Força Aérea Portuguesa

The Portuguese Air Force is the air force branch of the Portuguese Armed Forces. Locally it is referred to by the acronym FAP but internationally is often referred to by the acronym PRTAF. It is the youngest of the three branches of the Portuguese Armed Forces. The Portuguese Air Force was formed on 1 July 1952, when the former Aeronáutica Militar and Aviação Naval were united and formed an independent air branch of the Armed Forces. However, the remote origins of the FAP go back to the early 20th century with the establishment of the first military air unit in 1911, the Military Aeronautics School in 1914, the participation of Portuguese pilots in World War I, the establishment of the Army, and the Navy aviation services. The FAP is commanded by the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, a subordinate of the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces for operational matters and a direct subordinate of the Minister of National Defense for all other matters. The CEMFA is the only officer in the Air Force with the rank of general. Presently, the FAP is an entirely professional force made of career personnel and of volunteer personnel.