Aviation in the Azores Aviation in the Azores Aviation in the Azores is part of the greater history of aviation in Portugal, and involves the historical use of the archipelago of the Azores by North American, South American and European pioneers of aviation. The Azores is strategically located in the centre of the North Atlantic Ocean between the continents of North America and Europe, and has played a historical role in trans-Atlantic navigation. The three primary airfields of the Azores are: Due to the relative distance between the islands of the archipelago, aviation is in many instances more viable than boat transportation, with inter-island
United States Forces Azores Army, Navy and Air Force personnel assists the U.S. Forces Azores commander, who is responsible for contingency planning. In wartime, the U.S. Forces Azores commander assumes operational control of assigned U.S. military forces. The command mission would be to support NATO forces in the area, to assist in local defense, if requested, and to protect and evacuate U.S. citizens from the Azores, Europe, Africa, Southwest Asia, or other areas of the world. U.S. Forces Azores Command consists of a small joint staff, the 65th Air Base Group, and multiple tenant organizations such as the 729th Airlift Squadron, the Military Traffic