90th Airlift Flotilla - Romanian Air Force

History
The airlift has a rich history in Romania, the year 1920 representing the beginning of the first airlift unit in Romania, following the Decree no. 2705 and creating the Air Force Department within the Ministry of Communication.
Before the World War II, the first specific airlift structures were established within the military aviation which played an important part during the WW II.
The airport is 50 years old, the archive documents certifying that the year 1949 represented for the airlift the year of the first unit being settled, i.e. the 49^th Airlift Division. In 1971, a special squadron was created, which in 1972 was transformed into the 50^th Airlift Fleet.
The two units have been subjected to several structural changes over time, such as:
- 1949-1965 – the 49^th AIRLIFT DIVISION, having in its inventory only airplanes - LI-2, IL-14, IL-18

- 1965-1972: the 49^th AIRLIFT DIVISION, having in its inventory IL-18, An-2, An-24 and An-26 airplanes.

- 1972-1986
• The 50^th AIRLIFT FLEET, having in its inventory IL-18, IL-62, B-707, BAC-1-11, An-24, An-26 airplanes and IAR-316, IAR-330, MI-8, MI-17, SA-365 helicopters
• The 99^th AIRLIFT DIVISION, having BN-2, An-2, An-24, An-26, An-30 airplanes and IAR-316, MI-8 helicopters in its inventory

- 1986-1988: the 50^th AIRLIFT FLEET, having the following endowment: airplanes - IL-18, B-707, BAC 1-11, An-24, An-26, An-30 and helicopters: IAR-316, IAR-330, MI-8, MI-17, SA-365.

- 1988-1990
• The 50^th AIRLIFT FLEET, having in its inventory IL-18, B-707, BAC-1-11 airplanes and IAR-330, MI-8, MI-17, SA-365 helicopters
• The 99^th AIRLIFT GROUP, having the following endowment: airplanes - An-24, An-26, An-30, and helicopters - IAR-316, MI-8.

- 1990-1995
• The 90^th AIRLIFT BASE, having the following endowment: airplanes - An-24, An-26, An-30 and helicopters -IAR-330, MI-8, Mi-17, SA-365
• The 76^th AIRPORT TEHNICAL GROUP.

Starting with 1995, the structure of this unit has been changed, the 90^th AIRLIFT BASE being created, subsequent to the unification of the two units; in 1996, its name was changed into the 90^th AIRLIFT BASE “Comandor Aviator Gheorghe Banciulescu”.
Besides the above-mentioned aircraft , starting with October 25^th, the airlift air force made a significant step towards the accomplishment of the interoperability with NATO structures, purchasing 2 (and subsequently other 2) C-130 Hercules aircraft, which doubled the airlift capability and tactical range.
In 1996, the first real time exercise, “COOPERATIVE KEY ‘96”, (considering also the establishment of the C-130 Hercules airlift group) took place. Organized by COMAIRSOUTH (Command, Allied Air Forces, Southern Europe), it also represented the first training session in a partner-country. The Exercise included, for the first time, a cycle of three exercises, at the three components level (Land - “COOPERATIVE DETERMINATION ‘96”; Naval - “COOPERATIVE PARTNER ‘96”), within one year.
In October 1997, the Air Force and for the 90^th Airlift Base accomplished a historical mission, that is the first military overseas flight, flown by Romanian C-130 aircrews on the route Otopeni – Marietta (Atlanta – USA) – Otopeni.
In October 2004, the 61^st Helicopter Regiment was transferred within 90^th Airlift Base, adding IAR 330 PUMA SOCAT to its inventory.
The 90^th Airlift Base has also a MEDEVAC capability.

Mission statement

“Carry out air transportation of personnel, equipment and materials and support the other Components of the National Defense System, within both the national airspace and crisis or conflict areas, while accomplishing missions under UN, OSCE or NATO mandate”.

Missions and exercises
- PfP Exercise “Blue Road”
- Israeli-Romanian Air Forces' common training
- COOPERATIVE SAREX 2004, in Hungary
- RESCUER MEDCUER – July 2004, in Lithuania
- 5 OPEN SKY missions
- NATO AIR MEET 2004 - Turkey
- In 2004, a number of 216 external missions were peformed with C-130, totalling 1428 flight hours. The main missions were: Enduring Freedom 2004 (Afghanistan), Iraq 2004, Humanitarian missions.
- ALTHEA 2005 – Bosnia-Hertzegovina – Alpha Detachment. This is the first multinational mission, outside the country borders, executed under EU leadership. The logistics of the Romanian Division is in accordance with the NATO standards, proving thus the interoperability of the Air Forces with Alliance's similar structures.

