Ecuador is to boost the effectiveness of its air force transport fleet through the planned introduction to service early next year of five ex-Brazilian air force BAe 748s. Ecuador's air force is said to have four 748s in its fleet from an original total of five delivered during the 1970s, although just two of these are reported as being operational.
The proposed deal, which is awaiting Brazilian congressional approval, expected late this month, will cover the Brazilian defence ministry's transfer of the surplus aircraft, plus airframe and engine spares and a simulator. The recent recipients of an avionics upgrade, the air force's last five airworthy 748s had been scheduled to remain in use until 2007, but their retirement was accelerated following the service's acquisition of 10 secondhand ERJ-145 regional jets from Brazilian airline Rio-Sul.
To be designated C-99s in Brazilian air force service, the first two ERJ-145s have already been accepted and are being adapted for their new military transport role at Varig's Porto Alegre overhaul facility. One of the airframes has been earmarked for training duties with the air force unit that operates the EMB-145SA (R-99A) airborne early warning and control and EMB-145RS (R-99B) remote sensing aircraft, which form part of Brazil's SIVAM Amazon surveillance capability.
Meanwhile, Brazil's air force has taken delivery of its first of two new full mission simulators from Israel's Elbit Systems. The service has accepted one device for its Embraer EMB-314 ALX (A-/AT-29) Super Tucanos, and will soon receive another for its Northrop F-5BR fighters. The training devices use new avionics equipment integrated with the Super Tucano and F-5 fleets through earlier upgrades conducted by Elbit and Embraer.
Source: Flight International
