1919.[7]

Accidents and incidents

edit
  • On 31 December 2014, A Colombian Air Force IAI Kfir C10 combat aircraft from 111 Squadron of the 1st Combat Air Command (CACOM-1) crashed while undertaking a training mission over La Dorada in Caldas. The pilot ejected following a technical failure while on approach to the Palanquero airbase in Puerto Salgar, Cundinamarca. "Colombian Kfir fighter lost to accident".
  • On 18 February 2009, Basler BT-67 FAC 1670 of the Colombian Air Force crashed near the base on a local training flight. All five crew were killed.[8][9]
  • On 15 May 2009, FAC 3031 Dassault Mirage 5 of the Colombian Air Force crashed above the 36 heading after a failed take-off. The pilot made the emergency procedures and ejected, leaving unharmed.

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ a b Airport information for SKPQ[usurped] from DAFIF (effective October 2006)
  2. ^ Airport information for PAL at Great Circle Mapper.
  3. ^ Google Maps - Puerto Salgar
  4. ^ (in Spanish) CACOM 1 - Puerto Salgar (Cundinamarca) - Comando Aéreo de Combate No.1 Archived 2012-02-19 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ (in Spanish) Capitán Germán Olano Moreno
  6. ^ "Hitos en la historia de Palanquero". Archived from the original on 2012-03-10. Retrieved 2010-08-26.
  7. ^ "Reseña Histórica". Archived from the original on 2012-03-10. Retrieved 2010-08-26.
  8. ^ "FAC1670 Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 21 June 2010.
  9. ^ "Ocho heridos deja el estallido accidental de una granada en un avión policial en Colombia" (in Spanish). Ultima Hora. 18 February 2009. Retrieved 22 June 2010.