Inventory of the 90^th Airlift Base:
An-24s
An-26s
An-30s
C-130s Hercules
IAR 330s PUMA SOCAT
IAR 330L

	90^th Airlift Flotilla

			Commander
	History The airlift has a rich history in Romania, the year 1920 representing the beginning of the first airlift unit in Romania, following the Decree no. 2705 and creating the Air Force Department within the Ministry of Communication. Before the World War II, the first specific airlift structures were established within the military aviation which played an important part during the WW II. The airport is 50 years old, the archive documents certifying that the year 1949 represented for the airlift the year of the first unit being settled, i.e. the 49^th Airlift Division. In 1971, a special squadron was created, which in 1972 was transformed into the 50^th Airlift Fleet. The two units have been subjected to several structural changes over time, such as: - 1949-1965 – the 49^th AIRLIFT DIVISION, having in its inventory only airplanes - LI-2, IL-14, IL-18 - 1965-1972: the 49^th AIRLIFT DIVISION, having in its inventory IL-18, An-2, An-24 and An-26 airplanes. - 1972-1986 • The 50^th AIRLIFT FLEET, having in its inventory IL-18, IL-62, B-707, BAC-1-11, An-24, An-26 airplanes and IAR-316, IAR-330, MI-8, MI-17, SA-365 helicopters • The 99^th AIRLIFT DIVISION, having BN-2, An-2, An-24, An-26, An-30 airplanes and IAR-316, MI-8 helicopters in its inventory - 1986-1988: the 50^th AIRLIFT FLEET, having the following endowment: airplanes - IL-18, B-707, BAC 1-11, An-24, An-26, An-30 and helicopters: IAR-316, IAR-330, MI-8, MI-17, SA-365. - 1988-1990 • The 50^th AIRLIFT FLEET, having in its inventory IL-18, B-707, BAC-1-11 airplanes and IAR-330, MI-8, MI-17, SA-365 helicopters • The 99^th AIRLIFT GROUP, having the following endowment: airplanes - An-24, An-26, An-30, and helicopters - IAR-316, MI-8. - 1990-1995 • The 90^th AIRLIFT BASE, having the following endowment: airplanes - An-24, An-26, An-30 and helicopters -IAR-330, MI-8, Mi-17, SA-365 • The 76^th AIRPORT TEHNICAL GROUP. Starting with 1995, the structure of this unit has been changed, the 90^th AIRLIFT BASE being created, subsequent to the unification of the two units; in 1996, its name was changed into the 90^th AIRLIFT BASE “Comandor Aviator Gheorghe Banciulescu”. Besides the above-mentioned aircraft , starting with October 25^th, the airlift air force made a significant step towards the accomplishment of the interoperability with NATO structures, purchasing 2 (and subsequently other 2) C-130 Hercules aircraft, which doubled the airlift capability and tactical range. In 1996, the first real time exercise, “COOPERATIVE KEY ‘96”, (considering also the establishment of the C-130 Hercules airlift group) took place. Organized by COMAIRSOUTH (Command, Allied Air Forces, Southern Europe), it also represented the first training session in a partner-country. The Exercise included, for the first time, a cycle of three exercises, at the three components level (Land - “COOPERATIVE DETERMINATION ‘96”; Naval - “COOPERATIVE PARTNER ‘96”), within one year. In October 1997, the Air Force and for the 90^th Airlift Base accomplished a historical mission, that is the first military overseas flight, flown by Romanian C-130 aircrews on the route Otopeni – Marietta (Atlanta – USA) – Otopeni. In October 2004, the 61^st Helicopter Regiment was transferred within 90^th Airlift Base, adding IAR 330 PUMA SOCAT to its inventory. The 90^th Airlift Base has also a MEDEVAC capability. Mission statement “Carry out air transportation of personnel, equipment and materials and support the other Components of the National Defense System, within both the national airspace and crisis or conflict areas, while accomplishing missions under UN, OSCE or NATO mandate”. Missions and exercises - PfP Exercise “Blue Road” - Israeli-Romanian Air Forces' common training - COOPERATIVE SAREX 2004, in Hungary - RESCUER MEDCUER – July 2004, in Lithuania - 5 OPEN SKY missions - NATO AIR MEET 2004 - Turkey - In 2004, a number of 216 external missions were peformed with C-130, totalling 1428 flight hours. The main missions were: Enduring Freedom 2004 (Afghanistan), Iraq 2004, Humanitarian missions. - ALTHEA 2005 – Bosnia-Hertzegovina – Alpha Detachment. This is the first multinational mission, outside the country borders, executed under EU leadership. The logistics of the Romanian Division is in accordance with the NATO standards, proving thus the interoperability of the Air Forces with Alliance's similar structures. Inventory of the 90^th Airlift Base: An-24s An-26s An-30s C-130s Hercules IAR 330s PUMA SOCAT IAR 330L

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