The
Aviation Service performs many different and significant tasks and missions
in the most remote areas of Prefectura's jurisdiction in order to support
its units and human resources, and to assist in all kind of incidents
within maritime, river, lake, and port areas.
These duties include maritime and river surveillance, search and rescue operations, medical evacuations, passenger and cargo transportation, fire fighting, assistance in the event of floods, support to recreational boating activities, assistance to vessels in distress, detection of oil spills, control of illegal activities within the Argentine Economic Exclusive Zone, and fisheries control in jurisdictional waters.
In order to carry out these activities, Prefectura is equipped with aircrafts and helicopters, with state-of- the-art systems and technology.
The administrative headquarters of this Service, as well as the airbase, is located at the San Fernando aerodrome, which is 20 kilometers away from the Capital City. The helicopters are based in the "Oficial Principal Balestra" heliport within the Buenos Aires port area.
The Comodoro Rivadavia Air Station, within the Patagonia Region, was founded in 1990, and the Mar del Plata Air Station, located in the main sea resort of the Argentine Atlantic coast, was founded in 1997. Aircraft and helicopters from these Stations patrol the maritime area, up to 200 nautical miles from the shoreline and beyond that limit, in order to prevent depredation of fish stocks and identify domestic and foreign vessels engaged in illegal fishing.
They provide health assistance and evacuate crew members when necessary. Likewise, they contribute to the protection of marine environment, detecting spills of noxious and hazardous substances and identifying the vessels and companies that are responsible for such spills.
In order to cover the training demands of pilots and air technicians and their permanent updating, the Aeronautical Professional Center was founded in 1989.
The Aviation Service dates back to December 1946, when a group of pilots were recruited to perform functions for Prefectura. They started serving this agency in 1947. In 1951, the Aviation Division was created, which developed into the current Service.