{"id":62111,"date":"2025-11-27T21:33:57","date_gmt":"2025-11-27T20:33:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.outono.net\/elentir\/?p=62111"},"modified":"2025-12-04T23:33:54","modified_gmt":"2025-12-04T22:33:54","slug":"acaviet-the-past-and-present-of-the-center-where-the-spanish-armys-aviators-are-trained","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.outono.net\/elentir\/2025\/11\/27\/acaviet-the-past-and-present-of-the-center-where-the-spanish-armys-aviators-are-trained\/","title":{"rendered":"ACAVIET, the past and present of the center where the Spanish Army's aviators are trained"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Spanish Army's Airmobile Forces (FAMET) were created on March 20, 1973, and soon took on the challenge of training their pilots.<\/p>\n

The FAMET in excellent images that show the air power of the Spanish Army<\/a><\/rel>
\nThe Spanish Army formation that could not fly in the October 12 parade<\/a><\/rel><\/p>\n

On May 9, 1973, the Airmobile Forces Training and Application Center (CIAFAM)<\/strong> was created, based in Colmenar Viejo (Madrid). It was the first training center for FAMET pilots. This center has had different names since then. In 1976, it became the FAMET Training Center (CEFAMET)<\/strong>, and on December 31, 1998, its name was changed to the Helicopter Training Center, while retaining the acronym CEFAMET.<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/div>\n
A Bell OH-13S Sioux from CEFAMET. The helicopter in the photo is Z.7B-29 ET-059-105 (s\/n 3905). It was in service from May 17, 1967, to November 29, 1983, after which it was transferred to the Ministry of the Interior, serving with the Directorate General of Traffic under the civil registration EC-DZJ until 1994. It is currently preserved by the Antonio Quintana Aeronautical Foundation<\/a> at Cuatro Vientos, Madrid (Photo: Ej\u00e9rcito de Tierra<\/a>).<\/div>\n

In 2013, the Army Helicopter specialty was founded<\/strong>, which in 2016 became the current Army Aviation specialty (AVIET). Finally, on October 6, 2017, CEFAMET was renamed the Army Aviation Academy (ACAVIET)<\/strong>, which is its current name, maintaining its base in Colmenar Viejo.<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/div>\n
Two Bell UH-1B Iroquois helicopters next to the original hangars of CIAFAM and CEFAMET. We see the HU.8B-7 ET-203 on the right and the HU.8-10 ET-206 on the left. The latter is currently preserved in the ACAVIET Historical Room<\/a> (Photo: Ej\u00e9rcito de Tierra<\/a>).<\/div>\n

Throughout their history, CIAFAM, CEFAMET, and ACAVIET have used different types of helicopters:<\/strong> the Bell OH-13G Sioux, the Bell UH-1B and UH-1H Iroquois, the MBB B\u00f6-105, and the Bell OH-58A Kiowa. Currently, ACAVIET has 12 Eurocopter EC-135 T2+ (HE.26) light helicopters.<\/strong> The first two arrived at CEFAMET in 2005. Two more were delivered in 2007, and the remaining eight arrived in 2014, replacing the OH-58A and UH-1H.<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/div>\n
The Bell OH-58A Kiowa HR.12-8 ET-117. This helicopter is preserved at the BHELMA II base in B\u00e9tera, Valencia. The FAMET operated a total of 13 helicopters of this type (Photo: Ej\u00e9rcito de Tierra<\/a>).<\/div>\n

The initial phase of FAMET pilot training takes place at the Spanish Air Force's 78th Wing<\/strong>, based in Armilla (Granada), which has 14 EC-120B Colibri helicopters for training purposes. Afterwards, the ACAVIET students return to Colmenar Viejo to complete their training.<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/div>\n
A Bell UH-1H Iroquois from CEFAMET, HU.10-40 ET-217 (cn 13292) in a photo taken on February 5, 2014. ET-217 was the last UH-1H to fly with FAMET, starring in the farewell ceremony for this model at ACAVIET on December 12, 2018<\/a> (Photo: Ej\u00e9rcito de Tierra<\/a>).<\/div>\n

It should be noted that in addition to pilots, ACAVIET also trains ground personnel responsible for aircraft maintenance. Along with EC-135 helicopters, ACAVIET also has simulators for various aircraft models<\/strong> to train its students.<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/div>\n
One of the current EC-135 T2+ helicopters of the ACAVIET, the HE.26-20 ET-184 (cn 0775), during a visit to Ceuta in November 2025. This helicopter was received in 2014 by the FAMET (Photo: Comandancia General de Ceuta<\/a>).<\/div>\n

If you want to know more about ACAVIET and how its pilots are trained, this Thursday Fly By Wire Aviation<\/a> (a YouTube channel I recommend you subscribe to if you're interested in everything related to aviation) published an excellent report on this academy<\/strong>, including images of the staff who work there and their EC-135 T2+ helicopters (the video is in Spanish; you can activate automatic English subtitles in the bottom bar of the player):<\/p>\n