Current Title:	Servicio de Vigilancia Aérea
Title in English:	Air Surveillance Service
Abbreviation:	SVA

Narrative Summary:
 

Military aviation started in 1947 as Fuerza Aérea Costarricense, when the government bought two P-38L, one A-24B and one B-18B. But it was only about June 1950, when the last of these aircraft was sold and the Air Force stopped to exist. Last combat operations with some Mustang fighter aircraft were in 1955 during hostilities with Nicaraguan-supported expatriates. But after the end of the fighting all aircraft were written off. The Sección Aérea de la Guardia Civil (Air Section of the Costa Rica Guardia Civil) was established in 1957. During the next years Costa Rica bought a handful of fixed-wing aircraft and three helicopters for surveillance and liaison duties. In 1994 the service was renamed Servicio de Vigilancia Aérea and became part of the Ministerio de Seguridad Pública.

Key Dates:
1947		Fuerza Aérea Costarricense was formed.
1955		Last combat operations with F-51D Mustang.
1957		Formation of the Air Section of the Guardia Civil
1994		The service was renamed Servicio de Vigilancia Aérea.

 

Current Status:
Aircraft and helicopters of the Air Surveillance Service are fully operational.

Future Plans:
No information available.

National Insignia:
Current --- Historical

Aircraft Serial Numbering System(s):
The civilian registration prefix TI was used until 1994. MSP is used for helicopters and fixed wing aircraft as a prefix from 1994 on. New registration numbers are given were available.
 

Unit/Base Aircraft Code System(s):
Coding system not used.

Aircraft Designation System(s):
None.

Current Aircraft Inventory:
Table of Current Service Aircraft

All-Time Aircraft Used List:
Alphabetical Order --- Chronological Order

Main Headquarters:
San Jose

Current Organisational Structure:
The Air Surveillance Service has no subordinated units.

Current Order of Battle:
Table of Current Order of Battle

Historical Orders of Battle:
Historical Order of Battle (as at 1995)

All-Time Flying Units List:
Escuadrilla de Comunicaciones

Escuadrilla de Helicópteros

Escuadrilla de Apoyo de Guardia Costera

Current Air Bases:
The Costa Rica Air Force currently operates one mayor airbase and two secondary airfields.

Military Air Bases Listing

All-Time Air Bases Used List:
Military Air Bases Listing

Books:

None.
 

Magazines:

World Air Power Journal No.32 p. 142-143