Air Wing of the Armed Forces of Malta

Armed Forces of Malta Air Wing Skwadra tal-Ajru tal-Forzi Armati ta' Malta
Maltese Air Wing emblem
Active	1973–Present
Country	Malta
Branch	Air Wing of the Armed Forces of Malta
Size	15 aircraft (2 leased by Italy)
Insignia
Roundel
Fin flash
Aircraft flown
Patrol	Beechcraft Super King Air, AgustaWestland AW139, Agusta-Bell AB 212
Reconnaissance	Aérospatiale Alouette III, Agusta-Bell AB 212
Trainer	Scottish Aviation Bulldog
Transport	Britten-Norman Islander, Beechcraft Super King Air

The Air Wing of the Armed Forces of Malta is the aerial component of the current Maltese military. The Air Wing has responsibility for the security of Maltese airspace, conducts maritime patrol and Search and Rescue duties, and provides military assistance to other government departments of Malta.

The Air Wing of the Armed Forces is based at the AFM terminal at the Malta International Airport.

History

While Malta has a rather long tradition of military aviation within its territory, including the housing of Royal Air Force bases and squadrons during World War Two, the nation had no official military aviation of its own until gaining independence in 1964 (and the building of an independent national military that followed).

The Air Wing was founded as an operational branch of the Armed Forces of Malta in the early 1970s. The Air Wing serves primarily as a support branch of the ground forces and Maritime Squadron of the AFM and has so far never operated combat aircraft. The Air Wing's current Commanding Officer is Lieutenant Colonel Clinton O'Neill.

In a bilateral agreement with Italy, the Italian Air Force provided two AB 212 helicopters to perform SAR duties with Maltese rescuers on board.^[1]

Current structure

The main divisions of the Air Wing are :

• The Air Wing Headquarters - Tasked with command, control, and coordination of the air wing's divisions and sub-units, in order to ensure unit readiness for responding to various operational requirements, both locally and overseas.
• The Headquarters Squadron - Provides logistical and service support to the other sub-units of the AFM Air Wing. It is responsible for transport management, logistics procurement, and human resources administration required for the air wing's daily duties and commitments. The Integrated Logistics Division within the Headquarters Squadron is tasked with ensuring of the stocking up of all aircraft parts and aircraft maintenance documenation.
• The Operations Squadron - The main operations element of the AFM's Air Wing, in charge of utilizing the aircraft inventory. It consists of three subdivisions :
  • The Fixed Wing Flight - In charge of coastal and offshore patrolling, sighting and reporting of irregular migration at sea and interdiction, fisheries patrols, and several other varied flight duties.
  • The Rotary Wing Flight - Handles all helicopter operations, ranging from offshore casualty evacuation and rescue to air ambulance as well as patient transfer between the Islands' two main hospitals. It also provides assistance to other government entities as required.
  • The Rescue Section - A small unit of soldiers and rescue personnel specially trained for rescue operations on land and at sea. Each rescue-swimmer is qualified in first aid, life saving, and other specialist skills. Membership in the unit requires a high level of physical fitness.
• The Support Squadron - By far the largest of the Air Wing's divisions, the Support Squadron is in charge of the maintenance of the aircraft inventory. The ground crew personnel are also responsible for aircraft and equipment handling on the ground, emergency fire fighting, aircraft marshalling, aircraft towing, aircraft refuelling, and other essential line duties.^[2]

Aircraft

Below is a list of aircraft currently operated by the Armed Forces of Malta Air Wing. The Air Wing operates a total of 8 fixed-wing aircraft and 5 helicopters. Since its founding, the Air Wing has never operated any jet-powered or combat aircraft.

Current inventory

Aircraft	Image	Origin	Type	Variant	In service	Notes
Maritime Patrol
BN-2 Islander		United Kingdom	Maritime patrol	BN-2B/T[3]	2[4][5]	1 x BN-2B, 1 x BN-2T
King Air		United States	Maritime patrol	200	2(+1)[4]	Two in service, a third to be delivered in 2017. Fitted with a maritime surveillance and imaging radar[6][7]
Helicopters
AW139		Italy	SAR / Maritime patrol		3[4][8]	Delivered in June 2014, December 2014 and September 2016 respectively. [9][7]
Alouette III		France	SAR / Utility	SA316B	3[4]	Donated by Libya in 1980[10] due for replacement in 2017[7]
Trainer Aircraft
Bulldog T1		United Kingdom	Basic trainer		4[11]	Donated by UK, one crashed just of the island of gozo in 2006.

Retired

An Agusta-Bell 47G-2 over Malta Int'l airport

Aircraft	Origin	Type	Variant	In service	Notes
Maritime Patrol
CASA C-212	Spain	SAR / maritime patrol		1[12]	3 month lease from CAE Aviation of Luxemburg
Surveillance
Cessna 0-1	United States	observation	0-1E	5[13]	retired from service
Helicopters
Agusta-Bell 47	Italy	maritime patrol	47G2/G	3/1[13]	Three G2’s were former West German Army aircraft
Agusta-Bell 206	Italy	SAR / utility	Agusta-206A	1[13]
MD 500	Italy	SAR / utility	NH-500M	2[13]	licensed built Hugher 500 by Breda Nardi

References

1. "AGUSTA BELL 212". afm.gov.mt. Retrieved 21 March 2015.
2. "Official AFM website - Overview of the AFM Air Wing's operational structure, divisions and subdivisions". Retrieved 2015-11-24.
3. "BRITTEN NORMAN BN-2B ISLANDER". afm.gov.mt. Retrieved 21 March 2015.
4. "World Air Forces 2015 pg. 22". Flightglobal Insight. 2015. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
5. "BRITTEN NORMAN BN-2T". afm.gov.mt. Retrieved 21 March 2015.
6. "New AFM patrol aircraft rolled out". timesofmalta.com. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
7. "World Air Forces 2016 pg. 24". Flightglobal Insight. 2015. Retrieved 12 December 2015.
8. "Malta takes delivery of second AW139". helihub.com. Retrieved 21 March 2015.
9. http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20150706/local/afm-orders-third-brand-new-helicopter.575457#.VZqww6ntcLI.facebook
10. "AFM Aerospatiale SA.316B Alouette III". aeroflight.co.uk. Retrieved 21 March 2015.
11. World Air Forces 2014 "WAF 2014" Check |url= value (help) (PDF). Flightglobal Insight. 2014. Retrieved 21 March 2015.
12. "AFM gets maritime patrol aircraft". timesofmalta.com. Retrieved 21 March 2015.
13. "World Air Forces 1994 pg. 48". Flightglobal Insight. 1994. Retrieved 21 March 2015.

External links

• Overview of the AFM Air Wing at the official AFM website
• Overview of AFM AW aircraft at the official AFM website