Colombian Air Force flies for first time at Ex Maple Flag

For the first time ever, the Colombian Air Force is participating in one of the greatest international operational training exercises, "Exercise Maple Flag", which is being held from May 27 through June 21 at 4 Wing Cold Lake, Alta.
The FAC (Spanish acronym for Colombian Air Force), is bringing six A-29 Super Tucano combat aircraft, a C-130 Hercules transport aircraft and a KC-767 refuelling aircraft to the exercise. This journey began on May 12 when the Super Tucanos and the Hercules, with support personnel on board, took off from Barranquilla, Colombia for a three-day, 20-hour, 6,700 kilometre journey from Colombia through Kingston, Jamaica; Homestead, Florida; Maxwell, Alabama; Scott, Illinois; Sioux Falls and Regina, Canada, to finally arrive in Cold Lake, Alberta.
The FAC was invited to attend Exercise Maple Flag as an observer nation in 2012. With commitment and responsibility, FAC Commander General Tito Saul Pinilla Pinilla accepted the invitation to underscore the FAC’s interest in developing a strategic vision, supported by increased levels of training related to combined operations, and with the goal of standardizing our procedures in accordance with NATO doctrine.
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