Current Title:	Air Wing Jamaica Defence Force
Title in English:	Air Wing Jamaica Defence Force
Abbreviation:	JDF

Narrative Summary:
 

The Jamaican Air Force was formed in June 1963 as the Jamaican Air Squadron with pilots from the Jamaican Flying Club. It was only one month later that the Jamaican Defence Force Air Wing was established on the 3 July 1963 after the arrival of 4 Cessna 185. Training was carried out in England until 1972 and after that in Canada. From 1971 to 1973 the Air Wing received some Bell 206 and Bell 212 helicopters. In April 1977 the Air Wing became an autonomous unit within the JDF. During 1989 4 Bell UH-1H were leased from the US Government. Most of the equipment was sold over the years. At the beginning of 2000 the Air Wing was reequipped with Bell 412 and Eurocopter AS-355 Ecureuil.

Key Dates:
June 1963		Formation of Jamaican Air Force
3 July 1963		Formation Jamaican Defence Force Air Wing
April 1977		Air Wing becomes an autonomous unit

 

Current Status:
Units of the Air Wing fully operational.

Future Plans:
No information available.

National Insignia:
Current --- Historical

Aircraft Serial Numbering System(s):
H is used for helicopters, A for auxiliary (liaison) aircraft and T for transport aircraft as a prefix.
 

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:
Up Park Camp, Kingston

Current Organisational Structure:
The Air Wing is organised into three operational flights and one training school.

Current Order of Battle:
Table of Current Order of Battle

Historical Orders of Battle:
None.

All-Time Flying Units List:
1 Flight

2.Flight

3.Flight

Jamaica Military Aviation School

Current Air Bases:
All current Jamaican Air Force fixed wing aircraft are based at Norman Manley IAP/Kingston and the helicopters at Up Park Camp/Kingston.

All-Time Air Bases Used List:
All current Jamaican Air Force fixed wing aircraft are based at Norman Manley IAP/Kingston and the helicopters at Up Park Camp/Kingston.
Military Air Bases Listing

Books:

None.
 

Magazines:

Air International May 2001 p.314-317

Websites:

Jamaica Defence Force