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 in France is also an OF-4 equivalent to a major, and the cavalry appointment of squadron leader in the UK generally corresponds to this rank as well. The rank originated in the British Royal Air Force and was adopted by several other air forces which use, or used, the RAF rank system. On 1 April 1918, the newly created RAF adopted its officer rank titles from the British Army, with Royal Naval Air Service lieutenant commanders and Royal Flying Corps majors becoming majors in the RAF. In response to the proposal that the RAF should use its own rank titles,