Uruguay Air Force, March 27, 2020 - On March 25th, the 10th anniversary of the URUAVU contingent deployed in the Democratic Republic of Congo was celebrated. Despite the restrictions to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus, an internal flag ceremony and words from the Unit Commander were held, with the presence of both superior and subordinate personnel from the Contingent and representatives from URUASU.
On March 25, 2010, two Bell 212 aircraft arrived at Kavumu Airport in the city of Bukavu, marking the beginning of aerial operations in the country. Since then, they have successfully completed over 8,700 flight hours.
Today, missions include passenger and cargo transportation, aerial observation, and both daytime and nighttime medical evacuations, among others. So far, it remains the only air unit in the southern sector capable of conducting operations with night vision goggles, enabling 24/7 operations.
Words from the URUAVU Commander: "Ladies and gentlemen, Officers of URUASU and friends of the house, Superior and subordinate personnel of URUAVU, today, we are gathered to celebrate nothing less than the tenth anniversary of this Contingent in service of MONUSCO. Ten years of great sacrifice, of many hours of work and little sleep, of joys and sorrows, but above all, of many experiences that we will happily share someday.
These are the first 10 years in MONUSCO, but not the first mission in service of the United Nations in Africa. To understand the legacy of this Flight Unit, we must go back to 2002 when the General Staff of the Air Force and the Uruguayan Government began considering providing aerial resources to the United Nations. This led to the first deployment of Bell 212 Aircraft in UNMEE, in Eritrea, arriving in Asmara on February 8, 2003, accumulating over 3000 flight hours in 5 years of mission.
After the closure of UNMEE in 2008, they were withdrawn to our country, but not for long. In mid-2009, negotiations with the United Nations for a new mission began again, this time for the then MONUC in the Democratic Republic of Congo, resulting in the Uruguayan Government's commitment to deploy two Bell 212 aircraft at Kavumu airport by March 2010, along with a total of 46 personnel.
On March 22, 2010, again loaded on an Antonov An-124, FAU 030 and 031 aircraft departed from Carrasco airport, arriving on March 23 in Entebbe, where they were prepared for United Nations security inspection. On March 25, after completing the aforementioned inspections, they departed from Entebbe to Kavumu Airport on a ferry flight, arriving 3 hours later at what would be their home for the next few years.
Our first mission did not wait, and fate wanted one of the first to be a compatriot, Cpl. 2nd Camila Ramos, who coincidentally is again serving in our sister unit, URUASU. Since then, this Air Unit has successfully carried out tasks such as observation, passenger and cargo transportation, aerial surveillance and reconnaissance, as well as daytime and nighttime medical evacuations, typical missions that are the strong point of these Aircraft and their crews.
We are backed by over 366 Medevacs conducted, over 21,750 passengers, and more than 457 tons of cargo transported, with over 8,726 flight hours over these 10 years, without accidents, truly operating 24/7, testing and witnessing the professionalism, seriousness, and dedication of all personnel in this Contingent, being recognized on various occasions, not with awards or medals, but with the best and most sincere recognition, the gratitude of the passengers and patients transported.
To make this possible, it is not enough to be qualified for these operations; constant training in various functions is necessary, both in flight performing the corresponding visual and night vision flight training in the operating areas, as well as in safety, through contingency plan simulations, operational briefings, and both medical and generic aspects. All of this is part of the necessary maintenance for our stay in the mission area, and we are fulfilling it as best we can.
We cannot forget the maintenance of resources, vehicles, aircraft, logistics, and the infrastructure of the base itself, in which we advance day by day to continue improving them, giving everything humanly possible to ensure that our projects are carried out. Many times this is possible, and sometimes not, but I have no doubt that if we continue with our effort, they will be carried out, meeting our goals.
I could not conclude these words without the corresponding and deserved thanks to all of you, great professionals whom I am proud to command today, who day after day, in each of your functions, demonstrate the initiative and commitment to carry out this great responsibility that has been entrusted to us, carrying out everything mentioned above, sacrificing your most precious asset, family and loved ones, in order to fulfill our mission, always with the sole purpose in mind, 'So that others may live'."
