Tolemaida Air Base

Tolemaida Air Base (ICAO: SKTI) is a Colombian military air base located in Melgar,[1] a municipality of the Tolima department in Colombia.

Tolemaida Air Base
Summary
Airport typeMilitary
OperatorColombian military
LocationMelgar, Colombia
Elevation AMSL493 m / 1,617 ft
Coordinates4°14′41″N 74°38′59″W
Map
SKTI
Location of the airport in Colombia
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
04/22 2,829 9,280 Asphalt
04L/22R 436 1,431 Concrete
Source: DAFIF[1] GCM[2] Google Maps[3]

Facilities

The air base resides at an elevation of 1,617 feet (493 m) above mean sea level. It has two runways: 04/22 has an asphalt pavement measuring 9,280 by 96 feet (2,829 m × 29 m) and 04L/22R with a concrete surface measuring 1,431 by 65 feet (436 m × 20 m).[1]

It is the home of the Colombian National Training Center.[4]

History

A "joint commission" of the Colombian government and FARC released a "report" in 2015 documenting the alleged rape of at least 54 girls by United States military personnel between 2003 and 2007 concentrating in and around the Tolemaida Air Base and Melgar.[5] Due to bilateral immunity agreements the men were immune from prosecution by Colombia.[6]

In January 2020, the United States and Colombian troops conducted airborne insertion from U.S. and Colombian C-130 Hercules aircraft and then carried out exercises simulating the capture of an airfield.[7] Consisting of around 75 paratroopers from the U.S. Army's 82nd Airborne Division and 40 personnel from U.S. Army South working with Colombian troops, the airborne assault exercise allowed personnel from both countries to corporate and exchange strategic and tactical expertise.[7]

  • Colombian Army special forces
    at Tolemaida Air Base, 2007
  • Colombian special forces
    at Tolemaida Air Base, 2007

See also

References
  1. Airport information for SKTI from DAFIF (effective October 2006)
  2. Airport information for SKTI at Great Circle Mapper.
  3. Google Maps - Tolemaida
  4. Rempfer, Kyle (January 27, 2020). "Paratroopers jump into Colombia for airfield seizure exercise". Army Times. Tolemaida Air Base has hosted multinational jumps in the past and is also the location of the Colombian National Training Center.
  5. Alsema, Adriaan (23 March 2015). "At least 54 Colombian girls sexually "abused" by immune US military: Report". Colombia Reports.
  6. Reyes, Gerardo; Guillen, Gonzalo (3 September 2009). "U.S. soldier's immunity clouds 2007 Colombian rape case". El Nuevo Herald.
  7. Jump alongside the 82nd Airborne with a paratrooper's wild skydive video from Colombia. 5 February 2020. We Are the Mighty. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
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