Commandant (rank) rank, above "adjudant-chef". In the Spanish Army and Spanish Air Force, the rank of "comandante" is senior to a captain and junior to a lieutenant colonel, making it equivalent to the rank of major or squadron leader in English-speaking countries. "Comandante" ("commandant") is a military officer rank used in some Latin American countries. The Chilean Air Force uses the rank of "comandante de escuadrilla" ("squadron commandant") as a rank equivalent to the British rank of squadron leader. The Peruvian Air Force uses the rank of "comandante" as an equivalent to lieutenant-colonel or wing commander. "Comandante" can be translated into English
Squadron leader RAF used major as the equivalent rank to squadron leader. Royal Naval Air Service lieutenant-commanders and Royal Flying Corps majors on 31 March 1918 became RAF majors on 1 April 1918. On 31 August 1919, the RAF rank of major was superseded by squadron leader which has remained in continuous usage ever since. Promotion to squadron leader is strictly on merit, and requires the individual to be appointed to a Career Commission, which will see them remain in the RAF until retirement or voluntary resignation. Before the Second World War, a squadron leader commanded a squadron of aircraft. Today, however,