Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force Air Wing
| Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force Air Wing | |
|---|---|
 Roundel | |
| Active | 12 April 2022-present[1] |
| Country | Antigua and Barbuda |
| Size | 2 aircraft |
| Motto(s) | Sparing nothing, giving all |
| March | Fair Antigua, We Salute Thee[2] |
| Commanders | |
| Lieutenant colonel | Alando Michael |
The Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force Air Wing is an aerial component of the Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force. The Air Wing's mission includes troop transport, medical evacuation, disaster response and search and rescue.[3] The unit was commissioned on 12 April 2022 and started operations with one aircraft, a second airframe entered service in September 2023. Since then, it has expressed interest in acquiring a helicopter, and additional aircraft.[4][5] Currently they are based in the Calvin Air hangar at V.C. Bird International Airport, but are scheduled relocate to a more suitable hangar.[4]
Aircraft
Current inventory
| Aircraft | Origin | Type | Variant | In service | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transport | |||||
| Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander | United Kingdom | Transport | 1[6] | ||
| Piper PA-31 Navajo | United States | Transport | PA-31-350 Chieftain | 1[5] | 1 additional "unserviceable" aircraft[7] |
References
- ^ "Antigua And Barbuda Defence Force Airwing - Commissioned!". Facebook. May 2022.
- ^ "Saluting the National Anthem after the Governor General has arrived". Facebook. May 2022.
- ^ "Antigua and Barbuda: Defense Forces Enhance Fleet with New Aircraft". Carib Daily News. 18 September 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
- ^ a b "Commissioning of ABDF Airwing". YouTube.
- ^ a b "Antigua & Barbuda's Air Wing receives 2nd aircraft". Scramble Magazine. 16 November 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
- ^ Hoyle, Craig (2023). "World Air Forces 2024". Flight Global. flightglobal.com. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
- ^ "AIRWING". Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force. Retrieved 17 November 2024.