Colombian Navy acquisitions

The Armada Republica de Colombia (Colombian Navy) has just received two additional King Airs and will receive two helicopters in the coming months.

Late May 2021, a Beech C90A with registration N722KR (construction number LJ-1065) was impounded on the Colombian island of La Providencia in the Caribbean. After completion of the juridical process, the aircraft was assigned to Colombian navy and was received by the navy this week.

Its US civil registration was already cancelled on 17 November last year, pending delivery to its new owner. Military serial ARC103 has been assigned to this aircraft.

The second King Air, a model 350i, was acquired new from Textron Aviation and delivered on 29 December from Opa Locka (FL) to Bogota-El Dorado, where it will serve with the Grupo Aeronaval Central (GANCE). It was delivered in primer colours but with its future serial ARC104 painted and adorned with a Colombian flag. This aircraft was deregistered on 28 December as N1265B (constructionnumber FL-1265).

The Colombian Navy already operates Beech 350i ARC101 and Beech C90 ARC102.

In addition to these King Airs, a single AW139M helicopter has been ordered with Leonardo recently. Moreover, Textron will deliver a single Bell 412EPX, to augment the current fleet of seven remaining older model Bell 412s.

Photo: Wim Sonneveld (illustrative)