Major General Francisco Javier Vidal Fernández, head of the Canary Islands Air Command, presided over a commemorative event last Sunday, December 10, at the Gando base for the feast of Our Lady of Loreto, patron saint of the Air and Space Force. This year marks 100 years since she became the patron saint of world aviation. At the same time, an event was held at the Lanzarote military airfield, presided over by Brigadier General Fernando Carrillo Cremades, second chief of the Canary Islands Air Command.
The event took place at the Gando Air Base, where Francisco Javier Vidal was accompanied by various civil and military authorities, the consular corps, as well as representatives from the cultural and business world of the Archipelago.
After the honors of ordinance and the review of the force, the ceremony of awarding decorations took place, and the farewell of the flag to the personnel who have moved to the situation of reserve or retirement and reservists of special availability.
Next, General Vidal Fernández addressed the audience with a few words, giving a brief overview of the most important events that have occurred this year and the plans for the coming years.
Thus, he began his speech explaining that "the Canary Islands Air Command has been working in solidarity in maintaining international peace and security, deploying air assets and aeronautical capabilities in the various detachments that the Air and Space Force has spread outside our borders. It has also collaborated with the different agencies of the Administration, for the benefit of Canarian society, especially in cases of emergency and catastrophes, as happened in the action, from the Gando Air Base, of the firefighting planes of Group 43 this summer in their work against the forest fires that affected several islands. "
He also stated that "at the Canary Islands Air Command, we are facing imminent technological and organizational challenges." At this point, he highlighted, first of all, that the first actions related to the HALCÓN program have begun, aimed at replacing, within two to three years, the F-18 air defense aircraft that operates from this Base with a more modern Eurofighter fighter jet with better capabilities.
At the same time, he announced that a modernization of the air command and control system will begin, and in particular of the Command and Control center and the two radars that constitute the eyes that monitor the evolution of air traffic in this part of Spain from these islands, adapting them to more modern standards.
Similarly, he announced that a series of reforms will begin at the Lanzarote military airfield, to provide it with the means and infrastructure it needs to be a deployment base that complements Gando's in its daily operation.
Then, the anthem of the Air Force was played and the act of Homage to those who gave their lives for Spain was carried out, depositing a laurel wreath on the monument to those who fell for the homeland. The act concluded with an air and land parade of the participating force.