On March 25, 2010, two Bell 212 aircraft arrived at Kavumu Airport in the city of Bukavu, marking the beginning of aerial operations in the country. Since then, they have successfully completed over 8,700 flight hours.
Today, missions include passenger and cargo transportation, aerial observation, and both daytime and nighttime medical evacuations, among others. So far, it remains the only air unit in the southern sector capable of conducting operations with night vision goggles, enabling 24/7 operations.
Words from the URUAVU Commander: "Ladies and gentlemen, Officers of URUASU and friends of the house, Superior and subordinate personnel of URUAVU, today, we are gathered to celebrate nothing less than the tenth anniversary of this Contingent in service of MONUSCO. Ten years of great sacrifice, of many hours of work and little sleep, of joys and sorrows, but above all, of many experiences that we will happily share someday.
These are the first 10 years in MONUSCO, but not the first mission in service of the United Nations in Africa. To understand the legacy of this Flight Unit, we must go back to 2002 when the General Staff of the Air Force and the Uruguayan Government began considering providing aerial resources to the United Nations. This led to the first deployment of Bell 212 Aircraft in UNMEE, in Eritrea, arriving in Asmara on February 8, 2003, accumulating over 3000 flight hours in 5 years of mission.
After the closure of UNMEE in 2008, they were withdrawn to our country, but not for long. In mid-2009, negotiations with the United Nations for a new mission began again, this time for the then MONUC in the Democratic Republic of Congo, resulting in the Uruguayan Government's commitment to deploy two Bell 212 aircraft at Kavumu airport by March 2010, along with a total of 46 personnel.
On March 22, 2010, again loaded on an Antonov An-124, FAU 030 and 031 aircraft departed from Carrasco airport, arriving on March 23 in Entebbe, where they were prepared for United Nations security inspection. On March 25, after completing the aforementioned inspections, they departed from Entebbe to Kavumu Airport on a ferry flight, arriving 3 hours later at what would be their home for the next few years.
Our first mission did not wait, and fate wanted one of the first to be a compatriot, Cpl. 2nd Camila Ramos, who coincidentally is again serving in our sister unit, URUASU. Since then, this Air Unit has successfully carried out tasks such as observation, passenger and cargo transportation, aerial surveillance and reconnaissance, as well as daytime and nighttime medical evacuations, typical missions that are the strong point of these Aircraft and their crews.
We are backed by over 366 Medevacs conducted, over 21,750 passengers, and more than 457 tons of cargo transported, with over 8,726 flight hours over these 10 years, without accidents, truly operating 24/7, testing and witnessing the professionalism, seriousness, and dedication of all personnel in this Contingent, being recognized on various occasions, not with awards or medals, but with the best and most sincere recognition, the gratitude of the passengers and patients transported.
To make this possible, it is not enough to be qualified for these operations; constant training in various functions is necessary, both in flight performing the corresponding visual and night vision flight training in the operating areas, as well as in safety, through contingency plan simulations, operational briefings, and both medical and generic aspects. All of this is part of the necessary maintenance for our stay in the mission area, and we are fulfilling it as best we can.
We cannot forget the maintenance of resources, vehicles, aircraft, logistics, and the infrastructure of the base itself, in which we advance day by day to continue improving them, giving everything humanly possible to ensure that our projects are carried out. Many times this is possible, and sometimes not, but I have no doubt that if we continue with our effort, they will be carried out, meeting our goals.
I could not conclude these words without the corresponding and deserved thanks to all of you, great professionals whom I am proud to command today, who day after day, in each of your functions, demonstrate the initiative and commitment to carry out this great responsibility that has been entrusted to us, carrying out everything mentioned above, sacrificing your most precious asset, family and loved ones, in order to fulfill our mission, always with the sole purpose in mind, 'So that others may live'."
See also |
212 in
Fuerza Aerea Uruguaya MONUSCO United Nations
Uruguayan Helicopters Depart Congo After 14-Year Mission
