MISSION
COMPETENCE
Mission
Its mission is to ensure the readiness of Air Units and the logistic and administrative support of other units and services, albeit with independent command, as well as the internal security and immediate defense of its facilities.
Responsibilities
a) It secures the state of readiness needed for the operation of the Air Units that may transit, maneuver, or be detached to its facility;
b) Ensure the operation of aerodrome and radio aid services;
c) Perform general support logistical and administrative tasks;
d) Guarantee military security and immediate defense of the area where it is located and other points under its jurisdiction.
HISTORY
The Maneuver Aerodrome 3 (AM3) took over the vast and valuable historical patrimony, from the old NATO infrastructure, which, although it was begun his activity in 1974, only began to have its own personnel assigned from July 1, 1977. From that date on, it became the depositary of all the aeronautical set of infrastructures that had been established in the framework of projects selected by NATO.
As a reliable context, the Unit origin occurred in 1959, when the Allied Command Atlantic, as was called by that time, established the requirements for maritime patrolling air operations in the southern region of the Ibero-Atlantic Area ("Iberlant"). It should be noted that the chosen of Madeira Archipelago - due to its strategic location - was because it was considered the ideal location for an aerodrome to support this type of air operations - so to fulfill this desirability, the existing runway in Porto Santo was made available to NATO for this purpose.
In 1968, a series of works began in order to expand and repair the existing runway, to provide its illumination and to increase the capacity of electric power supply, ammunition storage, construction of the command and administration buildings, construction of the area of fuels storage and fuel pipelines. At the same time, communications emitters and receivers were installed to support aircraft command and control. This works were completed in 1974.
Continuing with the various investment planned plans for this NATO infrastructure, in early 1982, among other works, the expansion of the runway and the construction in the north of 10 parking spots for aircraft were carried out, constituting the so-called military area of Porto Santo.
Late 1989 AM3 received the Madeira Air Detachment (DAM) with a CASA 212 AVIOCAR, parked at Santa Catarina Airport at Madeira Island since 1977 and on December 31, 1990 one PUMA SA-330 helicopter, joined the DAM.
Since 1994, due to the international situation and changes that have taken place in NATO, the support and maintenance of the existing human and logistical resources became the national responsibility.
In March 2006 the SA-330 PUMA was replaced by one EH-101 MERLIN
On November 25, 2009 the Maneuver Aerodrome No. 3 was activated by a Chief of Air Force Chief of Staff’s order.
On November 5, 2010, the C-212 AVIOCAR was replaced by the C-295.
